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The Worksite Wellness Council of Louisville, a Mayor’s Healthy Hometown Movement partner, is encouraging Louisville businesses with worksite wellness programs to apply for the 2018 Worksite Wellness Awards.
The Mayor’s Healthy Hometown Movement has been recognizing businesses committed to fostering employee health and wellness for 10 years. The awards are based on the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Worksite Health ScoreCard criteria, in recognition of policies, programs and strategies proven to work. Four levels of winners will be awarded based on ScoreCard results: Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum. In addition, several “Fleur de Lis” awards will be presented to honor businesses with exemplary or unique worksite wellness programs or initiatives.
“We want to honor businesses that have implemented policies and practices that foster healthy, productive employees, and we encourage them to apply for the awards,” said Allison Ledford, board of director’s president for the Worksite Wellness Council of Louisville.
Winners will be announced on May 17 at the Worksite Wellness Council of Louisville’s Annual Conference to be held at Gheens Foundation Lodge at Beckley Creek Park in the beautiful Parklands of Floyds Fork. For conference registration, sponsorship or vendor information, or to apply for an award, visit https://www.louisvilleworksitewellness.org/2018-conference. The annual conference and awards are sponsored by Norton Healthcare, Humana, Anthem, Musselman Hotels and the Louisville chapter of the Society of Human Resource Managers.
The Worksite Wellness Council of Louisville assists area employers to establish and improve worksite wellness through workshops and conversations on a variety of wellness topics throughout the year, as well as an annual conference. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), worksite wellness programs enhance worker productivity, reduce absences, reduce health care costs and help to shift the health care paradigm from treatment to prevention.
Photo: Louisville Metro Council
President David James (D-6) is moving forward with developing a new neighborhood plan for the California/Victory Park community and is asking the people of area to participate in a process that will maintain the area’s culture, history and community goals.
“The California neighborhood was first created back in the mid 1800’s and as you can imagine there have been significant changes over the years. The last time the neighborhood saw a finalized plan of action was more than 30 years ago. Now, I am asking the residents and businesses in the area to have a say as to where we go from here,” said James.
The current plan was finalized in 1982. It covers an area consisting of Broadway to the north, Oak Street to the south, 9th Street to the east and 26th Street to the west.
This new planning process will be managed by Louisville Forward’s Office of Advanced Planning and a team of local planning and neighborhood advocacy consultants with a history of working in the neighborhood. But before any plan can be fashioned, there must be comments from those the plan will serve.
“If you have lived here all your life or just moved into the neighborhood, we want to hear from you. I want to hear from everyone, both homeowners and businesses leaders, young and old,” said President James.
The process, which is anticipated to take 9-12 months to complete, will begin with an inclusive, community engagement process. During this initial phase, the team of consultants will spend two to three months actively canvasing the neighborhood, encouraging community participation in the planning process.
The finished plan will focus on maintain the community’s strengths of culture and heritage and how can neighborhood health, economic opportunity and environmental resilience be improved.
Neighborhood plans provide a means to identify, preserve and build on the positive qualities of the neighborhood and set goals and priorities that will shape the future of the area in the years to come. Other benefits of a neighborhood plan include adoption into metro government; a plan can guide future development, encourage public-private partnerships, and provide the opportunity to leverage dedicated funding.
“So I want to encourage everyone to get involved. The goal is to help the California/Victory Park maintain its uniqueness while look towards the needs of the future,” says James. “We need your thoughts and ideas and together we can continue to make this area one of the best in Metro Louisville.”
Attorney General Andy Beshear joined wife Britainy Beshear, children served by Silverleaf Sexual Trauma Recovery Services and the organization’s executive director Dr. Jillian Carden to open a new Hope Gallery art exhibit in Frankfort.
The Hope Gallery, located in the main lobby of the Office of the Attorney General in the state Capitol, features paintings from 24 children who are being helped by Silverleaf, a Children’s Advocacy Center located in Elizabethtown.
Britainy Beshear serves on the board at Maryhurst in Louisville, and established the Hope Gallery in April 2016 to help raise awareness for Child Abuse Prevention Month, Kentucky children and families who face adversities and art therapy programs.
“I appreciate the compassionate and dedicated staff at Silverleaf for helping children throughout the Lincoln Trail region recover and heal,” said Mrs. Beshear. “Each of these children are truly courageous – and the Hope Gallery celebrates their courage and provides a permanent reminder in our state Capitol of the responsibility we all have as Kentuckians to end child sexual abuse.”
Silverleaf supports child victims and their families through crisis intervention, counseling services, victim advocacy, forensic interviews, medical examinations, community education and consultation referral.
“Watching these children realize the real and positive impact their voices have in the Hope Gallery is truly some of the most rewarding moments for me personally,” said Beshear. “Providing a safe childhood and a real path to prosperity for Kentucky’s children are the reasons why Britainy and I, and those in the Office of the Attorney General are working so hard to prevent child abuse and exploitation.”
Dr. Jillian Carden, executive director of Silverleaf said it is an honor to have been chosen to participate in the Hope Gallery this year.
“Every sexual abuse survivor we serve fights to find their voice and heal from the trauma he or she has endured. It is inspiring to see the survivors take strides in regaining their confidence, support and safety, said Carden. “The artwork being displayed has been created by some of our child survivors of sexual abuse and rape. For some of the canvases, you can see the struggle and on many, you can see the hope. Silverleaf, and the kids who created the art, are proud to share their story.”
The Hope Gallery has previously displayed artwork from students with Maryhurst, the Family Scholar House and children from Volunteers of America Mid-States Louisville Family Housing Services and America’s Freedom House Programs.
Beshear brought his and Britainy’s commitment to Kentucky’s children and families to the Office of the Attorney General through a specific four-part mission – prevent child abuse, protect seniors from scams, seek justice for victims of sexual assault and find workable solutions to our drug epidemic.
Over the past two-years, Beshear’s cyber crimes investigators have made more than 150 arrests, indictments and convictions of child predators.
The Child Victims’ Trust Fund in Beshear’s office has provided $260,000 to support statewide and regional child abuse prevention programs and organizations.
More than $160,000 in funding also went to support the state’s Children’s Advocacy Centers, including Silverleaf, to help pay the costs of hundreds of child sexual abuse medical exams.
The trust fund also supported the training of more than 1,200 prosecutors, social workers and community advocates on how to protect Kentucky’s children from sexual abuse. Currently trainings are being conducted in partnership with Prevent Child Abuse Kentucky to help youth-serving organizations like daycares, summer camps and churches to evaluate their programs and implement an action plan that will strengthen protocols and policies to safeguard children from sexual abuse.
The trust fund’s prevention activities and child advocacy programs are funded through private donations, proceeds from the purchase of “I Care About Kids” license plates and donations made through the state income tax refund check-off program.
Beshear reminds Kentuckians that everyone has a moral and legal duty to report any instance of child abuse to local law enforcement or to Kentucky’s Child Abuse hotline at 877-597-2331 or 877-KYSAFE1.
On March 27, the Jefferson County Board of Education approved two major initiatives led by Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS) Superintendent Dr. Marty Pollio that will strengthen support to students and schools: create a centralized location for the Newcomer Academy and implement the phase-one reorganization of the district’s central office.
“Both of these initiatives build on the day-one priorities I announced as acting superintendent: strengthening culture and climate, boosting student learning and improving organizational coherence,” Dr. Pollio said. “These are innovative, needed changes in our district that will continue to move JCPS forward and allow us to support students and schools more efficiently and effectively.”
Newcomer students are currently served at four different locations (Academy @ Shawnee, Phoenix School of Discovery, Iroquois High School and Gheens Academy). For the 2018-19 school year, a consolidated Newcomer Academy will open at the current Phoenix School of Discovery building on Pulliam Drive. Phoenix will move to the Jaeger Education Center on Wood Road.
“When I was named acting superintendent, I made it clear that a centralized school for Newcomer students and teachers would be a priority for the 2018-19 school year,” Dr. Pollio said. “For far too long, our district has served our growing population of Newcomer students at four separate locations. Tonight’s vote will improve services for students and is a continued investment in and commitment to our English language learners.”
The facilities changes approved tonight are in addition to those approved at the Feb. 27 board meeting, which combined the district’s two Teenage Parent Programs (TAPPs) and created an early childhood education center and a temporary home for the new W.E.B. DuBois Academy.
“This facilities plan is the result of months of planning as well as parent, teacher and community input—providing us with the opportunity to present our board with the best possible plan for students,” Dr. Pollio said.
Central office reorganization provides strengthened support to schools
In January 2018, Dr. Pollio sought recommendations from the Council of the Great City Schools (CGCS) on how the district’s central office structure could better support schools and reflect those of “best-practice” urban districts. The full report completed by the CGCS is available on the district’s website here.
The CGCS report provides a framework that led to the first phase of central office reorganization recommendations, which were approved tonight by the school board. The changes provide a better balance to the district’s central office and deliver resources to students and schools in a more effective and efficient way.
“I believe these initial changes in the cost-neutral reorganization will help bring about organizational coherence, better support our schools and increase student achievement,” Dr. Pollio said.
Recommendations include:
- Adding a general counsel, chief of staff, chief human resources officer and chief of schools position.
- Eliminating achievement area superintendent positions. Assistant superintendents will report to the chief of schools and be reorganized by each grade level.
- Three elementary assistant superintendents serving schools divided into zones (one through three)
- One assistant superintendent for middle schools
- One assistant superintendent for high schools
- Assistant superintendents will report to the chief of schools.
- There will be an assistant superintendent of climate and culture.
- Eliminating evaluation transition coordinator (ETC) positions and providing assistant superintendents with executive administrator positions.
- Athletics will report to the chief of schools.
- All chief positions will be the same grade.
The plan is cost neutral by eliminating the chief business officer position and other vacant positions throughout central office. Additional recommendations will be brought to the board at future meetings.
Credit: KY State Parks
Plan a spring adventure on Tygarts Creek on a canoe or kayak with a 6-mile excursion hosted by Carter Caves State Resort Park.
The park is offering guided trips on six dates in 2018 – April 14, 21, 29 and May 2, 6 and 12.
The 3.5-hour trip down Tygarts Creek goes through one of Kentucky’s most beautiful limestone gorges. The park will provide canoes or kayaks, paddles, life vest, transportation shuttle from and back to the Welcome Center, and guides for your trip. The fee is $40 per person. (The fee is $30 a person if you bring your own canoe or kayak.)
Participants should have some paddle experience before signing up for these trips. Along the way participants will see high cliff sides and the natural beauty that the spring has to offer. There will also be a side trip into one of Kentucky’s largest natural limestone tunnels.
Guests should wear proper attire for cool weather paddling, a complete change of clothes, treaded footwear, flashlight (for natural tunnel visit), sack lunch, bottled water and a dry bag for your supplies. You must be at least 12 years old to participate and paddlers ages 15 and under must be with a legal guardian.
Participants will meet at the park Welcome Center and should be ready to leave at 9:30 a.m.
Registration is required. To register, visit: https://secure.kentucky.gov/formservices/Parks/CarterCavesPaddleTrips. For questions, call the park at 606-286-4411.
Carter Caves State Resort Park in Olive Hill has a lodge, cottages, restaurant, campground, gift shop, cave tours and many recreational activities. For more information about the park, visit www.parks.ky.gov
Photo: Louisville Metro Council
Councilman Brandon Coan (D-8) will host the last in a series of meetings for public discussion on the proposed Highlands Management District on Monday, April 2nd.
“We have had very good turnout and discussions about the proposed business improvement district for the Highlands. I want to make sure everyone has an opportunity to ask questions and learn more about what is being proposed as we move forward,” says Coan.
The last meeting will be held at the Douglass Community Center Gymnasium beginning at 6:00pm. The Community center is located at 2305 Douglass Blvd.
Councilman Coan believes the proposal to establish a Highlands Management District is a transformational opportunity to make Bardstown Road and Baxter Avenue safer and cleaner, and to ensure the economic vitality and sustainability of District 8’s – and Louisville’s – premier commercial corridor.
To learn more about the proposal go to: https://louisvilleky.gov/government/metro-council-district-8/highlands-m…
For more information about the meeting, contact Councilman Coan’s office at 574-1108.
Louisville Metro Government is announcing the details of a new opportunity for residents to provide input on monuments in public spaces. Residents are encouraged to write a letter to any monument in Louisville Metro Public Art’s inventory through social media and use the hashtag #monumentalletters. A template and examples, as paraphrased from public comments submitted to date, can be found below:
“Dear ________ (Monument),
I feel ________, because ___________________.”
Social media “letters” will assist Louisville Metro Government and the Public Art and Monuments Advisory Committee to understand the values that residents want artworks in public spaces to represent.
In addition, in the coming days, oversized letters from Louisville Metro Government to the public will be posted at the sites of the recently vandalized Castleman and Prentice monuments to update residents. The letter, specific to Castleman, reads:
“Dear Residents and Visitors: Public art, like any shared public space, reacts with time, conditions and individuals who engage with it. This monument represents John Breckinridge Castleman (1841–1918). It was privately commissioned and sited in public space in 1913. It was vandalized and subsequently conserved on multiple occasions, notably 1996 and 2017, and was most recently vandalized on February 7, 2018. A Public Art and Monuments Advisory Committee is hosting public meetings February–June 2018 for community input on principles that will guide decisions about public art and monuments. The current site conditions will not be addressed until after this process is complete. Louisville Metro Government remains committed to a public process with community input. We urge you to participate in public meetings. Write a letter. Get involved. Let your voice be heard. For more information please visit louisvilleky.gov/government/public-art.”
A similar “letter” will be placed by another recently vandalized monument, the monument of George Prentice at the main branch of the Louisville Free Public Library.
Residents may provide their letters on social media with the hashtag #monumentalletters, send them directly to Develop Louisville’s Facebook and Twitter accounts, or send letters through postal mail to Metro Development Center re: Monumental Letters, 444 S. 5th Street, Suite 600, Louisville, KY, 40202.
An additional Public Art and Monuments Advisory Committee meeting has been added to take place on April 12 at 6:00 p.m. at the University of Louisville, 111 Davidson Hall. Davidson Hall is located just south of Cardinal Boulevard & S. 3rd Street. Parking is available in the nearby Speed Museum garage.
Previously announced meetings include:
- April 14, 10:30 a.m. at the Cyril Allgeier Community Center
- May 18, 12 p.m. at the South Central Regional Library
- June 5, 6 p.m. at the Main branch of the Louisville Free Public Library (LFPL)
To date, two meetings have been held at the Main branch of the Louisville Free Public Library and the Kentucky Center for African American Heritage.
The Public Art and Monuments Advisory Committee is charged with developing a set of principles for evaluating Louisville’s existing public art and monuments. To view information pertaining to the Advisory Committee, please visit https://louisvilleky.gov/government/public-art/public-art-and-monuments-….
