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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.
Photo: Louisville Metro Council
Councilwoman Jessica Green (D-1) is encouraging any job seeker out there to take advantage of the AFSCME Job Fair set for this Wednesday, February 28th.
“While we are always glad to help any group publicize employment opportunities, we shouldn’t forget there are openings in right here in Metro Government that people may not be aware of,” says Green. “Many times the difference between finding a job and getting a job is knowing what is available.”
The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees will hold their Job Fair at Jefferson Square Park right across from Metro Hall between the hours of 11:00am and 1:00pm.
“AFSCME positions have been understaffed for over 2 years mainly in Metro Corrections and Youth Detention Services Departments. AFSCME has worked diligently with Metro to get these positions filled. However we’ve been met with resistance to the point we’ve filled grievance after grievance on short staffing and unsafe working,” says Saulette Davis of AFSCME. “We would like the Community to join us and stand with us in Jefferson Square Park across from the Mayor’s office to fill out applications where we will have computers set up. Under staffing means the Public is underserved!”
It is an opportunity to learn what open positions there are in Metro Government at all departments and agencies.
“So if you are interested, come check it out,” says the Councilwoman.
For more information, contact Councilwoman Green’s office at 574-1101.
Photo: KFC Yum! Center
They dropped a few hints this past weekend and now it is official… Metallica’s WorldWired Tour returns to North America this Fall! Following last summer’s 25 date sold-out stadium run, this year Metallica is bringing the in-the-round production currently being seen in European arenas to the U.S. and Canada kicking off on September 2, 2018, in Madison, WI. Along the way they will be visiting 34 cities that they did not go to last year, and a few that they haven’t been to in decades, including Grand Forks, ND (nearly 30 years), Sioux Falls, SD, El Paso, TX, Birmingham, AL (nearly 26 years) and State College, PA (20 years). About time, wouldn’t you say?!
The Fall/Winter tour will mark a few firsts for the band. Each show will get rolling with the Light It Up pre-show party hosted by their very good friend Jim Breuer. Jim, along with a DJ to get the night rocking with some great tunes, hits the stage before the band with comedy, fan interaction, giveaways and much more. And if you love to travel and one show just isn’t enough, then perhaps the Wherever I May Roam Black Ticket is for you! For the first time in ‘Tallica history, you may purchase one ticket that will allow you floor access to any Metallica show on the 2018/2019 North American tour. Feel like trucking to Tulsa? Booking to Boise? Motoring to Minneapolis? No problem… you pick the show, call us no less than 48 hours before the gig and you’re in! A limited number of 250 of these Black Tickets* will be available for $598 (yes… celebrating the re-issue of the Garage Days Re-Revisited EP!). All sale dates and times below.
Of course, some things don’t change! As they have been doing for most of the WorldWired shows, every ticket purchased includes your choice of a standard physical or standard digital copy of Hardwired…To Self-Destruct. Keep it for yourself or gift it to a friend or family member. You’ll receive info via e-mail after your ticket purchase on how to obtain your copy.** The enhanced experience options designed to take your Metalli-night to the next level are also returning as Metallica continue to partner with the team that makes it all happen at CID Entertainment. You’ll have three options of special enhanced experiences, including premium tickets and amenities ranging from early access to the venue and the “Memory Remains” exhibit of memorabilia to meeting some of the band(!) For full package details, visit https://www.cidentertainment.com/events/metallica-worldwired-tour
Finally, Metallica continue to raise funds for their All Within My Hands Foundation, which supports a cross-section of national, local and Bay Area charities, music education programs and local food banks. Continuing their collaboration with Crowdrise, Metallica encourage you to make a donation when purchasing tickets to the upcoming shows and each time you donate, you’ll be entered to win tickets, pre-show party passes, meet and greet passes, and one lucky winner will be flown to the last show on the tour. For more information, visit https://www.crowdrise.com/Metallica2018
“Enough!” you say. “How do I get tickets?” Presales for Fan Club members begin tomorrow, February 27th. Visit https://metallica.com/metclub for all the details. Citi card members may purchase tickets beginning at 11:00 AM local time tomorrow, February 27th and Spotify will have pre-sale tickets starting on Wednesday February 28th. For a complete list of other presales, visit https://metallica.com Public on-sale begins Friday, March 2nd at 10:00 AM local time.
*“Wherever I May Roam” Black Tickets are non-transferable and if re-sold will be revoked. Each ticket is good for entry to Metallica specific shows and may not be used for festivals, promotional shows, benefit concerts or any other dates not included in the 34 city North American tour announced on February 26, 2018. Use of a Black Ticket will require a reservation for each show you plan to attend no less than 48 hours in advance. More details about how to use your Black Ticket will be sent to purchasers via e-mail.
**Every ticket purchased through official outlets includes your choice of a standard physical or standard digital copy of Hardwired…To Self-Destruct. Fans should expect to receive information from Warner Music Artist Services on how to redeem their albums WITHIN 21 business days after their purchase. Full details of how you can gift the album, should you have already purchased, will be given on the redemption page.
Joined by representatives from local organizations and volunteer committees, Mayor Greg Fischer today announced plans for his 2018 Give A Day week of service.
This year’s Give A Day week is set for April 14-22, although the Mayor noted that many projects will be under way earlier, to avoid conflicts with Thunder over Louisville at the end of the week. Give A Day is an official Kentucky Derby Festival event, and kicks off the festival season.
This year’s Give A Day week also leads into the 2018 Festival of Faiths, another volunteer-driven event.
“The people of Louisville give of their time, talent and treasure every single day, which is how we’ve earned recognition as an International Model City of Compassion year after year,” the Mayor said. “The Give A Day week of service is our way to showcase and celebrate all those great efforts in one week. I am so grateful for all those who help make this annual event bigger every year.”
Give a Day started in 2011 as a one-day call to serve others. Last year’s Give A Day Week of Service produced a world-record 180,000 volunteers and acts of compassion. Mayor Fischer said this year’s goal is to top that, with even more volunteers, donations and other good deeds.
The ultimate goal, he said, is to see compassion spread, and he pointed to the OGO JAR project being spearheaded by Global Game Changers Student Empowerment Program in collaboration with Lead2Feed Student Leadership Program. This year, all 130,000+ K-12 students enrolled in JCPS, Archdiocese of Louisville and independent and private schools will be invited to participate in this project, which encourages students and educators to create and sustain a culture of kindness, recognition and gratitude.
Other projects this year include:
- The annual Walk of Compassion, a short, student-led walk through downtown on April 17 that is part of the international WE Day. Downtown workers and others are invited to join more than 4,000 students participating in the lunch-time walk, which is sponsored by WLKY. WE Day is a celebration for our young people in grades 3-12 who have committed themselves to community service. They are already collecting hygiene products to be shared with JCPS’ resource centers and the community. Highland Cleaners has agreed to serve as the drop-off center for citizens wanting to contribute.
- The Build A Bed project, which is a JCPS-AmeriCorps-sponsored effort to build beds for children who otherwise don’t have one. New this year, volunteers will be building about a half dozen bunk beds. With the support of nearly a dozen local companies, including K&I Lumber, this project provides a bed, bedding, books and stuffed animals – some of the basics of a good night’s sleep. The first Build a Bed event in Louisville was hosted by JCPS Office of Community Support Services in 2012 and has grown, with volunteers and agencies setting up events throughout the year.
During a kickoff press conference held today at the Boys and Girls Haven, Mayor Fischer praised community organizations like the YMCA for their leadership, and he specifically called out Metro United Way, which this year celebrates its 100th anniversary, for its unflagging support of Give A Day.
“We’re proud to support our community in solving problems through volunteer service all year round,” said Theresa Reno-Weber, president and CEO of Metro United Way. “As a part of that continuous work, we are excited to again serve as the backbone of Mayor’s Give A Day by connecting volunteers to meaningful opportunities to give back and address the needs of our neighbors. Connecting people with the passion, expertise and resources needed to get things done is at the heart of what we do in our fight for the education, financial stability and health of every person in our seven county region.”
The Mayor also praised the community’s schoolchildren, both public and private, for their support and involvement in Give A Day, noting that they are responsible for a huge percentage of the volunteers and acts of compassion counted every year.
“Last year, we had 100 percent participation from our schools, and our students donated the equivalent of 1,145 days of service – that’s more than two years of service projects in just one day,” said Jefferson County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Marty Pollio. “We are proud of what our students and staff were able to accomplish and the difference we made in the neighborhoods surrounding our schools. This is a perfect way for us to give back to our community – a community that steps up and supports our students throughout the year.”
“Service and outreach are important components of Catholic schools throughout the year, and schools in the Archdiocese of Louisville look forward to participating in Mayor Fisher’s Give a Day week of service,” said Leisa Schulz, Superintendent of Catholic schools. “Catholic schools will be engaging in activities throughout the community.”
Also today, Mayor Fischer announced the formation of a founding Give A Day Board whose purpose is to sustain and grow the great service and compassion work that has taken place over the past 7 years. Mary Pat Regan will chair this founding board.
Individuals or groups wanting to find a project for Give A Day week are encouraged to visit http://www.mygiveaday.com where projects and needs submitted by local non-profit agencies and other groups are listed. There you can also record your acts of compassion.
The Mayor urged individuals and companies to use the website to report their own community service. “If your church or civic group is doing a project that week, let us know about it so it can count toward our new world record,” he said.
The Brightside and Passport Health Plan Community-Wide Cleanup on April 14 is one of the most popular ways to participate in Give A Day. Every year, thousands help clean up neighborhoods, schools and parks. To learn more:https://louisvilleky.gov/government/brightside/brightside-passport-healt…
Companies and organizations of all sizes also will have employee teams in action, including GE, Computershare, UPS and Ford.
Mayor Fischer said having Give A Day week as the lead-up to the Kentucky Derby Festival helps put Louisville’s caring deeds in the world spotlight. And Festival president and CEO Mike Berry said the timing is perfect.
“With more than 70 events to produce each year, we couldn’t do it without our large network of volunteers,” Berry said. “It’s a real tribute to this community that we have so many people living and working here who are willing to give of themselves to make our city a better and more caring place.”
Photo: KFC Yum! Center
Four-time Grammy Award winner Keith Urban will bring his “GRAFFITI U WORLD TOUR 2018” to Louisville on Saturday, October 20. Tickets will go on sale on March 2 at Ticketmaster.com. The tour will feature special guest Kelsea Ballerini as Urban’s supporting act on most of the North American leg.
The 58-city tour will kick off in June and run through November. Urban’s shows have become concert events that electrify. They’re unexpected, if not unpredictable, and have been hailed by media around the world as a “concert experience not to be missed.” The tour will feature many of Urban’s 23 #1 songs, as well as brand new songs that have never been performed live and an all-new concert production that promises to be as spectacular as never before.
“I’ve been full-on writing, recording, collaborating and creating with some incredibly talented people for GRAFFITI U, a lot of whom I’ve never worked with before,” said Urban. “I can hear how some of the songs will translate live already, which really makes putting on a new show so exhilarating and I loved having our fans included in the announcement of the tour because it’s their tour too.”
“I remember hearing Keith Urban songs that stopped me in my tracks and made me want to drop everything and chase that kind of lyric and heart-filled artistry,” says Ballerini. “He’s the best in the business and I can’t wait to fangirl and learn from him this year. Truly an honor to tour with him.”
For all official Keith Urban tour news including show dates and where to purchase tickets, go to www.keithurban.net.
Photo: Louisville Metro Council
Councilman Bill Hollander invites the community to attend an upcoming D9 Community Conversation, which will close out Black History Month with a presentation by Clifton resident Joshua Poe on redlining in Louisville and a nationally acclaimed project to explore it.
Redlining is the denial of services or the refusal to grant loans or insurance to certain neighborhoods based on racial and socioeconomic discrimination. It was an explicit government policy which led to the racial segregation of our major cities, including Louisville. Poe’s work can be found here: https://lojic.maps.arcgis.com/apps/MapSeries/index.html?appid=e4d2990795…. An article about it is here: https://insiderlouisville.com/metro/redlining-louisville-map-wins-harvar….
Poe is an urban planner and independent researcher using GIS and planning principles to facilitate social justice and revitalization. He developed an interactive map that was the impetus for the Redlining Louisville project. Poe’s map, “Redlining Louisville: The History of Race, Class, and Real Estate,” was selected as the first winner of Harvard University’s Map of the Month contest, which recognizes best-in-class data visualizations created by all levels of government and nonprofits. “Redlining Louisville” was selected for its outstanding use of data combined from multiple sources, including historical data, its creativity and effective communication to the public, and the policy implications it is likely to have moving forward. More about the award is here: https://datasmart.ash.harvard.edu/news/article/map-of-the-month-redlinin….
The D9 Community Conversation is Wednesday, February 28, beginning at 6:30 p.m., at United Crescent Hill Ministries, 150 South State Street. “Redlining is an important subject we all need to understand in order to deal with its consequences. I am looking forward to Josh’s presentation”, says Hollander. “As with all D9 Community Conversations, discussion of any other subject is also welcome and I will be available to talk with constituents about any questions, comments or concerns. ”
For more information about the meeting, contact Councilman Hollander’s office at 574-1109.
Photo: KFC Yum! Center
Willie Nelson & Family and Alison Krauss will perform live on Wednesday, May 23 at the KFC Yum! Center in downtown Louisville.
Tickets for the newly added Louisville show will go on sale to the general public starting this Saturday, February 24 at 10am ET at LiveNation.com, Ticketmaster outlets, the venue box office and charge-by-phone at 800-745-3000.
WILLIE NELSON – 2018
With a six-decade career and 200 plus albums, this iconic Texan is the creative genius behind the historic recordings of Crazy, Red Headed Stranger, and Stardust. Willie Nelson has earned every conceivable award as a musician and amassed reputable credentials as an author, actor, and activist. He continues to thrive as a relevant and progressive musical and cultural force. In recent years, he has delivered more than 10 new album releases, released a Top 10 New York Times’ bestsellers book, again headlined Farm Aid, an event he co-founded in 1985, received his 5th degree black belt in Gong Kwon Yu Sul, headlined the last three years of the on-going Luck Reunion food and music festival at his ranch in Luck, TX during SXSW, announced the launch of his cannabis company Willie’s Reserve, and graced the cover of Rolling Stone magazine. In 2015, Nelson added “It’s A Long Story: My Life,” the unvarnished and complete story of Willie, hit bookshelves and landed him on the New York Times’ bestsellers list; and a new studio album with Merle Haggard titled Django And Jimmie, which debuted at #1 on Billboard‘s Country album chart and #7 on Billboard‘s Top 200 album chart. In November 2015, the Library of Congress honored him with their Gershwin Prize for Popular Song for his contributions to popular music. He is the first country artist to receive the distinguished award. And 2016 began with the release of Summertime: Willie Nelson Sings Gershwin, a collection of 11 newly recorded Gershwin classics. The album debuted at #1 on both the Top Current Jazz chart and the Top Traditional Jazz chart, as well as earned him a Grammy Award for the Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album. In September, came For the Good Times: A Tribute to Ray Price, an album of newly recorded interpretations of 12 Ray Price songs. While a month later, Nelson released Pretty Paper, his new novel inspired his classic holiday song of the same title about a legless man who sold wrapping paper in front of a Ft. Worth, TX department store. In April 2017, Nelson released God’s Problem Child, his latest studio album with 13 new songs It debuted at #1 on Billboard’s Country album chart and #10 on the Billboard 200. Nelson continues to record more new songs for upcoming projects as well as touring throughout North America year long.
ALISON KRAUSS – 2018
Alison Krauss’ new album Windy City is her first effort away from her band Union Station since Raising Sand and her debut for Capitol Records. The album features Alison performing 10 classic songs that she carefully selected.
Following Raising Sand, her platinum 2007 album with Robert Plant that won six GRAMMY Awards including album of the Year, and 2011’s Paper Airplane with her longtime collaborators Union Station, which won the GRAMMY Award for Best Bluegrass Album and topped Billboard’s Folk, Country and Bluegrass charts, Alison began to feel the tug of inspiration. The results are the amazing new project, Windy City. Alison inhabits, and liberates, the very essence that makes each of the songs eternal. While they span different era and musical genres, there is a unifying sensibility.
