Sunday November 9, 2025
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Thousands of Louisvillians will be volunteering and participating in acts of compassion — from neighborhood cleanups to donating canned foods for the hungry – as part of the Mayor’s annual Give A Day Week of Service, which kicks off Saturday.
Give A Day week, which runs April 14-22, has become the city’s annual showcase of compassion and service. Started in 2011 as a one-day call to serve others, it has extended to more than a week. Last year’s Give A Day Week produced a record 180,000 volunteers and acts of compassion. Mayor Greg Fischer said this year’s goal is to top that, with even more volunteers, donations and other good deeds.
Give A Day is also an official Kentucky Derby Festival event, and kicks off the festival season. Companies and organizations of all sizes will have employee teams in action, including Humana, LG&E, Brown-Forman, GE, UPS, Computershare and Coca-Cola Bottling Consolidated. So will churches and community groups. Also participating will be students, who will be doing everything from collecting personal items for donation to cleaning neighborhoods. This year, every student from JCPS, Archdiocese and private schools will have the opportunity to participate in a kindness project.
The Mayor said there are countless ways to participate, such as donating food and personal items to the Ronald McDonald House, helping serve dinner to kids at the Boys & Girls Club of Kentuckiana and even donating a story of cancer survival to Hope Scarves, whose mission is to share scarves, stories and hope with women facing cancer.
“We have made compassion one of our city’s core values, with the aim to lift each other up as a community,” the Mayor said. “The Give A Day Week of Service is the time for Louisville to shine and build on its reputation as one of the most compassionate cities in America.”
The Mayor will start the week visiting a series of projects Saturday, including one of the largest, the Brightside & Passport Health Plan Spring Community Wide Cleanup. It takes place at locations across the city to help make Louisville a greener and cleaner community, by picking up litter and debris from neighborhoods, greenspaces and roadways.
Other weekend events include the annual Build a Bed on Saturday at Thomas Jefferson Middle School, a food truck event for the homeless and an Eastern Cemetery cleanup on Sunday.
Volunteers are still needed for projects of all kinds. To register, go to the website: www.mygiveaday.com and click on “volunteer for an existing project.” In addition, groups and individuals are urged to use the same website to report projects and good deeds they are doing on their own.
“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 will also participate in the student-led WE Day Walk of Compassion through downtown as a Give A Day event on April 17. WE Day Kentucky, in partnership with WLKY, celebrates student service projects and invites the public to join thousands of students in a lunch-time walk, carrying signs of compassion.
“The Mayor’s Give A Day initiative is a great opportunity for our students and staff to make a difference in their schools and community,” said JCPS Superintendent Dr. Marty Pollio. “I’m proud that 100 percent of our schools will once again be participating in this weeklong initiative – committing more than 1,100 days of service doing everything from cleaning up parks, playgrounds and roadways, to collecting food and toiletries for local food banks and shelters, to recognizing veterans and their families, among dozens of other projects. It says a lot about the culture of our schools and the commitment of our students and staff that they remain so dedicated to making an impact in their city.
The 2018 USCCA Concealed Carry Expo opens today at the Kentucky Exposition Center. The Expo is open to the public and free for USCCA members and children under the age of 18 to attend (admission for non-members can be purchased at the door). Memberships can be purchased on-site. The event is scheduled for the entire weekend and will feature everything needed for one to safely and comfortably conceal carry a weapon in any situation.
Attendees will be able to walk the exhibit floor that will feature everything from ammunition to concealed carry shape wear for women, as well as the opportunity to test fire the latest handguns at the live-fire range. In addition to the exhibits, there will be a variety of demonstrations and seminars that will discuss everything from revolver techniques to tourniquet application and many legal aspects of concealed carry. New this year is a separate area that will focus on the products and seminar discussions that have been designed specifically for women shooters.
The show opened with seminars only this morning and the exhibit hall opens later this afternoon at 3:00 PM. The show continues all weekend with doors opening at 9:00 AM on Saturday and 10:00 AM on Sunday. Parking at the Expositions Center is $8 for cars and is not included in the price of admission. If you are currently licensed or looking for more information about concealed carry, this is the show to find everything that is needed.
A review of theft from automobiles, stolen vehicles and burglaries in the Highlands for the first quarter of 2018 shows that 34.4% of the crimes committed (55 of 160) were easy targets because the doors were left unlocked, keys were left inside or otherwise made available to thieves, according to Councilman Brandon Coan (D-8).
Councilman Coan strongly urges citizens to lock their vehicles and buildings and take their valuables out of their cars as part of a new campaign called #KeepLouisvilleLocked.
“The failure to lock your doors and take your valuables out of your car not only inflates the crime rate, it gives your neighborhood a reputation as an easy target which, in turn, attracts more crime,” Coan said. “Please do your part and park smart.”
Coan is partnering with the Louisville Metro Police Fifth Division, Louisville Parks and Recreation and others to reduce crime of opportunity in District 8. He tracks “unlocked” crimes in his bi-weekly newsletter and intends to report out the statistics to local media outlets and community stakeholders on a quarterly basis.
To receive District 8 eNews, go to: https://louisvilleky.gov/government/metro-council-district-8/subscribe-s…
For more information about #KeepLouisvilleLocked, contact Councilman Coan’s office at 574-1108.
In 2016, Mayor Greg Fischer created the Building Our Blocks (BOB) initiative as a cross-functional approach to make our neighborhoods clean, green and safe. BOB will begin its second full year on April 13. Last year, the BOB team, which includes many city agencies and community partners, visited seven different neighborhoods. This year, the team will concentrate four events specifically in one neighborhood—Russell.
“Building Our Blocks is the city’s way to deliver on-the-spot services and make a direct impact on residents’ quality of life,” Fischer said. “After reviewing our impact from last year’s events, we determined that we can see even more results if we give continuous focus on one neighborhood throughout the year. With significant investment and momentum in Russell right now, it is a great neighborhood for the BOB team to give longer term commitment to in 2018.”
Events will take place on April 13, June 8, August 10 and October 12. If needed, rain dates are planned for April 27, June 21, August 16 and October 26. Each event will be held from 1-4 p.m. and cover about six blocks of the neighborhood. On April 13, the BOB team will meet at the Oak & Acorn Intergenerational Center (631 S. 28th Street).
During BOB events, residents can expect a group of city employees, including LMPD officers, and community partners, walking the blocks and knocking on doors asking what services they can offer residents, listening and responding to neighborhood issues, and addressing property maintenance.
BOB has many city agencies and community partners participating in this year’s initiative—Brightside, Codes & Regulations, LMPD, Louisville Fire, Louisville Free Public Library, Louisville Water Company, MSD, Public Works, Resilience & Community Services, Vacant & Public Property Administration, New Directions Housing Corporation and Saving Sunny Inc., Park DuValle Community Health Center and OPI².
For more information on Building Our Blocks, please visit https://louisvilleky.gov/government/building-our-blocks. If you are a community organization that can provide on-the-spot services and wants to join the BOB team, please e-mail Robin.Hawkins@louisvilleky.gov
Louisville Metro Government (LMG) has been awarded a $450,000 grant by the U.S. Department of the Interior and the National Park Service to stabilize the former Quinn Chapel African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church at 912 W. Chestnut Street. LMG’s Office of Redevelopment Strategies has added $150,000 to the stabilization effort bringing the stabilization investment to $600,000.
In 2002, the property was sold to the YMCA, which has a Chestnut Street location just west of the Church, and it has remained vacant. In 2010 and 2011, the YMCA invested $400,000 for stabilization that included a new roof for the Church and support beams as well as brick repair. The current Quinn Chapel AME Church congregation resides at 1901 W. Muhammad Ali Boulevard.
“In its many years, Quinn Chapel has played a vital role to the Russell neighborhood and in the fight for civil rights in our city. The fight for equity and improved quality of life for all Louisville residents is a fight that goes on today,” Jeana Dunlap, Director of the Office of Redevelopment Strategies said. “The city and YMCA value its importance and want to preserve its legacy for future generations to come.”
“With the new interest and investment in west Louisville, it is appropriate that Quinn Chapel stand and represent the rich heritage of the community and serve as a gateway into the area’s renewed future,” Steve Tarver, President & CEO of YMCA of Greater Louisville, said.
The Church was built in 1884 and originally housed the Chestnut Street Baptist Church until 1910 when it was purchased by the Quinn Chapel AME Church. Quinn Chapel takes its name from Bishop Paul Quinn, who was the fourth bishop of the AME Church and the first to visit Kentucky. The Church was a focal point for the civil rights movement in Louisville in the 1960s. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. spoke at the Church in April 1961. It was the starting point of nightly marches for open housing in 1967 and the reason for Dr. King’s second visit to Louisville.
Quinn Chapel has retained its integrity in design, materials and craftsmanship. The eastern steeple has been removed but original stained glass windows and decorative masonry features are still intact. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. Essential repairs needed include installing a new roof for the rear portion of the building, stabilizing walls, repairing foundation, repointing mortar joints and repairing subflooring.
After stabilization, the city and YMCA will seek future redevelopment partners to bring back life to this historic structure. Quinn Chapel is a prominently featured structure on the southwest corner of 9th & Chestnut within eyeshot of the future mixed-use, mixed-income redevelopment of Beecher Terrace. Due to its proximity to 9th Street, the Church’s redevelopment will also benefit from the city’s Reimagine 9th Street plan, which will be complete in 2018.
This year’s Republic Bank Pegasus Parade will be a blast from the past for Festival fans. Festival officials announced the Grand Marshals and set the line-up for the parade at a special event tonight at Mark’s Feed Store. In honor of this year’s parade theme “ThrowbackThursday,” former coaching rivals and basketball fan favorites Joe B. Hall and Denny Crum will serve as the parade’s Co-Grand Marshals. It’s a familiar role for the coaches who also participated in the 1975 parade.
“The parade is the event that started the Festival 63 years ago and this year’s march will be a trip down memory lane,” said Mike Berry, KDF President and CEO. “Who better to evoke great memories than two coaches responsible for nine of the Final Four trips and three of the NCAA championships for UofL and UK.”
In addition to announcing the Grand Marshals, floats and inflatable units participating in this year’s parade drew for positions for annual march down Broadway. This year’s theme of “ThrowbackThursday,” will be used by sponsoring companies to help direct the building of floats and costuming of the inflatable handlers and crew. Participants were invited to pick their favorite parade themes from years past to decorate their units. The floats and inflatables compete for various awards based on originality, eye appeal, theme representation, animation, attention to detail and enthusiasm. Marching bands use the theme to help with musical selection and it is the basis of costume and concept design for the other marching units.
The 2018 Parade will feature 10 floats, many of them built by the employees of the companies sponsoring them. The following companies drew for their float position in the parade at tonight’s event, as well as the sponsors of the five participating inflatable character balloons.
Floats:
City of St. Matthews
Grand Lodge of Kentucky
Hwang’s Martial Arts
Kentucky Proud
Kosair Shriners/Kosair Charities
Louisville Parks & Recreation
Norton Healthcare
Second Chance @ Life
Shirley’s Way – Ride to Ride Out Cancer
The Fillies, Inc.
Inflatable Balloon Characters:
CareSource “Cookie Monster”
Horseshoe Southern Indiana “Horseshoe”
LG&E “Louie the Lightning Bug”
Republic Bank “Peggy Bank”
Waystar “Star”
Before the parade, fans can see the floats, inflatables, equestrian units and much more on display at the Pegasus Parade Preview Party Presented by Louisville Mega Cavern on Tuesday, May 1, at the Kentucky Exposition Center, in South Wing C. Admission is a 2018 Pegasus Pin.
Tickets for the Parade are on sale now online at KDF.org. Ticket prices are $10 for bleacher seats, $12 chair seating and $30 VIP seats. Republic Bank is the Title Sponsor of the parade with Contributing Sponsor, KentuckyOne Health. Official Hotel: The Galt House.
President David James (D-6) announces the Louisville Metro Council will hold its next regular meeting at the Academy@Shawnee this coming Thursday, April 12th.
The meeting is the first of what the President hopes will give the public a chance to see the Council in action and talk with members about issues.
“It is my hope that taking the Metro Council on the road will give us as policy makers another opportunity to meet with the public and hear what they have to say about issues,” says the President. “For many people, it can be difficult to attend a Council meeting and it is my hope they will take advantage of this road trip to come and talk with us.”
The Metro Council’s first meeting of the month of April will be held in the Auditorium of the Academy @ Shawnee beginning at 6:00pm. The Council will conduct its regular scheduled meeting at that time and then meet with the public afterwards.
“I am pleased to welcome the first Metro Council meeting offsite in many years to District 5 and the Shawnee Neighborhood. Council members will get a chance to see a great high school and I urge residents to come and join us to get a better understanding of your government in action,” says Councilwoman Cheri Bryant Hamilton (D-5), who chairs the Democratic Caucus.
“Citizen involvement in local government is vital to our success as a community. It’s important that every citizen knows their government and those who represent them are accessible. What better way to achieve this by bringing government into the very neighborhoods we serve,” says Councilwoman Angela Leet who chairs the Republican Caucus.
The Metro Council has held regular meetings outside of its regular chambers located at 601 West Jefferson Street. The Organizational meetings of 2003 when the Metro Council was seated were held at the Kentucky International Conventions Center pending the conversion of the Chambers following merger. Then in 2014, the Council held its organizational session for the year at Memorial Auditorium due to further ceiling renovations in the chamber.
This meeting will not be broadcast live and streamed over Metro TV due to technical challenges at the location. It will be recorded and rebroadcast on Metro TV at a time to be announced at a later date.