News Updates
+ Join us as a volunteer with the Office for Immigrant Affairs!
 Volunteers play a crucial role in supporting our events and programs. You’ll have the opportunity to:
Connect with Organizations and Businesses: Support partnerships across Louisville that uplift immigrants and refugees, and help strengthen our city’s diverse landscape.
Meet People from Around the Globe: Be a welcoming face and a bridge for our international neighbors as they integrate and thrive within our vibrant city.
Learn & Support: Gain hands-on experience working with organizations dedicated to empowering immigrants and helping them succeed.
+ Have Your Say: Louisville’s Tourism Development Survey
 Louisville Tourism is seeking valuable community feedback through an anonymous Resident Sentiment Survey to better understand local perspectives on tourism development. Available in both English and Spanish, this survey is open to residents 18 years and older who live in Jefferson, Clark, Floyd, or Harrison counties.
By taking just a few moments to complete the survey, participants will help shape the future of tourism in the Louisville area. Your insights matter—share your thoughts today!
+ Your chance to shape Louisville's Electric Vehicle future!
 Louisville Metro is looking to hear your voice as the city prepares for a future with more electric vehicles. Your input can help decide where future charging locations go. The survey is only live for a few weeks, so don't hesitate to fill it out!
+ Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination Workshop
 The Human Relations Commission and the Office for Immigrant Affairs invite community members to an important Know Your Rights workshop on April 9th at 6:00 PM at the Americana World Community Center (4801 Southside Dr., Louisville, KY).
This session will provide essential information on identifying workplace discrimination, understanding your rights, and learning how to report unfair treatment. Whether you are an employee, employer, or advocate, this workshop will equip you with the knowledge and resources to navigate workplace challenges.
Language interpretation is available upon request at the time of registration. Everyone is welcome—join us in creating a fair and inclusive workplace for all!
When: Wednesday, April 09, 2025 at 6:00 p.m.
Where: Americana World Community Center (4801 Southside Dr., Louisville, KY).
+ Rep. McGarvey’s 2025 Congressional Art Competition Open for Louisville High Schoolers
Congressman McGarvey is proud to host the 2025 Congressional Art Competition for Kentucky’s Third District!
This annual event celebrates the creativity of high school students, with winning artwork from each district displayed in the Cannon Tunnel of the U.S. Capitol for one year.
The competition is open to all District 3 high school students in grades 9–12 and must be entered based on where students live. Hosted online, the public will vote for their favorite pieces.
Two winners will be selected: the overall winner will receive two roundtrip tickets to Washington, D.C., and have their artwork displayed in the Capitol; the community winner’s artwork will be featured in Congressman McGarvey’s Louisville office.
+ Join the Refugee Resettlement Community Conversation
 Louisville’s refugee resettlement agencies—Catholic Charities' Migration & Refugee Services (MRS), the International Rescue Committee (IRC), and Kentucky Refugee Ministries (KRM)—are coming together to address how recent federal actions are impacting local refugee and immigrant communities, agency responses and plans for the future.
Please join the resettlement agencies for this opportunity to gain advocacy resources, understanding and to learn more about the pivotal role of community welcome and support in helping to build a sustainable future
When: Tuesday, April 15th from 6-8 p.m. (Check-in begins at 5:30 p.m.)
Where: Muhammad Ali Center, 144 N. 6th Street, Louisville, KY 40202
+ Plan your Summer with the Cultural Pass
 The new Cultural Pass app is your Digital Passport to Creativity! Cultural Pass offers young people ages 0-21 and their families in the Greater Louisville area access to over 50 arts and cultural activities FREE from May 31 – August 10, 2025.
Register for updates and be the first to download the Cultural Pass app when it becomes available this spring!
+ Summer opportunity for students interested in exploring health careers
 The Healthwise summer program application is now open. This program is uniquely designed to provide an enriching experience for students eager to explore health careers while also enhancing their academic skills.
When: June 2 - June 27 from 8 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Where: Grace M. James Academy of Excellence, 1615 West Broadway
The program has a $25 fee to help cover insurance costs for participants. If this proposes a financial hardship, please contact Hanna Mohammed or Bradley Coffman by calling 502-778-1607. The primary goal is to provide access to this rewarding experience for all students regardless of their inability to pay.
The deadline to apply is May 1.
+ News You Can Use
+ Scholarships available to participate in Leadership Louisville Programs
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The Leadership Louisville Center has scholarship opportunities to support people interested in upcoming Focus Louisville classes held June 12-14 and September 18-20.
Learn more details about the classes and tuition support by visiting their website. You can also find more information for longer community leadership programs such as Ignite and Leadership Louisville.
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Upcoming Events
+ Silk Road Conversations coming up
Join us for a thought-provoking conversation with Rumsfeld Fellows from Central Asia—Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Mongolia, Turkmenistan, and Tajikistan—on the Silk Road’s past, China’s Belt and Road Initiative, and the region’s cultural and economic impact today.
When: Monday, April 7 from 5:30-8 p.m.
Where: Asia Institute Crane House, 1244 S 3rd Street
Stay after for a reception featuring appetizers and treats. Presented in partnership with the Asia Institute | Crane House and the Rumsfeld Fellows Program.
Don’t miss this unique opportunity to engage with international leaders and experience the flavors of the Silk Road!
+ Boost Your Business: Attract & Retain Customers with Smart Marketing
Want to grow your customer base and keep them coming back? Register for this free, one-hour online training led by Patty Ross, Owner of Golden State Marketing.
In this session, you’ll learn proven strategies to grow your contact list, keep subscribers engaged, and convert leads into loyal customers. Discover how to craft compelling subject lines, determine the best email frequency, and streamline your marketing with automation.
Whether you're new to email marketing or looking to sharpen your strategy, this live training will provide practical, actionable tips to help your business thrive.
Date: Tuesday, April 8, 2025
Time: 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM (EDT)
Format: Live Online Training
Fee: Free
Registration Deadline: April 8, 2025, by 7:00 PM (EDT)
Contact: Kentucky SBDC in Louisville | (502) 977-5800
+ Join the Fun at Gilda’s Club’s Eggstravaganza!
 Hop into spring with Gilda’s Club’s second annual Eggstravaganza—a free, fun-filled event for the whole family on Saturday, April 19, from 10 AM to 12 PM at Gilda’s Clark at Pleasant Run Farm (5318 King Rd., Jeffersonville, IN 47130)
Celebrate a festive morning featuring a giant egg hunt with prizes, sweet treats, games, and more. Don’t forget to bring your basket to collect eggs! The event is in person, open to the public, and will take place rain or shine.
Space is limited, so RSVP today at gck.org or call 502-583-0075 to reserve your spot. Let the springtime celebration begin!
Journey of Success
 In this month's Journey of Success, we introduce you to Darko Mihaylovich, the retired Director of Programs at Catholic Charities. Learn about his journey from Sarajevo to Louisville by visiting our website.
Image of the Week
WorldFest 2025 – A Celebration of Cultures and Community
The JWagner Group and the Office for Immigrant Affairs are teaming up to visit local businesses and community partners to invite participation in the 2025 WorldFest Celebration, taking place over Labor Day weekend — August 29 to September 2.
This vibrant, multicultural event is one of the region’s largest international festivals, and we’re excited to welcome vendors, volunteers, performers, and organizations to be part of the experience.
Whether you're interested in showcasing your business, representing your heritage in the Parade of Cultures, sharing your organization’s mission, or volunteering your time, there’s a place for everyone at WorldFest. More details are coming soon.
Stay tuned and get ready to celebrate the rich diversity that makes our community shine!
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Policy Updates
+ USCIS Instructed to Halt Processing Green Card Applications for some Refugees and Asylees
On March 25, 2025, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has been asked to pause processing green card applications for certain individuals, including approved refugees and asylees.
This directive affects refugees as well as asylees who were granted admission and protection from the federal government. Both groups typically wait at least a year before applying for green cards.USCIS is funded by fees paid by applicants and could face staff and operational reductions if fewer applications are processed.
+ DHS Terminates Humanitarian Parole for Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced on March 21 that it will terminate the humanitarian parole program for nationals of Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela (CHNV), affecting over 532,000 individuals who entered the U.S. since October 2022 under the program enacted by former President Biden. DHS has said it will seek to arrest and deport anyone subject to this policy change who has not applied for any other immigration benefit, like asylum or Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and fails to depart before April 24.
Experts argue that ending the program will leave thousands of parolees with undocumented status and harm U.S. businesses relying on these workers. A federal judge is currently overseeing a lawsuit challenging the administration’s decision to terminate the program, with another hearing scheduled for April 7.
+ Immigration Policy Tracker
The Immigration Policy Tracking project keeps up with federal agencies policy memos, executive action, and internal communication. Be sure to keep up with new communications here: Immigration Policy Tracking Project
+ Sign up to receive emergency alerts in your language
Sign up to receive emergency alerts on your cell phone!
Text "LENSAlert" to 67283
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