At the Intersection of faith, community, and food: The Bishop’s Table

Bonifacio Aleman — Thu, 24 Oct 2024 14:49:29 +0000

Every Friday at 9:00 a.m., Bishop Dennis Lyons introduces the Bishop’s Table and welcomes everyone to Gospel Missionary Church (3226 Vermont Avenue). The Bishop’s Table is a weekly breakfast and community forum that draws everyone from the police to local residents. It's a platform where we share and discuss important community information, from safety updates to local events. It connects those who have information with those who need it.

The Bishop's Table has emerged as a beacon of hope in the three years since its inception. It's a place where we come together to understand and address pressing community issues, from gun violence to public school changes. Despite the challenges, it's a space that fosters optimism and the belief in collective solutions. At The Bishop's Table, we uphold the values of respect and inclusion. Everyone is welcomed and deeply appreciated for their unique perspectives and contributions, regardless of their beliefs. You’ll most likely run into someone you know, meet new people, and connect with fellow KFTC members.

The West Louisville Chess Club

Bonifacio Aleman — Thu, 24 Oct 2024 14:44:45 +0000

The West Louisville Chess Club [WLCC] is a non-profit program for all ages (5yrs – adult) teaching the basics of chess to beginners or if the player needs to freshen their skills in the game of chess. WLCC was established in 2016 under the leadership and director, Corbin Seavers.

WLCC goes into selected Title 1 schools of Jefferson County Public Schools and teaches chess to students and to area libraries, such as Crescent Hill, Shawnee, and Shively branches. Also to add, the WLCC goes to varies Metro Louisville Community Centers and teach the game of chess to those who are willing to learn the strategy of chess. When the players win or attend a meeting, they will have a chance to receive “CHESS DOLLARS”. Once they have collected 15 or more chess dollars, they can redeem them for a gift card of their choice.

The achievements of the West Louisville Chess Club, the players were able to compete in several chess tournaments in Louisville, Ft. Knox, Jeffersonville, Indiana, Hebron, KY, and Cincinnati, Oh. Just to name a few. They loved going to Cincinnati to play in the Queen City Classic Chess Tournament because they are playing against players from Kentucky, Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio. This year WLCC took 18 players to the tournament along with their parents/guardian. And a team of girls who attended Grace James Academy School of Excellence traveled to Atlanta, Georgia to participant in a tournament Ant they were able to win 5th place for middle school division. At these tournaments they were able to meet Grand Master Chess Player, Maurice Ashley. In February 2024, WLCC sponsored a tournament at Root101 Museum and were able to bring in the 1st African American Woman Chess Master, Rochelle Ballantyne of Brooklyn New York. Ms. Ballantyne had recently graduated from law school and passed the bar exam to practice law in New York where she resides. When she was here, she was able to teach the players new strategies and played a few games with them. She also was able to talk to them about education and the society of life.

The West Louisville Chess Club is open to new players and coaches. if you would like to donate or get more information about the program, please contact Corbin Seavers @urbanlouisvillechess@yahoo.com or 502-356-6369. You can also follow them on Facebook, The West Louisville Chess Club.

Karen Hudson

KFTC Member

Legal Aid’s Violence Intervention And Prevention Project

Bonifacio Aleman — Thu, 24 Oct 2024 14:42:51 +0000

My name is Catharine Caperton and I am an attorney at the Legal Aid office located at the new West Louisville Goodwill Opportunity Center. It is a pleasure to introduce Legal Aid Society’s new initiative, the Violence Intervention and Prevention Project (VIPP), where I provide legal services for victims of gun violence and violent crime in West Louisville. The goal of VIPP is to legally advocate for marginalized populations that are affected by crime in West Louisville, as well as network with other community organizations in hopes of creating a cohesive referral network for victims. Through a combination of brief advice and full representation, I can represent crime victims to enforce their rights in the arising criminal trial as well as pursue available legal remedies in collateral civil legal matters related to their victimization, both in and out of the courtroom. Specifically, I can help with a victim’s Crime Victim Compensation claim application, where victims can apply for reimbursements of damages arising from their injury, as well as support victims in civil court proceedings related to their injury (such as eviction defense, protective orders, creating wills, and more).

In addition to legal advocacy, I participate in community outreach, education, and partnership- building activities in the local West Louisville neighborhoods. Creating a robust outreach and education component of VIPP is critical to reaching and serving this often overlooked victim population. Working primarily from the West Louisville Goodwill Opportunity Center Office, located in the heart of Louisville’s historically black neighborhoods, I can directly serve the communities most affected by gun violence and violent crime in Louisville.

Our new office is located at 2820 W. Broadway Street, Louisville KY 40211. Please drop by or give our office a call if you are interested in partnering with me or learning more about our services!

Sincerely,

Catharine Caperton, Attorney

502.614.3147

CCaperton@YourLegalAid.org

The History of New and Good

Bonifacio Aleman — Thu, 24 Oct 2024 14:39:50 +0000

New and Good came to Louisville in the early 2000s. A group of us from the Network Center for Community Change had traveled to learn more about Network Organizing and mutual aid work, and we were visiting with an advocacy group called Beyond Welfare in Iowa City. They had formed when welfare reform was the policy du jour, and when “welfare” was used as code for lazy or freeloading. These women, facing a frightening end to necessary public benefits, had banded together to support one another in ways large and small: sewing circles, child care exchanges, Time Banks, and other forms of mutual aid. They started every meeting and gathering with New and Good: “what is your name, and what is something new in your life or good in your life?” It was designed to bust up power imbalances by reminding everyone in the room of one another’s humanity, and let everyone celebrate together to build community.

This simple tool took off in our Network, with members and with partners like KFTC. We had people celebrating good grades, graduations, grandchildren. Folks getting new jobs, new homes, and once, memorably, a new kidney. Often someone’s New and Good would speak of a painful journey, of resilience and determination, and of the support of community in reaching a goal. It helped us remember that relationships are the root of community change work, and that our relationships where both the WHAT and the HOW of the change we were working for. It also reminded us to focus on the wins, even on days when losses seemed to pile up. Many of us have taken it with us to new groups and communities. Thanks to KFTC for highlighting New and Good!

Jennie Jean Davidson

Executive Director

Neighborhood House

Insta @jenniejean

FB: NHLouisville

Insta @nhlou

EC Corner

Bonifacio Aleman — Thu, 24 Oct 2024 14:37:00 +0000

Hey KFTC!!! I’m Madison Johnson, a new addition to our Executive Committee! My journey from Jefferson County Chapter Member to Voter Empowerment Contractor to now being one of your At-Large Representatives has been nothing short of exciting and informative! As the upcoming election season approaches, be aware that in addition to our presidential race, ultra-conservatives within the KY Legislature have successfully pushed two proposed constitutional amendments onto the ballot! Specifically, the potential passing of Amendment 2 would negatively change the course of Kentucky’s future drastically! Here are some highlights on the impact this would create:

Every fiscal school year, the KY budget awards an allotted amount of money per enrolled child to their respective public school to cover education costs. Conservatives are using the guise of “school choice” to try to convince folks that it’s only fair all students receive a school voucher that can be applied to the parents’ preferred method of education—private institutions. Public dollars belong to public schools!
The KY Supreme Court struck down the initial 2021 private school voucher program as unconstitutional, so conservatives are coming back to AMEND our constitution in order to serve the interests of the rich.
Public education is the primary mode of education in KY as it is free and accessible to all. There are very few private schools in KY, concentrated in metro areas. “The result will be tax dollars leaving these rural districts entirely, with local residents’ state taxes paying for private education elsewhere.”
They want you to believe this amendment would open up new opportunities for your child who attends public school to explore private schooling. According to KY Policy, “65-90% of voucher costs go to subsidize families already sending their children to private schools or planning to do so—a group whose average household income in KY is 54% higher than public school families. Providing vouchers to that group will easily cost the state hundreds of millions of dollars based on the number of KY students already in private school.”
Private schools who almost always hold special interests, further blurring the line between church and state. Some of the private schools who would receive money from this program have extreme beliefs or have been accused of discriminating against students. Public schools are barred from discriminating aging students because of characteristics like their religion or sexuality, but no such rules cover private schools.
The experiences of other states who have already enacted similar legislation have proven this is an utter failure!

Stand with Kentuckians for the Commonwealth by voting NO on Amendment 2!

Sources:

Madison Johnson

KFTC Executive Committee member

The League of Women Voters Louisville works to Get Out the Vote

Bonifacio Aleman — Thu, 24 Oct 2024 14:33:25 +0000

The League of Women Voters Louisville is working with all its partners to Get Out the Vote and to educate voters about the coming elections. Only 15% of eligible voters in Jefferson County went to the polls in May. Only about 60% of eligible voters vote in presidential elections and the national participation rate is one of the lowest of the industrialized democracies in the world. The League is proud to partner with KFTC to register voters and encourage participation.

Our September education forum was entitled Your Voice is Your Vote: Why Every Vote Matters. Panelists included Secretary of State Michael Adams, Ashley Tinius and Maryellen Allen from the Jefferson County Clerk’s office, Sylvia Goodman from Kentucky Public Media and Eleanor McCrary from the Courier Journal. They provided information about voting, dispelled myths, and encouraged all to vote. On Tuesday, October 22, in partnership with the Courier Journal, the League will host a discussion of the Amendment 2 ballot proposal at the Main Library at 6 pm.

The League is hosting and partnering with other organizations to hold forums for the candidates in various local and state races, including those running for the school board. They list of forums can be found on our website www.lwvlouisvilleky.org. However, several candidates have chosen not to participate on a candidate forum, so forums will not be held for every office on the ballot.

The League has held numerous voter registrations events including participating in the recent naturalization ceremony in conjunction with Worldfest and registering eligible students at Louisville high schools and colleges. It is also participating in Freedom Summer at Simmons College.

During this election season, Leagues across the state will be text banking and canvassing to get out the vote. You can find these events and register at https://www.mobilize.us/lwvky/

Restoring voting rights to people who had been convicted of a felony and served their time is one of the many voting rights issues we address and partner with KFTC. The League’s educational outreach work focuses on 1) helping persons who have been convicted of a felony be able to have their voting rights restored in accordance with Executive Order 2019-003, and 2) passage of a bill to allow Kentuckians to vote on changing the Kentucky Constitution to provide automatic restoration of voting rights.

The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan, grassroots organization working to protect and expand voting rights and ensure everyone is represented in our democracy. We empower voters and defend democracy through advocacy, education, and litigation, at the local, state, and national levels. For more information visit our website at www.lwvlouisvilleky.org or attend the Education Forum on October 22 at the Main Library beginning at 6.

Sandra Renner

League of Women Voters Louisville

Jefferson County KFTC Chapter Meetings

Bonifacio Aleman — Thu, 24 Oct 2024 14:25:56 +0000

Every second Monday of the month, from 5:00 pm to 7:30 pm, the office at 786 Shelby Street will be jumping with energy as KFTC members come together to share a meal, network, share New and Good, strategize on chapter business, and strategize around how we build power in Kentucky. Young KFTC members have their own space during chapter meetings where they create art, lounge on a sofa or beanbag chair, and play together.

We begin at 5:00 pm with informal networking and food - we grill veggie burgers, hamburgers, while members bring a favorite dish of thiers to share with everyone. We typically wind up with an 8-foot table full of food. By the time we get to 6:00 pm and the start of the formal part of the chapter meeting, you might have trouble finding an empty seat among the 45 or more chairs, chairs filled with JCKFTC chapter members. From 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm, we hear updates on our recent work from KFTC staff and members, find out how to engage with our work - education justice, democracy justice, and energy & climate justice. You will also have the opportunity to ask questions, become a KFTC member (if you are not already a member), and share what’s New and Good in your life.

Here are what KFTC Members say about our chapter meetings…

- "the meeting had all the things!" - John W.

- "had a great time with new people today." - Teri A.

- “great ‘like-minded’ people all on different paths headed to the same finish line ☺️” - Wendolyn G.

- “I enjoyed the meeting” - Quincy R.

- “I was pleased to see the good attendance and the cooperative attitude of everyone present.” - Elwood S.

- “I love the spirit of KFTC meetings and, of course, all the great work. I'm looking at ways to become more involved later this year.” - Cindi G.

- “it was an awesome informational meeting and kftc seem like a great organization.” - Dino J.

- “y’all do amazing work and i love being part of it” - Quincy R.

- “As a candidate, it was wonderful to share space with members of KFTC. I believe it’s important to build relationships in order to effectively execute change.” - Joshua W.

- “I signed up for most of the up coming events” - Leroy G.

- “I enjoy being a part of the improvement process for our state and bettering it so people have more opportunities.” - Corey A.

- “environmental justice and children's health.” - Libby M.

- “it's a well organized group doing good work for our state.” - Sandy O.

- “good turnout. good food.” - K.A. Owens

- “I appreciated the meeting and I am plan to attend again.” - Amy S.

RSVP for the next Jefferson County KFTC Chapter meeting here: https://mobilize.us/s/m8vfqn

Keep up with our work on our LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/jc_kftc

Balancing the Scales

Bonifacio Aleman — Thu, 24 Oct 2024 14:23:55 +0000

What brought me to Kentuckians For the Commonwealth? My longing for community after finishing five straight years of school and recovering from burnout. Community has always had a special place in my heart so when I saw a Facebook event posting I thought to myself, “what is the worst that could happen?” I attended the first meeting and never looked back since. That was in March of 2023. I have since attended two annual meetings, one in Lexington last year and the one recently at Berea college. Both experiences have always been eye opening, I learn something new each year and it is extraordinary seeing the love that fellow residents have for Kentucky.

I briefly mentioned above that I went to college five years straight. I got my BSSW (Bachelors of Science in Social Work) in 2021 and I got my MSSW (Masters of Science in Social Work) in 2022. I spent that next year recovering from academic burnout while learning about myself as a professional social worker. I now work at Family Scholar House, whose mission is “to end the cycle of poverty and transform our community by empowering families and youth to succeed in education and achieve life-long self-sufficiency.” We serve single parent families and foster care alumni who are going toward a degree or trade to provide a better life for their family. My favorite part of the year at Family Scholar House is around Christmas when we have Adopt-A-Family.

Adopt-A-Family is an annual event where community members decide to adopt a family for Christmas and provide them with gifts. We do this because life is so hard already but to add on being a full time student means that our residents do not get to work much which, in turn, means they have less to provide for christmas. We believe that every child deserves a good Christmas, especially when their parent is working toward getting their post-secondary education. There are families with one individual to almost 6 individuals so if you are interested in adopting a family and providing for them this year, there is a variety of family sizes to commit to. It is required that you are able to drop off the gifts at one of our five locations in Louisville, Ky. If you are interested in participating in Adopt-A-Family, please contact Deja Jackson at Djackson@familyscholarhouse.org

One last aspect of my life that I would like to share with you today is that I run a self care page on instagram. My overall goal is to spread more positivity on social media instead of spreading negativity and toxicity, which there is already an overabundance of. This self care page came about as a project I dedicated myself to after leaving an abusive relationship during college. We can choose to be kind. Let's choose to be kind to ourselves. If you want more positivity on your instagram feed, please follow my self care page @be.kind.to.yourself__

Thank you for listening to my entry and experiences with KFTC! I hope to see you all at the next KFTC annual meeting next year!

Jaz’Myne Ware

KFTC Member

What’s New, Good and NOW?

Bonifacio Aleman — Thu, 24 Oct 2024 13:57:06 +0000

New...

Well, let me tell you about the Louisville Freedom Summer voter registration campaign! This idea originated with Rev. Kevin Cosby, Senior Pastor of St. Stephen Church and the Jesse Louis Jackson Sr. Racial Justice Center.

It is fashioned after theMississippi Freedom Summer from 1964. According to Wikipedia, that year “more than 700 student activists took segregated Mississippi by storm to resist the systematic exclusion of African Americans from the political process. Bob Mosesof the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committeedeveloped a campaign to bring a thousand volunteers to canvass for voter registration, creating freedom schools and establishing the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party.”

This year is the 60th anniversary of this amazingly brave effort that contributed to achieving the Voting Rights Act of 1965. I particularly appreciate the idea that African American and white people can work together to achieve a great things for our community, then and now.

Good...

Metro Councilman and Simmons College Professor, Jecorey Arthur was the creative imagination and leader behind Louisville Freedom Summer. He moderated a series of ten political education classes, gathering special guest speakers from organizing, government and nonprofits including KFTC. Freedom School classes took place on Tuesday evenings at 10 community centers around the city. It was a wonderful experience to work with Jecorey and his crew week after week to deliver a high quality program to the community.

NOW!!!

Like the organizers in Mississippi, the Louisville program gathers volunteers to register voters. More than 70 volunteers have signed up to show up at colleges, canvasses and phone banks. It takes a lot of time and energy to create the events to keep these volunteers engaged! I am forever grateful to Nyeila Jones and her staff for their support at registration tables and at the canvassing events that are soon to be scheduled. If you would like to be added to the list of volunteers, please contact us at Nyeila@kftc.org

My participation has been to network at Freedom School to connect with organizations and individuals that are determined to make a difference in this election. I register voters and I help others find their pathway to contribute. I am also grateful for the support I received from my church, All Peoples Congregation, in promoting and publicizing our work together.

As Jecorey would say….

PEACE,

Roxanne Sturtevant

KFTC Member

Being a KFTC Member

Bonifacio Aleman — Thu, 24 Oct 2024 13:51:39 +0000

I joined KFTC in the fall of 2023. I never knew that being part of a Grassroots Nonprofit Organization would be so fulfilling. In my time with KFTC I have been able to use my voice to advocate for those who are socially, economically, educationally and or racially disadvantaged due to their background or stigma that surrounds them due to factors beyond their control. Not only has being a member been a fulfilling experience, but I have gained a new family.

I recently attended the 2024 Annual Chapter meeting for KFTC at Berea College, located in Berea Kentucky. It was it was a two-day event complete with lectures, self-care, fellowship, and a choice of seminars. My takeaway from the event was that even in 2024 we still have a great deal of work that needs to be done to make KY a better place for all Kentuckians. We all need to work together as one to continue the great fight and make this state better for generations to come.

KFTC offers a conglomerate topics to be fought, something for everyone. Some of the injustices that are we continue to fight are: Education Policies, Political Policies, Restoring Rights to ALL Ex-Felons, Environmental Policies, Housing Disparities and Food Insecurity.

If you want to be part of something bigger than yourself, bigger than us all, KFTC is the place to be. Come join a meeting and see what KFTC is all about & the work that is being done.

Elisha Clark

KFTC Member

My KFTC Story - Chanelle Helm

Bonifacio Aleman — Thu, 24 Oct 2024 13:46:24 +0000

When I first encountered KFTC, I was shocked to learn that the organization had been around for almost 30 years! This was around 2012 and I had just become a board member of Women In Transition. I had no idea that a state organization had chapters in some of the key organizing spaces. I loved the way KFTC envisioned what a better world would look like, organized it and laid the foundation of it despite opposition.

Without that persistent organizing, we would not have forced an Executive Order by Gov Beshear for voting rights. I've run into so many community members just super excited about getting their rights back, like LaTonya Gentry who is able to vote after 7 years. "You gotta fight to want change for you. I'm not where I want to be but I'm not where I used to be!"

As I maintain my commitment to always support grassroots orgs and spaces, I am thankful for all the people who have amplified my leadership in helping build theirs within KFTC. We see each other, we're accountable to each other and we throw down together! You can catch me alway uplifting Jefferson County KFTC chapter, the KY Voting Rights Coalition and amplifying the rapidly growing KY Education Policy Team!

While we face some of the hardest policy's from some of the most backwards political leaders this state has experienced in decades, we know that deep grassroots organizing gets the goods! We know when we build genuine communities of care, we develop beautiful communities of safety! The multitude of communities in Kentucky are vast and have a history of community defense. Those histories and narratives don't stop with our ancestors, they live through all of us! The goal is liberation and I know I'll see it in my lifetime! I've already envisioned it!

Chanelle Helm

KFTC Member

The KFTC Story of Aubrey Clemons

Bonifacio Aleman — Thu, 24 Oct 2024 13:40:50 +0000

When I joined KFTC I felt ALIVE! The 1st thing was Appreciated! That genuine gratitude I got for joining the Jefferson County chapter team made me want to be more active as a member! 2nd thing I felt was Loved! I met more KFTC members in Lexington with other Kentuckians as we spoke about how "our" vote is important to the future of our "state" and our country! 3rd I felt Inspired when I was blessed with the opportunity to host "Smoketown Getdown"! To be on stage in the middle of my neighborhood, looking at my "KFTC" family and my "Smoketown" family dance to the same drums, was beyond amazing! 4th I felt Valued when Lisa Abbott told me to take the podium and speak on how "old power should be replaced with new power" - that really landed my self-worth as a member! She never let me forget that the members are the most valued part of this fine-tuned machine called Kentuckians For The Commonwealth! Last but not least, I felt Empowered! When I saw my face on the website back in 2016 for "Empower Kentucky Summit" I felt I had to do more to get other Kentuckians like me involved & join KFTC! While the organization was "shaping a bright energy future" for our state... they had shaped that light for my future in social justice! I have been to the "HOOD" and the "HOLLERS" with my KFTC family!

No matter where we went, I noticed all who were asked to join - they looked alive! Then, when we welcomed them and they became members, they felt alive! I'm in Jonesville, Va! A little corner in Virginia called Lee County, and I tell you that I still carry the responsibilities of a KFTC member! I speak on the importance of voter restoration and how we triumphed when Kentuckians came together! When folks ask why I am still a beacon of light during the darkest hours...? I tell them, "I'm a Kentuckian for the Commonwealth of humanity! It's our duty to care, share and keep all aware! That is why you must always ask people to join! We all deserve to feel Appreciated-Loved-Inspired-Valued-& Empowered!

Aubrey Clemons

KFTC Member

Protecting the Earth

Bonifacio Aleman — Thu, 24 Oct 2024 13:29:40 +0000

Hi! My name is Carmen, and I am part of KFTC and the community, helping pick up trash from the Earth. It is very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very important to me! And it’s important to all of us. I hope you join! Love, Carmen.

I get out to care for the Earth with my family on walks around the community, at KFTC spaces, and at my school. I understand that we only get one Earth, and we all play a role in Earth justice, climate justice, and energy justice. You can join the Louisville Energy Justice workteam by scanning the QR code to RSVP for our next monthly meeting. You can also join our monthly JCKFTC chapter meetings to connect with me & the rest of the JCKFTC family as we all do our part for Earth justice.

Carmen Aleman

KFTC Member

Tags:

Climate Justice

Coming Up at Actor’s Theatre of Louisville

Bonifacio Aleman — Tue, 01 Oct 2024 13:49:11 +0000

Actors Theatre of Louisville is celebrating its 50th anniversary as the State Theatre of Kentucky with a fall full of partnerships and collaborations that highlight a broad range of wonderful artists and organizations in the region.

October is Spooky Season and it’s also Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Kate Hamill’s Dracula: A Feminist Revenge Fantasy leans into both. Running from October 2-20, this production seeks to thrill and to serve its community. Donations will be collected for the Center for Women and Families throughout the run. Audiences can also access a special double feature with Whispers on Whiskey Row, a walking history tour provided by Louisville Food Tours that delves into the dark stories of downtown.

The Louisville Queer community won’t be outdone when it comes to turning lewks for Halloween, and two back-to-back events on Sunday, October 13 will have Actors Theatre of Louisville SNATCHED! Witch Perfect, featuring Ru Paul’s Drag Race personalities Scarlett Envy, Tina Burner, and Alexis Michelle offers drag Hocus Pocus realness. And later that night the After Show Show cabaret hosted by Dusty Ray Bottoms and May O’Nays will celebrate local talent and drag celebs alike!

Following close on the heels of Dracula, a special edition of Lipstick Wars Poetry Slam on October 26 will center stories for Domestic Violence Awareness Month through powerful spoken word presented by Rheonna Thornton and hosted by Louisville poetry legend Robin G.

November will bring Redline Performing Arts’ production of The Color Purple to the Pamela Brown Auditorium. Alice Walker’s epic story of resilience continues the conversation around domestic violence with award-winning music and two stacked casts of Louisville talent.

Every performance at Actors Theatre of Louisville features tables in the lobby where audiences can learn more about the community. Organizations (including Kentuckians for the Commonwealth!) provide resources, share information, and meet neighbors as a meaningful way to build bridges with stories. We hope to see you there!

Amelia Acosta Powell

KFTC Member

The Impact of Diverting Public Money to Private School Vouchers in Kentucky

Bonifacio Aleman — Tue, 24 Sep 2024 14:30:50 +0000

Diverting public money to private schools in Kentucky, the inevitable outcome if Amendment 2 passes this fall, would deeply harm Kentucky’s public schools, siphoning vital dollars from the schools the vast majority of children will always attend and putting thousands of jobs at risk, according to a report from the Kentucky Center for Economic Policy.

The report models the impact of Kentucky implementing a voucher program similar to those in other states. For Kentucky, establishing a program proportional to what Florida, the largest state voucher program, now has in place would cost $1.19 billion annually from the state budget. That equals the cost of employing 9,869 Kentucky public school teachers and employees.

Even a much smaller voucher program just one-sixth the proportional size of Florida’s and smaller than the rapidly growing programs in Arizona, Indiana, Iowa, North Carolina, Ohio and Wisconsin, would cost Kentucky’s budget $199 million, equivalent to employing 1,645 public school personnel.

Such a program would most negatively affect the state’s rural school districts, which depend disproportionately on state dollars and typically lack private schools.

The report makes clear that if Amendment 2 passes, it will upend Kentucky’s longstanding constitutional commitment to public education and result in legislation that harms public schools across the commonwealth. The amendment will widen the growing divides that are already weakening Kentucky communities and hinder education’s role in fostering the healthy democracy necessary for every Kentuckian to thrive.

The recent experience of other states also shows that 65%-90% of voucher costs go to subsidize families already sending their children to private schools or planning to do so. Providing vouchers to the 58,000 kids now in private schools in Kentucky will cost hundreds of millions of dollars annually, the report shows.

Making matters worse, that money is very likely to come out of our already underfunded public schools, leaving them less able to deliver the vital services we depend on them for.

The report also finds:

The average household income of families already sending their children to private schools in Kentucky, who are the likely primary beneficiaries of universal voucher legislation, is 54% higher than public school families.
The cost of paying for vouchers will directly hit the state’s poorest rural areas the hardest because they are the most dependent on state dollars for public education due to low local property wealth. These districts also almost entirely lack private schools, with more than half of existing private schools located in only three urban Kentucky counties. The result will be tax dollars leaving these rural districts entirely, with local residents’ state taxes paying for private education elsewhere.
The cost of private school subsidies will also be high in the state’s more populous counties, where public schools are more likely to face a second budgetary impact of a shift in enrollment to private schools and privately controlled charter schools.

Read the full report: BTS Q3 2024_KCEP Report.png

Survey: Education Justice in Kentucky

Bonifacio Aleman — Sun, 15 Sep 2024 13:42:09 +0000

Kentuckians for the Commonwealth believes that all families deserve opportunities to thrive, learn, engage and have pathways to a brighter future and that healthier public schools equal healthier communities. In partnership with H.E.A.L. Together, we want to elevate the voices of students, their families and educators to truly understand the major challenges, concerns and priorities that they have for their schools and create change in our community. We hope you can take a few minutes to fill out this survey to help ensure your voice and needs are heard.

H.E.A.L. Together, an initiative at Race Forward, is building a movement of students, educators, and parents in school districts across the United States who believe that an honest, accurate and fully funded public education is the foundation for a just, multiracial democracy.

Together, KFTC + H.E.A.L. are conducting a 20-question survey to identify priorities that we can address as a community. We invite students, families, educators, leaders and supporters to lift their voices, their stories - to help shape what WE believe are the challenges that WE need to prioritize at the appropriate level of decision-making. In order to have a healthy democracy, WE have to SPEAK OUT.

This survey is designed specifically for Kentucky.

Please Note: All survey answers will be kept confidential. Your contact information will only be used to share information about the results and the campaign. Direct quotes may be highlighted in a report that will be published for further action and policy advocacy.

For questions about this survey, our partners, or for more information about Kentuckians For The Commonwealth, please visit kftc.org. For more information about H.E.A.L. Together please visit: raceforward.org/heal-together.

Ricky & Other Love Stories, Whitney Collins

Bonifacio Aleman — Fri, 06 Sep 2024 23:29:06 +0000

With Ricky, Collins applies her sharp eye, black humor, and generous heart to love stories (and the stories we tell ourselves about love). Among the wacky, tacky, lovesick, and lovelorn characters are: Ilona, the misanthropic mother and unhappy fiancé who is increasingly transfixed by a rash of local shark attacks; Imogen, the sperm bank client who cultivates the love she madly desires inside herself; and Aurora Flood, the coma survivor on a mission to plant a sacred seed from the Olive Garden. Blending elements of southern gothic, speculative fiction, and horror, Ricky & Other Love Stories is political and personal, bitter and sweet: ultimately, a lot like love.

Order your copy today: https://www.sarabandebooks.org/titles-20192039/ricky-other-love-stories-whitney-collins

Sarabande Books

A Poetry Carnival Presented by Sarabande Books

Bonifacio Aleman — Fri, 16 Aug 2024 23:39:05 +0000

You’re invited to Sarabande’s second annual Poetry Carnival! We're celebrating 30 years of Sarabande keeping Louisville literary.

Join Sarabande staff, authors, and friends at our headquarters Saturday, September 14, for the Poetry Carnival, a signature themed celebration of poetry communities and legacies of Sarabande. There will be carnival games, a live ‘Zine Lunch!’ workshop, poetry buskers, a headlining poet feature, and more. Don't miss out on this free public event!

Learn more at https://www.sarabandebooks.org/a-poetry-carnival.

Sarabande Books

TJC Rolling Out The Vote Tour – a KFTC Reflection Essay

Bonifacio Aleman — Thu, 14 Dec 2023 16:55:08 +0000

It was a great pleasure to collaborate with two of my favorite organizations – Kentuckians for the Commonwealth (KFTC) and the Transformative Justice Coalition (TJC) to help maximize voter turnout in Kentucky’s 2023 election.

I am Quincy Robinson, and I am a senior sociology major at the University of Louisville, a TJC Fellow, and a KFTC voter empowerment contractor. I attended TJC’s Gen Z and Millennial Votes Matter Leadership Training in Houston, Texas during the spring season. While sharing space with over fifty young leaders, I was able to learn about different issues related to voting rights, such as disenfranchisement of people convicted of felonies, and learn about the roles athletes and coaches can play in advancing voting rights. The training reinvigorated my passions and set the foundation for my relationship with TJC.

”The TJC Freedom Riders helped us feed students, distribute t-shirts, give away free banned books, and encourage students to apply for TJC’s next training...”

Five months and three TJC engagements later, Attorney Barbara Arnwine, the President and Founder of TJC, invited me to a planning call for TJC’s trip to Kentucky and Ohio. Taylor Martin, a KFTC voter empowerment contractor who attended TJC’s training in DC in September, and I were pleased to join the planning calls and organize an event on the University of Louisville’s campus. Taylor and I began planning the Election Day event on October 4th, reaching out to UofL student organizations like my Alpha Pi Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Incorporated, Vote Everywhere, and the Office for Culture and Liberation for collaborative support. We also worked with Black Lives Matter Louisville to organize Rides to the Polls for students.

From November 1st to November 4th, Taylor and I met up with TJC’s leadership and freedom riders in Louisville, Frankfort, and Lexington to fellowship and distribute banned books and TJC shirts at community and campus events. On November 5th and 6th, Taylor and I finalized the details of the Election Day campus event. The TJC Freedom Riders helped us feed students, distribute t-shirts, give away free banned books, and encourage students to apply for TJC’s next training, which takes place in Phoenix during April of 2024. Students also had the opportunity to interact with the Hoop Bus, a repurposed school bus with basketball hoops on either side.

It was beautiful to see the whole event come together. I loved watching the Freedom Riders, who came from all around the nation, interact with UofL students to maximize voter turnout. I look forward to future partnerships between KFTC and TJC as we transition into the 2024 Presidential cycle.

- Quincy Robinson, JCKFTC Member

KFTC Voter Empowerment Contractor Reflection Essay

Bonifacio Aleman — Thu, 14 Dec 2023 16:49:16 +0000

Working as a Voter Empowerment Contractor with Kentuckians for The Commonwealth (KFTC) has been an amazing learning experience that enhanced my leadership and collaboration skills. I had the wonderful opportunity to speak with community members about energy justice issues, register new voters, and distribute voter guides with information about candidates. I am grateful for the experience.

”It was very interesting to learn about the intersections between issues, community, and elections. I had the opportunity to learn from different community members about the issues that impact them as individuals, and then zoom out and look at the bigger picture, which shows a broader perspective.”

As a door-to-door canvasser, I knocked on doors with colleagues in West Louisville, where we learned about residents’ experiences with environmental and energy justice related issues. We invited residents to community visioning workshops to explore solutions to the problems that residents face. At the workshops, we led group discussions about how funding from the Inflation Reduction Act can address those problems. Additionally, we invited them to a hearing hosted by the Public Service Commission, where constituents voiced their concerns about LG&E and Kentucky Utilities’ plans to build two new natural gas plants.

It was very interesting to learn about the intersections between issues, community, and elections. I had the opportunity to learn from different community members about the issues that impact them as individuals, and then zoom out and look at the bigger picture, which shows a broader perspective. Once I knew what issues people were passionate about, I was able to pitch voting as a solution. The individual vote is small, but the collective is massive, and the mass of voters can lead to social change. I did meet some registered voters who felt apathetic towards elections and the civic process, but those conversations allowed me to practice my elevator pitch to promote voting.

My relationship with KFTC has been great. I registered voters in 2018 and didn’t do much work with them after, but I became reunited with KFTC in 2023, and I am so grateful for it. Since working with KFTC, I have participated in JCKFTC chapter meetings, education policy work team meetings, and community events. I also helped organize an Election Day event on UofL’s campus to help get out the vote! I love my experience with KFTC and can’t wait to watch the relationship grow.

As a VE Contractor, I conversed with voters on issues they care about, explored solutions to those issues, registered new voters, distributed election information, and organized a campus event. It was an amazing experience and I am so thankful for the personal growth and professional development I have experienced here. Thank you, KFTC for a great job and amazing time!!

- Quincy Robinson, JCKFTC Member