Mayor Greg Fischer and The Rockefeller Foundation’s 100 Resilient Cities (100RC) today released Louisville’s first citywide Resilience Strategy, a new approach to address the city’s most pressing and interconnected challenges.

Entitled Resilient Louisville, the strategy serves as a roadmap to better adapt city systems and institutions to the challenges of the 21^st century, and prepare the city and its citizens for both expected and unexpected challenges. It includes an actionable set of visions, goals and targets that address the region’s most pressing stresses and seeks to build capacity among residents and city systems alike to better withstand future shocks.

Nearly 3,000 individuals contributed ideas and recommendations that fed into the development of the strategy, which focuses on human resilience and is supported by a 38-person Resilience Steering Committee comprised of leaders from across Louisville’s public, private, academic and non-profit sectors.

“City resilience is about making a city better, in both good times and bad, for the benefit of all its citizens,” Mayor Fischer said. “We are stronger and more resilient when we work together. This strategy sets out long-term objectives and immediate actions that residents, communities and organizations can take to build a Louisville that can continue to thrive.”

Led by Louisville’s Chief Resilience Officer, Eric Friedlander, and the Office of Resilience and Community Services, in collaboration with Mayor Fischer’s leadership team, Louisville’s Resilience Strategy proposes an integrated response to various urban vulnerabilities.

Every vision, goal and action reflect the Louisville Resilience Equation: Equity plus Compassion plus Trust (R=E+C+T). 

“Resilient Louisville is the culmination of the process to cultivate partnerships and develop actions that increase Louisville’s resilience,” Friedlander said. “It is also the beginning of a greater citywide commitment to continue to collaborate, form new partnerships, and design new initiatives in a process that will contribute to a safer and stronger Louisville.”

Resilient Louisville is organized around four visions, 10 goals and 46 action steps:

1. Embrace Lifelong Learning: Includes two goals that aim to ensure equitable education attainment for all residents; and to attract, retain and develop talent for the workforce of the future.
2. Ensure a Safe and Healthy City: Includes three goals that seek to address the needs of Louisville’s most vulnerable populations; implement trauma-informed violence reduction strategies; and strengthen built and natural infrastructure to promote health and well-being.
3. Build a Vibrant Economy and Place: Includes three goals that endeavor to ensure inclusive and equitable economic growth in historically marginalized communities; increase individual financial stability and opportunity for economic mobility; and build upon Louisville’s cultural assets.
4. Maximize Innovation and Civic Engagement: Includes two goals that strive to cultivate social-change agents and foster greater community cohesion; and implement shared transparency and accountability measures with the community.

Resilient Louisville links and reinforces the goals in the Mayor’s Strategic Plan for Louisville’s growth and prosperity. Each vision also ties to the global sustainability community by aligning with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and deepening the connection of this work with partners at the University of Louisville and its Envirome Institute.

With its strategy established, Louisville joins the ranks of approximately 65 cities around the world, including Paris, New York, and Bangkok, that have worked with 100 Resilient Cities to publish similar strategies, which they are working to implement.

Financial and technical assistance for Resilient Louisville were made possible through a partnership between Louisville Metro Government and 100 Resilient Cities, in which Louisville has been a member since 2016.

“Resilient Louisville may be produced by Louisville Metro Government, but it is truly a strategy whose creation and implementation are owned by the city’s residents,” said Michael Berkowitz, president of 100 Resilient Cities. “Along with the global 100RC Network, we look forward to watching this work progress, with the power to transform Louisville into a more resilient city, where all residents can learn, live, thrive and engage today and for generations to come.” 

As a living document, Resilient Louisville will continue to be updated as action steps are added, supplemented by report cards for assessing progress in partnership with the Louisville Metro Office of Performance Improvement and Innovation. 

Read the full Resilience Strategy here. Learn more about the Resilience Louisville development process at  https://louisvilleky.gov/resilience.

President David James (D-6) has announced than in conjunction with PRIDE Week, the Clock Tower at Historic City Hall will glow like a rainbow this week.

          “One of the unique qualities of Louisville Metro is our embracing of diversity and the LGBT Community throughout the city,” said the President. “Let the Clock Tower show all that we support everyone who makes our city what it is: a welcoming community for everyone where all are respected and appreciated.”

          In January of 1999, the then city of Louisville became the first city in the Commonwealth of Kentucky to pass a fairness ordinance protecting the LGBT people from discrimination and employment. It was expanded to include housing and public accommodations.

          In 2004, The Louisville Metro Council adopted the measure after merged government was approved and went in to operation.

          “Today, we members of the Louisville Metro Council still support our LGBTQ community. Realizing that it is through our inclusivity and our diversity that we become a stronger, more prosperous and more dynamic community,” said the President.

          This is the second year the Clock Tower will glow in rainbow colors, from today through next Sunday.

          To learn more about PRIDE Events this week in Louisville Metro, go to:

Mayor Fischer today joined Metro Council representatives, Karen Williams, President & CEO of Louisville Tourism, Civitas, the newly-formed Louisville chapter of the National LGBTQ Chamber of Commerce, the Human Relations Commission and Chris Hartman, Director of the Fairness Campaign, to declare June 10 – 17, 2019 as Pride Week in Louisville.

“Louisville is a compassionate city where everyone is welcome,” said the Mayor. “Let’s join together to show support and unity for our LGBTQ family, because no matter where you’re from or who you love, Louisville welcomes you.”

In honor of Pride Week, Fischer and supporters raised two Pride flags in front of Metro Hall.

“Communities that embrace diversity are strong communities. That’s why we are proud to become the first Kentucky community to officially display an international symbol of inclusivity by raising the Pride flag,” said the Mayor.

The flags were designed and donated to the city by Louisville Tourism and feature a black fleur-di-lis in the middle of the flag.

“Louisville has always ‘prided’ itself on being a welcoming and inclusive destination, making it our mission to be one of the most LGBTQ-friendly cities in the country,” said Karen Williams, President & CEO of Louisville Tourism. “These flags serve as a public display of support, reinforcing our outreach to the LGBTQ community, which has helped us capture major accolades including the current cover story in Passport Magazine and the recent designation by Instinct Magazine for Kentuckiana Pride as one of the 12 Fabulous Worldwide Events Taking Place During Pride Season.”

Additionally, Metro Council President David James announced that the City Hall Clock Tower will be lit in support of Louisville’s LGBTQ residents. 

“I’m proud to celebrate Pride Week here in Louisville by lighting our historic City Hall Clock Tower with the colors of Pride—signifying Louisville’s embrace of our diversity and inclusion of All of our residents,” said James.

As a show of support and to educate the public on the modern fight for LGBTQ rights, an installation of 70 flags has been placed in the ground in front of Metro Hall. The flags celebrate the twenty-year anniversary of the Fairness Ordinance and honor the fifty-year anniversary of Stonewall.

The Fairness Ordinance was passed in 1999 and protects LGBTQ citizens from employment discrimination. It was one of the first passed in the South and one of the few in the country to include the transgender community.

The Stonewall riots marked the beginning of the modern gay rights movement that paved the way for anti-discrimination ordinances, hate crime legislation and marriage equality.

“We’re excited Louisville continues to take a lead in embracing inclusion, diversity, and our LGBTQ community,” said Chris Hartman, Director of the Fairness Campaign. “Twenty years after Louisville banned LGBTQ discrimination with its historic Fairness Ordinance, the raising of Pride flags at Metro Hall signals to everyone who visits our city that it is open to all.”

Fischer is encouraging all businesses and residents to show their colors and participate in this year’s Pride Parade, which is anticipated to be the biggest Pride Parade yet with more than 100 entries and 5,000 walkers.

Fischer and Metro Government employees will march in solidarity with the LGBTQ community and Civitas.

The annual parade starts 7 p.m. Friday, June 14 at Market and Campbell streets and proceeds to the Big Four Lawn, where the Big Four Bridge will be lit in rainbow colors at dusk and the annual pride festival is being held.

For more details about the pride festival, visit http://www.kypride.com/

Louisville’s Points of Pride include:

•  A perfect score of 100 in the Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s Municipal Equality Index four years in a row (2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018)
• Home to the 11^th largest LGBTQ population in the United States.
• University of Louisville is one of only 17 schools in the nation to earn five stars in the Campus Pride Index, the only public university in the South ranked among the “Best of the Best.”
• University of Louisville Medical School has piloted the first medical student training for targeted LGBTQ healthcare needs and is the first university in the country to offer a LGBTQ Studies minor.
• Louisville Metro Government extends benefits options to domestic partners of employees and was one of the first cities in the South to do so.

Louisville recent LGBTQ accolades:

• Named one of six Surprising Cities Great for LGBTQ Families, Family Traveller
• Named one of six Underrated Cities for LGBT Travelers, Conde Nast Traveler
• Named one of nine Perfect Places for Your LGBT Destination Wedding, Travel + Leisure
• Named one of the 10 Hottest Gay Destinations, Orbitz
• Named one of America’s 10 Gayest Cities, Gallup Poll
• Named one of seven U.S. Pride Festivals off the Beaten Track that will Blow you Away, GayStarNews
• Louisville included in twelve fabulous worldwide events taking place during Pride Season, Instinct

Louisville Metro Government has earned a top ranking in the third annual Equipt to Innovate survey, a Living Cities and Governing magazine collaboration that recognizes cities for exceptional performance and innovation.

The high-performing cities were  formally recognized this week at the 2019 Summit on Government Performance & Innovation, an annual gathering of innovators, public sector change-agents, disrupters and civic entrepreneurs from around the country interested in making government work better for local communities.

Louisville Metro earned top honors in the Broadly Partnered category.

“From Day 1 of this administration, we’ve focused on continually improving the services Louisville residents rely on through purposefully finding efficiencies and breakthrough innovations,” Mayor Greg Fischer said. “Our Office for Performance Improvement & Innovation has been at the forefront of this work, and this award shows why they’re among the best in the business of municipal performance improvement.

 “I’m especially pleased that Equipt to Innovate is recognizing our efforts to involve a broad base of community partners to help get residents what they need. Now more than ever, that work is essential.”

Louisville Metro Government has been ranked in the survey’s top 10 cities for the last three years.

Carmen Moreno-Rivera, the city’s Chief of Performance Improvement, added: “The Office for Performance Improvement & Innovation works diligently to help our colleagues and partners develop the best practices and innovations we need to provide the best possible services to our community. Our team is honored that this work continues to receive national recognition.”

Equipt to Innovate is an integrated, collaborative framework anchored in seven key characteristics of high-performance government — being dynamically planned, broadly partnered, resident-involved, race-informed, smartly resourced, employee-engaged and data-driven.

Sixty-six cities participated in the 2019 survey, bringing the three-year total to 144 cities.

In recognizing Louisville Metro Government, Equipt noted that the city develops relationships and partnerships with regional institutions, counties, school districts and neighborhood groups to improve the lives of city residents. Among the work cited:

• The Office of Performance Improvement and Innovation develops templates, processes and best practices to advance the Mayor’s strategic plan goals, and shares them widely with various partners, including the Louisville Metro Housing Authority, the city’s utility companies and school systems, and area nonprofits.
• In the area of criminal justice, KentuckianaWorks developed the “Reimage” program to focus on diversion, felony prevention and violence reduction for 16- to 24-year-olds who have been involved with the justice systems.
• The city’s Office for Safe and Healthy Neighborhoods is implementing Louisville’s Cure Violence Program, which is intended to help stop the spread of violence by using strategies associated with disease control — detecting and interrupting conflicts, identifying and treating the highest-risk individuals and changing social norms. The office works with nonprofits, the school system, a local hospital and other Louisville Metro government offices to establish the program in local communities.
• In 2018, Evolve502, a coalition of community, government and education organizations, was launched to better deliver the services all families and children need to succeed and thrive, and to create a scholarship for every JCPS graduate to help make a two-year college degree affordable and achievable.

As part of its Equipt to Innovate honors, top-ranking cities were identified in each of the core elements:

1. Dynamically Planned – Dallas, TX
2. Broadly Partnered – Louisville, KY
3. Resident-Involved – Baltimore, MD
4. Race-Informed – San Diego, CA
5. Smartly Resourced – San Antonio, TX
6. Employee-Engaged – El Paso, TX
7. Data-Driven – Grand Rapids, MI

The Victorian Mansions of Old Louisville have been a favorite tourist attraction for many over the years. But did you know there are some beautiful hidden away spaces surrounding those mansions?

President David James (D-6) invites everyone to experience that beauty and see the handiwork of gardeners and landscapers as part of the Old Louisville Hidden Treasures Garden Tour this weekend.

“This tour gives everyone the chance to see what can be found in and around the outside of some of most unique architecture in the country,” says James. “It is a great way to see Old Louisville and at the same time help various neighborhood associations maintain the historic nature of our area.”

The idea for the tours began in 1993, when Virginia Ehrlich and Peggy Mims, two Old Louisville residents and activists in the preservation of this Victorian treasure, presented to the Second Street Neighborhood Association the idea of a garden tour that would encompass and benefit all of Old Louisville.

Since then proceeds from the tour help improve and preserve this part of Louisville Metro’s historical heritage in various ways, such as the purchase and maintenance of period lighting, benches, flower urns and ornamental trash receptacles, a newly instituted tree-planting program, and support of other community organizations that improve living conditions for many of our residents.

The 26th Annual Old Louisville Hidden Treasures Garden Tour will be held on Saturday, June 8, and Sunday, June 9, 2019 from 10:00 am – 5:00 pm.

For more information about ticket prices and all of the special events associated with the tour, then go to: http://oldlouisvillegardentour.org/index.html

Today history was made as the new brand for the recently renamed Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport (SDF) was officially unveiled by Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer and Lonnie Ali, wife of Muhammad Ali. Officials with the Louisville Regional Airport Authority, the Muhammad Ali Center and Louisville Tourism also took part in the special event.

“Muhammad Ali’s incredible story, his connection to our city and his legacy present us with both an opportunity and a responsibility. We must do more than preserve his legacy; we must nurture, cultivate and advance that legacy because the name Muhammad Ali – and the values that he stood for – will forever have the power to inspire people to make the world a better place,” said Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer. “That’s why we’re renaming this airport for him, why we’re unveiling a logo today that symbolizes his boldness and his ability to connect with people around the world – the mark of a compassionate warrior. We want the world to know that The Champ’s legacy is alive and well, and growing in Louisville.”

“I am so very proud, yet humbled by today’s renaming of the Louisville International Airport in honor of my late husband, Muhammad Ali,” said Lonnie Ali, widow of Muhammad Ali. “No matter how many miles Muhammad travelled, he always came back to the place he called home and he always made his visitors feel welcome. It is my hope that all people who travel to Louisville will feel that same welcoming spirit as they enter this airport and want to return to visit again soon.”

The brand unveiling follows action taken by the Airport Authority Board, who voted in January 2019 to change the airport’s name to honor Louisville native Muhammad Ali. The airport’s three-letter International Air Transport Association Location Identified – SDF – will remain the same.

“Today is an exciting day for the airport,” said Dale Boden, Airport Authority Board member. “As the world arrives in Louisville, we’re pleased they will be met with the name of ‘The Greatest’ that is prominently represented in the airport. We want travelers to feel his greatness and strength, to feel the compassion of our city and to feel welcomed in a great facility.”

The new brand was created by Badge Design, an identity and design studio that is part of the Louisville-based media and marketing communications company, OvareGroup.

The range of colors in the brand mark – from deep red to a golden orange – highlight the action of the Champ’s arms raising in victory while signifying strength and power. The shape of the butterfly pays homage to Ali’s famous phrase, “float like a butterfly, sting like a bee” and the context of flight for the airport. These elements, combined with the iconic silhouette offer a boldness that is unique to Louisville and its airport.

“Muhammad Ali was a global citizen who impacted the world through his respect and love for all people, regardless of age, ethnicity, gender or geographic border,” said Donald Lassere, President and CEO of the Muhammad Ali Center. “The renaming of the airport communicates to the world that Muhammad Ali’s hometown is bold in its thinking, along with being a city of greatness and compassion.”

The unveiling took place as part of Ali Week, hosted by the Muhammad Ali Center to honor The Greatest. This annual event is held the first week of June to mark the passing of Ali with special events, art, music and other activities to celebrate his legacy and impact as a heavyweight champion, activist, cultural icon and global humanitarian.

“Muhammad Ali was and is an inspiration to the world for people of different backgrounds,” said Anwar Khan, President and Founder of Islamic Relief USA, who spoke at the event. “The renaming of this airport shows the world that Louisville is open to the world. The Muslim community appreciates this gesture of openness and love, which recognizes the legacy of one of Louisville’s favorite sons.”

Nearly 3.9 million travelers pass through Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport each year, and will be greeted with representation of one of the most well-known worldwide.

“The Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport serves as a gateway to tourism for the city, and it will now be a place for visitors to have a touchpoint with one of the world’s most recognized icons of all time,” says Karen Williams, President and CEO of Louisville Tourism. “Even three years after our city’s most famous son’s passing, Louisville continues to see people coming from across the globe to discover and trace Ali’s legacy. The airport rebranding supports current marketing efforts to engage in Ali’s ‘Footsteps of Greatness’ as a reason to inspire visitation to Louisville.”

The Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport is served by six airlines offering flights to more than 30 nonstop destinations including 19 of the region’s top 20 domestic markets. With just one stop, travelers from across the region can reach more than 460 destinations in the U.S. and worldwide.

For more information about the Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport, visit www.FlyLouisville.com.

Enforcement of the Children’s Menu Ordinance will begin Friday, June 7. The ordinance applies to all restaurants in Louisville that offer a Children’s Meal that includes a combination of food items and a beverage that are sold together at a single price. 

The ordinance requires at least one of the following food options be listed on the Children’s Meal menu or be offered verbally to customers ordering a Children’s Meal:

• At least one – quarter cup of unfried fruit or unfried vegetables, excluding white potatoes
• A whole grain product that contains not less than 51 percent by weight in whole grain ingredients, or list whole grain as the first ingredient; or
• A lean protein, defined as a food containing less than 10 grams of fat, 4.5 grams or less of saturated fat and less than 95 milligrams of cholesterol per 100 grams and per labeled serving

Default beverage options to be listed on the Children’s Menu or to be offered verbally include:

• Water, sparkling water, or flavored water with no added natural or artificial sweeteners
• Milk or a nondairy milk alternative
• Fruit juice combined with water or carbonated water
• A beverage containing less than twenty-five calories per eight ounces and no artificial sweeteners.  

Customers will still be able to purchase a Children’s Meal that does not include any of the food items or beverages required by this ordinance, if the customer specifically requests it.  

The ordinance will be enforced by fines ranging from $25 to $100 for each day of non-compliance.   Citations will be issued when food inspectors observe that Children’s Meal menus do not list the required food items or when food inspectors observe that restaurant staff fail to verbally offer customers the food items.

The ordinance was passed by Metro Council and signed by the mayor in June 2017.  A one-year education period was granted before enforcement.  During this period,  Public Health and Wellness food inspectors distributed materials and educated restaurant operators about the ordinance during the regular inspection process.

The CDC reports that the percentage of children and adolescents in the U.S. who are obese has more than tripled since the 1970’s. A child who is obese is more likely to be obese as an adult and be at far greater risk for heart disease, type 2 diabetes and many types of cancer.

As of 2016, nearly 25 percent of sixth graders and 18 percent of kindergartners in Louisville Metro were obese.  Policies supporting healthier eating support our city’s commitment to improving the health of all children and families.

For more information on the Children’s Meal Ordinance CLICK HERE.