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A stronger pipeline of young talent is critical to Louisville’s future, Mayor Greg Fischer said in launching the SummerWorks youth jobs program for 2018.
“Summer jobs are critical building blocks for young people, and SummerWorks is crucial for the health of the local economy, because it creates a pipeline of future talent,” Mayor Fischer said. “We want Louisville’s business culture to be one where every company, large and small, hires or sponsors summer jobs for youth.”
Last year, more than 160 companies and organizations hired SummerWorks youth. And already, momentum is building for this summer, with many employers hiring youth through the program for the first time, including Hilliard Lyons, Kelley Construction, Kentuckiana Comfort Center, iQor, Louisville Bats and Spectrum. Other companies, including Kentucky Kingdom and Thorntons, are increasing the number of young people they hire.
Today’s program kickoff was at GE Appliances, where 13 SummerWorks participants have gone on to full-time work in the past two years.
“GE Appliances was one of the first Louisville companies to sign up for the SummerWorks program because we saw a critical need to build a pipeline of young talent who want a good career in manufacturing,” said GE Appliances Vice President of Manufacturing Bill Good. “Working with SummerWorks has been a great experience, and I look forward to seeing the program grow as other companies begin to participate. It has been an excellent way to recruit motivated, energetic youth who have brought fresh thinking to our manufacturing operations.”
Additional businesses where program participants have transitioned to full employment include the Hyatt Hotel, Humana, Kentucky Kingdom, Norton Healthcare and UPS.
Starting this year, SummerWorks will play an increasing role in creating more young talent through its alignment with the new Academies of Louisville initiative being rolled out at JCPS high schools. The goal is for every student to have had a summer job experience by the time they graduate their Academy high school.
“The SummerWorks program offers our students a unique opportunity to gain relevant and hands-on experience in the working world, which aligns perfectly with the Academies of Louisville structure,” said Dr. Marty Pollio, JCPS Superintendent. “And the benefits go both ways. This summer experience not only builds on the classroom instruction, giving our students a real-world application to what they’ve learned, but because of the practical experience they’ve gained in the academies programs, they are sharper and more proficient employees for the SummerWorks business partners.”
Companies and organizations that aren’t able to directly hire youth this summer can instead sponsor jobs. A donation of $2,500 funds a summer job at a non-profit organization or city agency.
SummerWorks will continue creating job experiences that build entrepreneurial skills in young people by providing mini-grants to five local organizations: Empowered, Inc., Food Literacy Project at Oxmoor Farm, Jefferson Memorial Forest, New Roots and Pride Leadership Academy. The grants will fund work experiences for youth ranging from helping provide fresh produce in West Louisville, to developing fish hatchery tanks, to creating a business plan and website for a small business. Additional grants will fund job training and career exploration hosted at five local non-profit and public agencies.
SummerWorks is overseen by KentuckianaWorks, the workforce development agency for the Louisville area, in partnership with Louisville YouthBuild, which adds expertise in working with at-risk youth and provides mentoring and job-coaching. The goal is to provide even stronger long-term outcomes for young people involved in the program.
In 2014, SummerWorks was recognized by the U.S. Conference of Mayors as one of the nation’s best summer jobs programs for young people.
The Mayor launched SummerWorks after taking office in 2011, in response to the elimination of federal funding for summer jobs. In that first year, the effort placed 200 young people in jobs. Last summer, more than 5,200 youth found summer work directly through the program and at its champion employers.
Other businesses that have committed to hiring SummerWorks youth this year include 4th Street Live, Dare to Care, GlowTouch Technologies, Interapt, Kindred Healthcare, Kroger, Louisville Zoo, Oxmoor Auto Group, Speedway and YMCA of Greater Louisville.
Employers and youth participants can sign up for the program at www.summerworks.org.
Photo: Neighborhood Place
Neighborhood Place partners offer healthy workshops and services in March to benefit the entire family including car seat and blood pressure checks, a healthy living club and cooking classes, an educational baby shower, a child abuse awareness workshop and so much more. To learn more about these offerings and several others please refer to the list below.
March 1, 8, 15, 16, 22 and 29, Weekly Resource School at Bridges Neighborhood Place
Located at 1411 Algonquin Pkwy. Contact Nannette Bertram Dix at 634-6057 to RSVP and for more information. The Bridges of Hope staff is teaming up with an array of service providers to provide weekly programming and resources focusing on substance prevention, self-sufficiency, health, safety and resiliency. All workshops are free and open to the public.
- March 1, “Everyone Plays a Part”, presented by ECHO (Exploited Children’s Help Organization) to learn how to recognize signs and symptoms of abuse and neglect, 4 – 5 p.m.
- March 8 and 22, “Choices”, presented by Center for Women and Families providing an educational and support program for people affected by sexual violence, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
- March 15, “Trauma 101”, presented by Resilience and Community Services which focuses on Trauma Informed Care, 4 – 5 p.m.
- March 16, HIV/AIDS education and testing, 4 presented by the Volunteers of America, 4 – 6 p.m.
- March 29, “Wake Up”, presented by Resilience and Community Services to provide education on opioid addiction, 4 – 6 p.m.
Beginning March 1, Cooking Matters Class at South Jefferson Neighborhood Place, 1 – 3 p.m.
Located at 1000 Neighborhood Place. Call 772-8588 to register for this class. Join this six-week cooking class to learn about healthy eating, cook in class, and take home a bag of groceries each week. Free for individuals meeting income eligibility requirements. Sponsored by Family Health Center and Dare to Care.
March 1 and March 12, Sodexo Hiring Opportunities
Sodexo, a food-service agency, will provide on-the-spot interviews for positions with Jewish Hospital, Our Lady of Peace and University of Louisville Hospital. Bring your resume and be prepared for an interview. This is one of Sodexo’s busiest hiring seasons. Stop by if you are looking for employment that can lead to a full-time or part-time position.
- March 1, First Neighborhood Place, 1503 Rangeland Road (T.J. Middle School in the W.D. Bruce Building – door #24), 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. Call 313-4700 for more information.
- March 12, South Central Neighborhood Place, 4255 Hazelwood Ave., 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. Call 485-7130 for more information.
March 2, 5, 6 and 15, ElderCare 4 Families Employment Recruitment
Call 244-8446 for more information. An employment recruiter will be on-hand for ElderCare 4 Families, a non-medical in homecare service for seniors provide help with cooking, cleaning, laundry and personal care.
- March 2, First Neighborhood Place, 1503 Rangeland Road (T. J. Middle School in the W.D. Bruce Building – door #24), 9:30 a.m. – 12 p.m.
- March 5, South Central Neighborhood Place, 4255 Hazelwood Ave., 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
- March 6, Ujima Neighborhood Place, 3610 Bohne Ave., 9:30 – 11:30 a.m.
- March 15, Northwest Neighborhood Place, 4001 Herman St., 9 – 11 a.m.
Mondays and Thursdays, YMCA’s “Caring and Learning with Me” program at Thomas Jefferson Middle School, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Located at 1503 Rangeland Rd., side of Thomas Jefferson Middle School. Call Keyonna Humphrey at 974-8457 for more information and to register. This free program provides a wonderful learning environment for children ages 3-5 years old and their caregivers focusing on play and exploration. The adult caregiver is required to attend with the children and you may also bring other children ages (0-2). Sponsored by the YMCA with support from First Neighborhood Place.
Tuesdays through April 17, Free Tax Preparation Services at First Neighborhood Place, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Located at 1503 Rangeland Rd., side of Thomas Jefferson Middle School. Call 502-305-0005 or visit louisvillekyvita.cascheduler.com to make an appointment or t check out IRS documentation needed. Sponsored by VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) with support from First Neighborhood Place.
March 6, Car Seat Safety Check at Ujima Neighborhood Place, 9 – 11 a.m.
Located at 3610 Bohne Ave. Car seat fitting by appointment only Norton’s Children’s Hospital Car Seat check fitting station 9:00 a.m. -11:00a.m call 629-7358. Learn how to install your child’s car seat or booster seat. Find out if it’s time for a change.
Beginning March 7, Freedom from Smoking Classes at South Jefferson Neighborhood Place, 10 – 11:30 a.m.
Located at 1000 Neighborhood Place. Call 772-8588 to register or for more information. Join this weekly group on Wednesdays for seven weeks to get the support you need to be free from smoking, Support will be provided on stress management, creating a personal plan and avoiding weight gain. All classes are free. Sponsored by the Family Health Centers.
March 10, SOAR (Summer Opportunities Resource Fair) at Ujima Neighborhood Place, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Located at 3610 Bohne Ave in the DuValle Education Center/Carter Traditional School Gym. Call 313-4635 for more information. SOAR provid an opportunity for families to prepare for the summer by exploring and comparing various summer programs all at one location.
March 12 and 27, A Healthy Journey for Two Educational Baby Shower
To RSVP or for more information, contact Mendy Mason at 502-341-5400. A Healthy Journey for Two is an educational baby shower open to any expectant mothers. The class will include a range of information and resources, as well as free baby items, gift cards, prizes, and snacks. Hosted by Seven Counties and KIDSNow. Fathers are welcome but must be registered.
- March 12, First Neighborhood Place, 1503 Rangeland Rd., 1 – 3 p.m.
- March 27, Northwest Neighborhood Place, 4018 W. Market St., 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
March 13, Free Blood Pressure Checks at Ujima Neighborhood Place, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Located at 3610 Bohne Ave. Call 313-4635 for more information. Louisville Metro Health and Wellness health educators will provide free blood pressure checks.
March 13 and 29, Foster Parent/Adoption Recruitment Meeting
Call 595-5437 (KIDS) for more information. Detailed information will be provided on the requirements and process of how to become a foster or adoptive parent. Information such as an explanation of foster care, special needs adoption, and information on foster parent training classes will be provided. Sponsored by Kentucky Foster Care and the Special Needs Adoption Program.
- March 13, First Neighborhood Place, 1503 Rangeland Rd., 6 – 8 p.m.
- March 29, NorthWest Neighborhood Place, 4018 W. Market St., 6 – 8 p.m.
March 13, Healthy Living Club at South Jefferson Neighborhood Place, 1– 2 p.m.
Located at 1000 Neighborhood Place, Call 363-1483 for more information. Classes are open to anyone interested in gaining more knowledge to live a better and more fulfilling life. Monthly meetings are on the second Tuesday of every month to discuss healthy living and to get the support you need to eat better, get active, and lose weight. This month features diabetes education on caring for yourself through a healthy diet and exercise. Come and join the fun and fellowship.
March 13, 14, and 28, Community Dental Care Information Sessions
Call 502-366-4442 for more information. Community Dental Care is a full-service dental organization designed to increase access to health care in communities with the goal of improving the overall health of the population. Representatives will be on site to provide information about services offered, to assist in scheduling appointments for dental needs as well as offer no cost dental screenings.
- March 13, South Central Neighborhood Place, 4255 Hazelwood Ave., 9:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
- March 14, Ujima Neighborhood Place, 3610 Bohne Ave., 9:30 – 11:30 a.m.
- March 28, South Jefferson Neighborhood Place – Fairdale location, 1000 Neighborhood Place, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
- March 28, South Jefferson Neighborhood Place – Valley Location, 10200 Dixie Hwy; 1:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
March 20 and 22, Conversation on How We Can Make Insurance Easier
For more information or to register, call 852-1119. The University of Louisville, School of Public Health and Information Sciences is hosting a number of focus groups to discuss how people who live in the South Louisville area can get better information about how health insurance works. Each participant will receive a free meal at the meeting and a $20 gift card for their time. In order to participate, you must: live in the South Louisville area; be at least 18 years of age; be able to communicate in English; attend one of the following meetings for 90 minutes; and complete a short survey at the meeting.
- March 20, South Jefferson Neighborhood Place – Fairdale location, 1000 Neighborhood Place, 6. – 7:30 p.m.
- March 22, Southwest Branch Library, 9725 Dixie Highway, 6 – 7:30 p.m.
March 20, James Graham Brown Cancer Center Mammogram Screening at South Jefferson Neighborhood Place, 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Located at 1000 Neighborhood Place, Call 852-6318 for more information. Mammogram screenings are provided at no cost to women without insurance and who are 40 years and over. Any persons with insurance will be billed by the U of L Hospital. Sponsored by Family Health Centers and James Graham Brown Cancer Center at U of L Hospital.
March 20, 22, 27 and 30, Passport Health Care Informational Table
Call 313-4635 for more information. A community engagement representative is onsite to answer any questions that Passport members have regarding their plan, benefits and updates on the upcoming waiver.
- March 20, Ujima Neighborhood Place, 3610 Bohne Ave., 10 a.m – 12 p.m.
- March 22, South Central Neighborhood Place, 4255 Hazelwood Ave., 2 – 4 p.m.
- March 27, NorthWest Neighborhood Place, 4018 W. Market St., 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
- March 30, South Jefferson Neighborhood Place, 1000 Neighborhood Place, 2– 4 p.m.
March 20, Everyone Has a Role workshop at Ujima Neighborhood Place, 6 – 7 p.m.
Located at 3610 Bohne Ave Call 313-4635 to RSVP and for more information. To kick off Child Abuse Awareness Month in April, this workshop will cover child abuse recognition and reporting and how to recognize signs and symptoms of abuse and neglect. Sponsored by ECHO (Exploited Children’s Help Organization).
March 26, Diabetes Education Classes at South Jefferson Neighborhood Place, 1:30 – 3:30 p.m.
Located at 1000 Neighborhood Place. Call 502-772-8588 to sign up. This information session is provided monthly to assist in learning the latest information on managing diabetes including healthy eating, developing an active lifestyle, taking medications and reducing health risks. Sponsored by Family Health Centers.
March 27, The Butterfly Effect Prom Event at NorthWest Neighborhood Place, 3:30 – 6 p.m.
Located at 4018 W. Market St. Call 313-4892 for more information. Prom is an exciting yet expensive time for many community families. The Butterfly Effect Prom Event will help match donated dresses, shoes and accessories with students in need of assistance. Dress donations and tuxedo rental vouchers are begin collected through March 23. Sponsored in collaboration with Destinee Germany – Miss Black Kentucky, NorthWest Neighborhood Place, Academy at Shawnee Youth Services and Jefferson County Public Schools.
Nearly 80 judges and attorneys from the Louisville Bar Association will speak to nearly 2,000 Jefferson County Public School (JCPS) high school students to help them gain an understanding of financial literacy during the two-day Credit Abuse Resistance Education (CARE) blitz.
Attorney volunteers will lead 75 sessions throughout the two days at 22 school sites, helping the teens gain an appreciation for money matters and learn about responsible personal financial management, including budgeting; use of credit; the significance of a credit score; interest; and making a distinction between wants and needs.
Volunteers will also touch on identity theft, cyber dangers and pay day lending.
Now in its 11th year in Jefferson County, CARES is the largest public service project of the Louisville Bar Association (LBA). Founded in 2002 by Bankruptcy Judge John C. Ninfo in Rochester, New York, the program is offered in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.
More than 600 students from Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS) and area private schools will gather Wednesday for the JCPS IdeaFestival, to be held from 9 a.m. until 2:45 p.m. at The Kentucky Center for the Performing Arts, 501 W. Main St.
With a theme of the ‘flip side,’ the student-centered conference will feature 10 presentations, highlighting discussions of current and forward-looking ideas and issues from a diverse group of speakers. Student-planned and executed, the event provides young people with an outlet to express opinions and delve into timely issues, and encourages students to see the connection between these issue and their lives. You can follow the day’s action on Twitter using #staycurious, #WeAreJCPS or following @ifjcps.
Presentations include:
- 9:30 a.m.: “The Secret to Success” (Jocelyn Marables – Brown School)
- 9:45 a.m.: “The Design Process Demonstrated through Cup Holders” (Billy Dunbar – Jeffersontown High School)
- 10:15 a.m.: “Flipping the Script on Sexual Assault” (Autumn Knuckles – DuPont Manual High School)
- 10:45 a.m.: “Mindfulness” (Robin O’Bryant – Fairdale High School)
- 10:55 a.m.: “English as a Second Language” (Camille Rougier, Marco Munoz and Melissa Perello – DuPont Manual High School)
- 12 p.m.: “Diversity” (Mwamini Mulungula, Mustafa Abdulrazak, Meena Abdulrazak, Dhahira Faqih, Keon Farris and Evan Farmer – Fairdale High School)
- 1 p.m.: Early Dismissal
- 1:30 p.m.: “Where Art and Identity Meet” (Alicia Juarez, Dailah Dwuye and Amelia Oliver – Marion C. Moore School)
- 1:50 p.m.: “Practicing Allyship in the Face of Oppression” (Netra Rastogi – DuPont Manual High School)
- 2:15 p.m.: “Comics, Career, Identity and the Future” (Robert Middleton and Josiah Garvizu – Marion C. Moore School)
- 2:30 p.m.: Entertainment – “I Know a Place” (Cole Railey and Caleb Kennedy – Eastern High School)
- 2:45 p.m.: Closing of Festival
In 2014, the JCPS IdeaFestival evolved from the IF Manual event, a festival held at DuPont Manual High School and inspired by the official IdeaFestival. The JCPS IdeaFestival has expanded to deliver thought-provoking presentations and festivals to the entire JCPS district and private schools.
Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS) Superintendent Dr. Marty Pollio, Dave Myers, Fairdale High School heavy equipment science instructor, Fairdale High School students, business partners and former students will celebrate Fairdale High School’s launch as an Academies of Louisville school beginning in the 2018/19 school year, focusing on preparing students for careers in law enforcement, fire science and heavy equipment. Fairdale will be the 12th – and newest – academies school within JCPS.
Following brief remarks, students will demonstrate exercises in all three program areas to highlight the real-world experiences they’re gaining in an academies-model curriculum, including a high-speed chase in a driving simulator; forcible door entry simulation; and heavy equipment operation.
In addition, FHS graduates who are now working in related careers will be available for interviews.
Photo: Louisville Metro Council
Councilman Brandon Coan (D-8), the Civic Data Alliance and Bellarmine University announce the rescheduled Hack the Highlands event, the CDA’s first neighborhood-specific hackathon, this Saturday February 24th at Bellarmine University. Originally scheduled to occur in January, inclement weather forced the hackathon to be move to this coming Saturday.
The Civic Data Alliance is Louisville’s Code for America Brigade focused on being a force for open data, coding education, and civic engagement. A hackathon is an event at which coders and other stakeholders focus on using data to create software to solve problems.
“I’m excited and appreciative to partner with the Civic Data Alliance and Bellarmine University to produce Hack the Highlands,” said Coan. “The event is part of my plan to build interest in civic engagement and make city business more accessible, interesting and participatory. I hope a number of students, neighborhood coders and urbanists will come out and join us.”
Since 2014, the CDA has hosted nearly a dozen hackathons around Louisville and produced innovative solutions to local needs, including creating tools for those who are visually impaired and supporting The New Dixie Highway project.
“The Civic Data Alliance is excited to work with Councilman Coan and Bellarmine University to host this hackathon,” said CDA event organizer Robert Kahne. “We hope that the work done on this day brings this corner of the city closer together and helps the Highlands as it faces unique challenges and embraces its unique advantages. CDA is always open and willing to work with any elected officials regardless of political party or office who wishes to support open data and technology for the public good. We commend Councilman Coan for reaching out to us and helping put this event together.”
Hack the Highlands will focus on using the city’s open data to solve problems specific to the Highlands, including reorganizing the area’s litter baskets to make the streets cleaner, tracking streetlight outages to make neighborhoods safer and analyzing the results of Councilman Coan’s 2017 “I Can Get You a Tow” campaign, designed to curb illegal rush hour street parking on Bardstown Road and Baxter Avenue.
The event will be held Saturday, February 24th from 9am-5pm at Bellarmine, in classroom CNMH 081 on the ground level of Centro’s McGowan Hall. It is free and open to the public, and parking is available in Bellarmine lots.
“We’re proud to call the Highlands and District 8 Bellarmine’s home, so we’re delighted to host this data-driven session that will make our neighborhood an even better place to live, learn and work,” said Dr. Susan M. Donovan, Bellarmine’s president.
For more information and to RSVP, visit:
https://tinyurl.com/HackTheHighlands2-24
http://www.tinyurl.com/cmcoand8
Photo: Louisville Metro Council
Dr. George C. Wright is coming to Louisville to discuss his book on the history of race relations and black life in Kentucky as a guest of Councilwoman Cheri Bryant Hamilton (D-5) for a Black History month community event on Friday, February 23rd.
“This is a great opportunity to hear from a native Kentuckian who has chronicled the history of blacks in Kentucky covering progress and violence since 1865 forward,” said Hamilton. “It is an important meeting for those who want to understand black history in our commonwealth as we celebrate Black History Month.”
Dr. Wright is a native of Lexington, Kentucky and has served in many faculty and administrative positions at American universities since 1977.
He received his Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees in History from the University of Kentucky and his Doctorate in History from Duke University. He is a past President of Prairie View A&M University, the second oldest public institution of higher education in Texas. He is currently a full professor of history at Texas A&M University in College Station.
He is the author of “Life Behind a Veil: Blacks in Louisville, KY from 1865 to 1930”. Dr. Wright has also authored “A History of Blacks in Kentucky: In Pursuit of Equality, 1890—1980, Volume II” and “Racial Violence in Kentucky, 1865- 1940: Lynchings, Mob Rule, and “Legal Lynchings”.
The community meeting is set for the Portland Memorial Baptist Church, 3802 West Market Street beginning at 1:00pm.
“In order to move forward, it is always important for everyone young and old, black or white, to understand our history in Louisville and Kentucky. Dr. Wright knows that history and is able to put it in perspective for the 21st Century. I encourage everyone to come out and share this experience,” says Hamilton.
For more information about this event, contact Councilwoman Hamilton’s office at 574-1105.
