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Bridges of Hope Neighborhood Place joins with several community partners to host a day-long forum focused on the rippling effects of addiction on Saturday, May 12. Entitled “Addiction 101: The Ripple Effect of Heroin and Other Drugs”, the event will be held at Dismas Charities at St. Ann’s Center, 1515 Algonquin Pkwy., from 12 – 4 p.m.
The purpose of the forum is to bring together individuals and families that are dealing with addiction as well as service providers, community leaders, advocates, nonprofits and other agencies to learn more about what the opioid epidemic looks like in our community, and explore some of the causes and steps that may be taken to combat this epidemic. The event is free and open to the public and will feature presentations from a number of experts and several tables with representatives from agencies ranging from treatment and other supportive services.
Louisville, like so many cities across the country, is facing an opioid epidemic that has resulted in thousands of overdoses and hundreds of deaths. According to the recently released Coming Together for Hope Healing and Recovery – a report and plan to address substance use and misuse by Louisville Metro Department of Public Health and Wellness – the age-adjusted drug overdose death rate in Louisville in 2016 was more than double what it was in 2011. Furthermore, substance use disorder and overdose impacts every neighborhood.
The featured presenters and agenda are as follows:
- 12:00 – 12:15 p.m. Welcome by Gena Redmon Harris, Director of Louisville Metro Office of Resilience and Community Services, a partner agency in Neighborhood Place
- 12:15 – 12:45 p.m. Understanding Addiction by Dr. Patrick McKiernan, Lecturer, U of L, Kent School of Social Work and Director, Sober Solutions House
- 12:45– 1:15 p.m. Impact of addiction – Individual, by Kim Moore, Case Manager with Reimage, a program which provides a second chance to youth and young adults who are involved with the court system
- 1:15 – 1:45 p.m. Impact of addiction – Family, by William Doyle, LMFT MA Med, Family Therapist, Centerstone, whose office uses a client-centered, trauma-informed approach
- 1:45 – 2:00 p.m. Break
- 2:00 – 2:30 p.m. Impact of addiction – Community, by Major Brittney Garrett, Administrative Commander with Jeffersontown Police Department who runs the Angel Program
- 2:30 – 3:00 p.m Impact of addiction – Hope, Healing and Recovery, presented by staff with Louisville Metro Public Health and Wellness
- 3:00 – 3:30 p.m. Impact of addiction – Country, by Andy Beshear, Kentucky’s Attorney General,
Hosted several substance abuse awareness forums across the state - 3:30 – 4:00 p.m. Questions and Closing
Vendors will be on hand throughout the event to provide resources and information in the following areas: treatment, counseling, prevention, harm reduction, social services, and family support, as well as the needle exchange mobile unit, a drug deactivation pouches giveaway that safely destroy prescription drugs at home, and Hep A vaccines. Participating agencies include Louisville Metro Departments of Public Health and Wellness as well as Resilience and Community Services, Neighborhood Place, the Office of Safe and Health Neighborhoods, Centerstone, Dismas and St. Ann’s.
“Like a pebble tossed in a pond, we all feel the ripple effects of addiction,” said Nannette Dix, administrator for the city’s Resilience and Community Services agency at the Bridges of Hope Neighborhood Place and who is also part of the city’s One Love Louisville Campaign, Substance Abuse Prevention Work Group. “Our goal for this event is to offer education, training and collaboration to help us all be better equipped to face the epidemic that touches our families, friends and community members.”
For more information about the event, contact Nannette Dix at Nannette.Dix@louisvilleky.gov or 634-6057.
Photo: Louisville Forward
Louisvillians hoping to find a fresh start, help with finances or a new career direction will find a wealth of opportunities at the “Be Empowered at the Nia” event on Thursday, May 10. The event is being held at the Nia Center, 2900 W. Broadway, from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Resources and activities include free credit reports and one-on-one credit counseling, a career fair, workshops focusing on work readiness and small business resources, adult education services and GED information, financial education tools and products on the BB&T Bank Bus, and HIV testing. This event also features free food, door prizes and ample parking as well free bus tickets donated by TARC that will serve as some of the door prizes as well as distributed in advance to assist residents interested in attending the event.
Sponsored by BB&T, the “Be Empowered” event brings together partner agencies at the Nia Center including the Office of Financial Empowerment — part of Louisville Metro Office of Resilience and Community Services, Louisville Forward, KentuckianaWorks’ Kentucky Career Center, and TARC along with Apprisen, Bank on Louisville, Cardinal Success Program, Jefferson County Clerk’s Office, Job Corps, Keeping It Real Neighborhood Institute, Louisville Asset Building Coalition, Louisville Metro Human Relations Commission and My Chosen People.The Career Fair will be held at the Kentucky Career Center on the first floor between 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. including more than fifteen employers from the public and private sectors. Job seekers are encouraged to bring a photo ID and copies of a resume or work history and come dressed to meet employers. Pre-register online at https://focuscareer.ky.gov/careerexplorer/home or arrive early to register and even print your resume. For assistance preparing a resume in advance, visit the Kentucky Career Center at the Nia Center, 2900 W. Broadway Suite 100, or at 600 West Cedar.
Participating employers at the Career Fair include:
- AC Hotels
- AFLAC
- Amazon
- Copart
- G4S
- Jefferson County Clerk Office
- Jefferson County Public Schools
- Job Corps
- Marriott
- Ollie’s Bargain Outlet
- Omni Hotel
- Pizza Hut
- Radial
- Republic Bank
- TARC
- Transcend Credit Un ion
- Trimen Solutions
- University of Louisville Human Resources
- S. Census Bureau
- Webster University
Also featured will be the BB&T Bank Bus between 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. a 40-foot mobile classroom providing credit report education, unclaimed property searches, self-file income tax preparation stations, as well as comprehensive financial services. BB&T personnel will also be available to help with checking and savings accounts and other financial services and provide access to computer-based Money Smart Financial Education.
Eleven free workshops will be offered throughout the day including:
- Expungement Process 10 a.m.
- Bankruptcy 11 a.m.
- Resume Writing 11 a.m.
- Credit as an Asset 11 a.m.
- Opioid Crisis and the Community 12 p.m.
- Educational Training Opportunities 1 p.m.
- Louisville Metro Certification 1 p.m.
- Interviewing Skills 1 p.m.
- Identity Theft 1 p.m.
- Income Tax Issues 2:p.m.
- Small Business Resources 2 p.m.
“The Financial Empowerment and Job Fair Day is a great example of how the Nia Center partners are working together to offer an array of workforce and entrepreneurial development resources for our community,” said Gena Redmon Harris, director of Louisville Metro Resilience and Community Services. “We want residents to walk away feeling empowered to strengthen their households and change their future.”
Participants at the May 10 event are encouraged to share their experiences and photos on social media using #NiaPower.
For more information, call 574-7303 or 574-5168, or download this event flyer.
Photo: Neighborhood Place
Each Month Neighborhood Place partners come together to offer a wide variety of workshops, events and resources to benefit the entire family. Highlights in May include a Giant Yard Sale in south Louisville; the Fifth Third Empowerment Bus at NorthWest Neighborhood Place; a community meeting focused on the ripple effects of heroin addiction; three employment recruitment opportunities and much more. To learn more about these offerings and several others please refer to the list below.
May 1, Car Seat Safety Check at Ujima Neighborhood Place, 9 – 11 a.m.
Located at 3610 Bohne Ave. Celebrate Safe Kid’s Safety month by calling 629-7358 for a car seat fitting appointment with Norton’s Children’s Hospital. Learn how to install your child’s car seat or booster seat and find out if it’s time for a change.
May 3, FedEx Ground Employment Opportunities at First Neighborhood Place, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Located at 1503 Rangeland Rd. Call 313-4700 for more information. A FedEx human resources recruiter will talk one-on-one with individuals interested in a career as a package handler with FedEx Ground.
May 3, Sodexo Hiring Opportunities at First Neighborhood Place, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Located at 1503 Rangeland Rd. (T.J. Middle School in the W.D. Bruce Building – door #24). Call 313-4700 for more information. 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.
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 child/ren and you may also bring other children ages (0-2). Sponsored by the YMCA with support from First Neighborhood Place.
May 8, Foster Parent Recruitment Meeting at First Neighborhood Place, 6 – 8 p.m.
Located at 1503 Rangeland Rd., side of Thomas Jefferson Middle School. 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 training classes will be provided. Sponsored by Kentucky Foster Care and the Special Needs Adoption Program.
May 8, 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.
May 8, 22 and 23, Passport Health Care Community Engagement
Representatives from Passport Health Care will be onsite to provide one-on-one consultations and discuss plan benefits and options. This is a great opportunity as Passport aims to raise awareness and educate the community about the Passport Health Plan mission.
- May 8 and 22 – NorthWest Neighborhood Place, 4018 W. Market St. at the Academy of Shawnee, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. Call 313-4892 for more information.
- May 8 and 23 – Ujima Neighborhood Place, 3610 Bohne Ave., 2 – 4 p.m. Call 313-4635 for more information.
May 10, Kitchen Table Conversations: Grandparents Support Group at NorthWest Neighborhood Place, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Located at 4018 West Market Street at the Academy at Shawnee. Call Margaret Murphy at 313-4909 for more information. This popular resource support group for relatives raising grandchildren meets the second Thursday of each month. A monthly guest speaker help this group focus on the unique issues that caregivers may have raising younger children. Aunts, uncles or anyone raising their grandchildren are welcome to attend. Lunch is provided free of charge. This Grandparent Support Group is sponsored by Dr. Helen Dienes.
May 11 and 12, South Jefferson Gigantic Yard Sale and Bake Sale at Bethany United Church of Christ, 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Located at 10400 Old Preston Highway. Call 363-1483 for more information or to inquire about dropping of donations. The Annual Yard Sale and Bake Sale proceeds benefit the South Jefferson Neighborhood Place’s Summer Back to School Event to help purchase supplies. Items for sale will include collectibles, household items, small furnishings, baby items, clothing of all sizes, books, etc. Delicious baked goods will also be available. Donations for the yard sale can be dropped off at South Jefferson Neighborhood Place in Fairdale, 1000 Neighborhood Place, between 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
May 12, Addiction 101 – The Ripple Effect of Heroin and Other Drugs at Dismas Charities, Inc. at St Ann’s Center
Located at 1515 Algonquin Pkwy. The event will included presentations on how addiction ripples through a community from the individual to the entire country as well as resources on prevention, treatment, counseling, harm reduction, social services and family support. Hosted by Bridges of Hope Neighborhood Place, Centerstone, the Office of Safe and Healthy Neighborhoods, and Dismas Charities
May 15, ElderCare 4 Families Employment Recruitment at Ujima Neighborhood Place, 9:30 – 11:30 a.m.
Located at 3610 Bohne Ave. 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.
May 16, Second Annual Faith-based Community Partnership Gathering at NorthWest Neighborhood Place, 8:30 – 10 a.m.
Located at 4018 W. Market Street at the Academy at Shawnee. For more information and to make a reservation, please call Katherine Easley, Recruitment Coordinator 595-3248 ext. 5708. Come and enjoy the morning with community leadership that will highlight the mission and objectives of the Cabinet for Health and Family Services Foster Care and Adoption Division. This breakfast presentation will focus on the need for African American homes for older children in our community and the opportunities the community has to impact the lives of children and their families. This event is sponsored by the Kentucky State Cabinet for Health and Family Services.
May 17, The Fifth Third Financial Empowerment Mobile at NorthWest Neighborhood Place, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Located at 4018 W. Market Street. Meet one-on-one with banking professionals aboard a 40-foot retrofitted city bus equipped with computer workstations and internet connectivity. A wide array of services are availability including the ability to request a credit report and review it with a professional; receive a personalized evaluation of finances; gain information about fraud awareness and prevention; receive internet banking and bill payment demonstrations; participate in home ownership seminars and foreclosure prevention session; and conduct online job searches and learn how to create an effective resume
May 21, 20th Anniversary Celebration at Neighborhood Place of the Greater Cane Run Area, 2– 4 p.m.
Located at 3410 Lees Lane. All public members are invited to come celebrate Cane Run’s 20 years of service in the Shively/PRP area. Past and present Cane Run staff and Council members are invited and encouraged to join the celebration to reconnect, reminisce, and revel in the good work that has been done. Cake and punch will be served. In the event of inclement weather, the celebration will occur on May 22, rain or shine.
May 23 and 24, A Healthy Journey for Two Educational Baby Shower
A Healthy Journey for Two is an educational baby shower open to any expectant mothers. For more information, contact Mendy Mason at 341-5400. 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.
- May 23, Ujima Neighborhood Place, 3610 Bohne Ave, 1 – 3 p.m.
- May 24, at First Neighborhood Place, 1503 Rangeland Rd. 1 – 3 p.m.
May 31, Foster Parent/Adoption Informational Meeting at NorthWest Neighborhood Place, 6 – 8 p.m.
Located at 4018 West Market Street at the Academy at Shawnee. 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 training classes will be provided. Sponsored by Kentucky Foster Care and the Special Needs Adoption Program.
Credit: KY State Parks
Learn about snakes and other reptiles with the “World of Reptiles” show planned at Wickliffe Mounds State Historic Site on April 28.
This interactive program, presented at 1 p.m. by award-winning naturalist Scott Shupe, features live snakes and other reptiles.
While at the park, be sure to take a stroll along the Woods Walk Trail and learn about some useful plants and the natural environment. Enjoy a butterfly program in the Welcome Center from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., where kids can make and take a butterfly mobile and pick up your free flower seed packets for butterfly gardens.
Admission for the reptile program is $3 adults/$2 kids. The reptile program with museum and site tour is $5 adults/$4 kids, seniors and military and includes the butterfly program. Call ahead for discount rates on groups of 10 or more. This is a great opportunity for Scout troops, homeschoolers or youth groups. For more information, call the park office at 270-335-3681, email carla.hildebrand@ky.gov or visit our website at www.parks.ky.gov.
Wickliffe Mounds State Historic Site is an archaeological site of a Native American village of the Mississippian culture. The park features a museum, mounds, walking trail, picnic area, visitor center with tourism information and a gift shop. The park is located along the Mississippi river’s Great River Road National Scenic Byway at 94 Green Street, Highway 51-60-62, Wickliffe, Ky.
Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS) today, in compliance with state law and regulations, released its Request for Charter School Applications (RFCSA), opening its inaugural—and the state’s first—application period for charter schools wishing to open in the 2019-20 school year. The two-month application window runs through June 15.
Prospective applicants should review the RFCSA for application materials, technical requirements and due dates. The RFCSA and accompanying materials can be found here.
Applicants can take advantage of technical assistance opportunities offered by JCPS throughout the application period. Each application will be reviewed based on its merit against the rubric published in the RFCSA. There is no incentive in submitting an application early.
The Jefferson County RFCSA will include the Kentucky Charter School Application as well as additional questions specific to community needs in Jefferson County. In addition, the RFCSA will include more information about the form, format and information required for the completion of the application.
For more information, applicants may contact Cassie Blausey, director of school choice for JCPS, at cassiopia.blausey@jefferson.kyschools.us or (502) 485-3138.
Photo: State Treasurer website
Kentucky State Treasurer Allison Ball held a press conference on Monday morning at Southern High School in Louisville, KY to announce the launch of the Financial Empowerment Coalition and the Financial Empowerment Database, a first-of-its-kind resource for Kentuckians.
“As a former bankruptcy attorney, I understand the need of greater financial literacy in our state,” Treasurer Ball said. “This is an exciting day in Kentucky, as this coalition and database will help bring greater financial empowerment to Kentuckians. With the passage of HB 132 this session, we now have an opportunity to potentially change the lives of many, many people.”
House Bill 132, sponsored by Representative Jim Duplessis of Elizabethtown, makes financial literacy a graduation requirement for Kentucky public high schools. The legislation allows local principals to determine how to meet that requirement; the Financial Empowerment Database offers resources for that very purpose. Providing this resource for educators was a deliberate part of the coalition’s purpose, but, according to Treasurer Ball, the coalition and the database financially empower more than Kentucky’s K-12 students and teachers.
“We have been developing this resource through conversations with community leaders for quite some time,” Treasurer Ball said. “The coalition has been hard at work, developing solutions to Kentucky’s need for greater financial literacy and financial empowerment among many different communities. I am proud of this database and the work we have started.”
The database is a product of the Treasurer’s work with leaders from numerous fields including educators, financial institutions, advocates for veterans and military personnel, and nonprofits. This online resource has been compiled as part of Treasurer Ball’s Financial Empowerment Coalition, which began meeting informally in 2016, the year she took office. The coalition, which now boasts more than thirty organizations, has provided over 100 links of financial literacy resources. The database’s resources are divided into six target groups, or Cultivation Communities, which are also the focus of the Financial Empowerment Coalition’s work. These six communities include Aging Kentuckians, Emerging Adults, Kentuckians with Disabilities, Low-Income Families, Student Strategies, and Veterans and Military Personnel.
“My Role as State Treasurer is to be a watchdog for Kentucky taxpayer dollars and to be a beacon of good government across the Commonwealth,” Treasurer Ball said. “A practical way of doing that is by building a network of people and organizations committed to improving the financial livelihood of Kentuckians. HB 132 and the Financial Literacy Coalition and Database are the beginning fruits of that labor.”
To learn more about the Financial Empowerment Coalition and Database, visit www.treasury.ky.gov/financialempowerment/. If you are interested in joining the Financial Empowerment Coalition, email treasury.web@ky.gov.
The National Society of High School Scholars (NSHSS) recently selected Dana Kelly, an educator at Central High School, as a Claes Nobel Educator of Distinction. A role model to pupils, Dana was nominated by a student for outstanding dedication and commitment to excellence in the profession.
Each year student members of NSHSS are invited to nominate the educator who has made the most significant contribution to their academic career for the Claes Nobel Educator of Distinction award. This honor recognizes exemplary educators whose passion and devotion inspire their students to grow and develop as scholars, leaders and citizens.
“Dedicated educators who exhibit a commitment to excellence deserve our highest praise and appreciation,” said NSHSS President James W. Lewis. “Through our Educators of Distinction program and the grants we provide to support professional development and enrich classroom instruction, we hope to acknowledge and encourage the vital work of the teachers, counselors and administrators who are shaping the intellect and character of our young scholars.”
The National Society of High School Scholars seeks to advance the goals and aspirations of high-achieving students through unique learning experiences, scholarships, internships, international study and peer networks. Learn more here.
