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.
+ Apply for the Louisville Metro FY26 External Agency Funds
The FY 26 External Agency Fund Grant Application window closes March 3, 2025.
EAF grants provide critical funding to nonprofits serving Louisville’s diverse community needs. Once applications are submitted, they enter a competitive process and are scored by a panel based on impact and measurable outcomes.
Successful applicants’ proposals will be recommended for funding in the mayor’s next budget proposal to Metro Council.
Each of the following Louisville Metro agencies will administer the EAF Funds:
Office for Safe and Healthy Neighborhoods: Youth Engagement Services Funding
Office of Resilience and Community Services: Community Services Funding
Office of Arts + Creative Industries: Arts, Heritage, and Creative Industry Funding
A link to each agency’s application may be found at:
Louisville Metro Government External Agency Fund
+ JCPS wants to hear from YOU as the district searches for the next superintendent
 The Jefferson County Board of Education wants to hear from the public as they search for the next superintendent of Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS). With Dr. Marty Pollio retiring this summer, the board has begun the process of hiring his successor. To assist in this effort, board members are inviting the public to complete a survey that asks about the qualities and priorities they’d like to see from the next leader of JCPS.
Whether you’re a parent, student, staff member, community leader, or simply someone who cares about the future of JCPS and Louisville, your input is invaluable! Take a few moments to fill out the survey and share your thoughts.
Board Chair Dr. Corrie Shull says the hope is to have a new superintendent hired and on the job in Louisville by July 1, the official date of Pollio’s retirement.
Click on the link below to find links to surveys in the following languages: English, Spanish, Kinyarwanda, Swahili, Somali, Arabic, and Nepali.
+ Don't settle for the cold if you are a tenant
 If you are a tenant, you have the right to a habitable living environment, which includes adequate heating.
The Property Maintenance Code requires all rental properties to be heated from October 1 to May 1 each year. If your heater is broken and your landlord is unresponsive, contact us immediately.
Contact number: 502-574-2508
+ News You Can Use
Matched Savings Program: A Path to Financial Growth!
 The Matched Savings Program helps individuals with refugee status and other eligible populations save for a car, home, education/professional certification, or starting a business.
For eligibility requirements and program details contact Tony Messina at tmessina@jfcslouisville.org
+ Make a Difference in Childcare Services: Take the Multilingual Survey Today!
 Louisville Metro Government wants to hear from parents or guardians of children 0-8 years old about the types of childcare you currently use, barriers and challenges you have encountered obtaining childcare, and the type of childcare you prefer.
The information gathered is completely anonymous and will help inform meaningful changes in childcare services. The survey is available in various languages and will take less than 10 minutes to complete.
+ Opportunities for High School Students
 The Thorobred Academy is a 4-week, on-site program where students will have the opportunity to take up to two college classes. The camp is fully funded, covering tuition, food, and accommodations.
Spots are limited and they are actively seeking to recruit Latino/Immigrant/Refugee students as well. EL classes and an EL curriculum to help students thrive in STEM fields are being developed.
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The American Foreign Service Association (AFSA) is accepting submissions for their annual National High School Essay Contest.
To mark the 50th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War, this year’s essay prompt is on the role of the U.S. Foreign Service in shaping that era and how those strategies continue to influence U.S. diplomacy today.
Applications are due by Saturday, March 1. Click here to apply.
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Kentucky State University will be holding its STEM Summer Camp where students will have the opportunity to take up to two college classes. The camp is fully funded, covering tuition, food, and accommodations.
They are actively seeking to recruit Latinx, immigrant, and refugee students. To support this effort, they are preparing EL classes and developing a curriculum tailored to help EL students thrive in STEM fields. Learn more by clicking this link.
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+ SummerWorks: Gain Experience & Earn This Summer!
 Are you between the ages of 16 and 21? SummerWorks offers an incredible opportunity to gain valuable job experience while earning a paycheck.
Through this program, you'll develop professional skills, explore career pathways, and even secure a job that aligns with your education and future goals. Don't miss this chance to build your resume and take a step toward a successful career.
+ Get involved at the Leadership Louisville Center
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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 and Things to Know
+ Language Cafe sessions continue this month
Want to learn or brush-up on Spanish, French, Kiswahili, or Vietnamese? Come join us for our Language Cafe sessions! Held in collaboration with Actors Theatre of Louisville, on Thursdays, 5-6pm.
NOTE: There is no session on February 20
Please register using the QR code or contact monica.lakhwani@louisvilleky.gov.
+ International Mother Language Day is this week!
 International Mother Language Day is a celebration bringing to the forefront the importance of linguistic diversity. It represents more than acknowledgement of language but fosters cultures, promotes understanding and awareness of cultural heritage and recognizes the power of language to unite and shape communities.
When: Thursday, February 20 from 4-6 p.m.
Where: The University Club, 200 East Brandeis Avenue
+ Experience the Award-Winning Film Running on Sand at the Louisville Jewish Film Festival!
 JFCS is proud to bring the award-winning “Running on Sand” to the Baxter Avenue Theaters as part of the Louisville Jewish Film Festival. This powerful and uplifting film follows an immigrant who is mistakenly welcomed as a national soccer hero — leading to an incredible journey filled with humor, heart, and drama.
When: Thursday, February 20 at 7 p.m.
Where: Baxter Avenue Theatres, 1250 Bardstown Road
Cost: $12
This award-winning film is a must-see for our community!
+ Rouler: A Mardi Gras Celebration for a Great Cause!
Catholic Charities of Louisville will host Rouler, a lively Mardi Gras fundraiser. The evening will feature Dawn Gee as Master of Ceremonies, bringing energy and excitement to a night filled with music, delicious New Orleans Buffet, Silent Auction and more.
When: Tuesday, March 4 from 5:30-9 p.m.
Where: Mellwood Art Center, 1860 Mellwood Avenue
Don’t miss this unforgettable event. Tickets on sale now!
+ Explore Your Future with Louisville Metro Government!
 Louisville Metro Government invites job seekers to an exciting career event on Tuesday, March 18, at Louisville Slugger Field (501 East Main Street) from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
This is an opportunity to discover endless career paths, competitive benefits, and a workplace where growth and change are encourages. Don’t miss this chance to learn how a career in public service can make a difference.
+ SY Academy Celebrates its 3rd Anniversary
 SY Academy invites the community to a special celebration of dance, culture, and tradition at its 3rd Anniversary Event: "Que Siga La Tradición."
When: Saturday, March 23 at 2:00 p.m.
Where: Clinton Theater, 2117 Payne Street, Louisville
Cost: $15/person
Contact: 502-601-8070
This vibrant event will showcase the rich rhythms of Cuba and the diverse traditions of immigrant communities through an unforgettable dance performance. It is a tribute to culture, heritage, and unity.
The community is invited to join in the celebration and help keep the tradition alive.
Image of the Week
 The Mayor’s Office for Immigrant Affairs is proud to welcome the 11th cohort of the Global Louisville Leadership Academy (GLLA). GLLA is a free leadership development program designed to empower international and foreign-born residents.
Running from February through August, the eight-session program provides participants with hands-on learning experiences in local government, leadership development, and community engagement. GLLA equips participants with a deeper understanding of city services, including the election process, emergency response, the judicial system, and pathways to civic involvement.
By fostering advocacy and leadership, the program prepares its participants to become active stakeholders, strengthening the diverse communities they serve. Through education, mentorship, and networking opportunities, GLLA continues to help build a more inclusive and engaged Louisville where every voice matters.
Policy Updates
+ 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
+ Summary of Day 1 Executive Orders
The new presidential administration announced a slew of executive orders that will impact our immigration policies. See a summary of the day one actions here: American Immigration Council Summary
+ 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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