RECORD ON THE
BY AND FOR THE YOUTH OF LOUISVILLE • SPRING/SUMMER 2024
MEET THE
Iris Apple photographer
Jackson Barnes assignment editor
Claire Dixon designer
Lucy Vanderhoff assignment editor
Sydney Webb assignment editor
Jeremy Young designer
Noa Yussman designer
Silas Mays designer
Uyen Nguyen designer
Maya O’Dell reporter
Dea Rexhepi marketing assistant
Keller Mobley web managing editor
Amelia Jones creative director
Emerson Jones content director
Grace Kirby designer
Joanna Lee reporter
Acacia Lopez HR coordinator
Frances Fendig marketing assistant
Erica Fields photo editor
Kendall Geller copy editor
Sadie Eichenberger photographer
Luke Boggs reporter
Cameron Breier marketing director
Mali Bucher promo coordinator
THE STAFF
ON THE RECORD is a magazine by and for the youth of Louisville. In 2015, our publication transitioned from duPont Manual High School’s tabloid-size school newspaper, the Crimson Record, to a magazine that focuses on long form, in-depth storytelling created for a Louisville-wide youth audience and local distribution. Using our training as writers, photographers, designers, and videographers, our mission is to create quality local journalism for youth that includes the crucial — but often overlooked — youth perspective. Each issue’s content is determined and produced by youth.
OUR CREDENTIALS
On the Record is a member of the National Scholastic Press Association, the Columbia Scholastic Press Association, and the Kentucky High School Journalism Association. Previous accolades include NSPA Pacemakers and CSPA Gold Crowns. Individual stories have earned multiple NSPA Story, Design, and Photo of the Year awards, along with CSPA Gold Circles and the Brasler Prize.
WHERE TO FIND OTR
On the Record is distributed to youth-friendly businesses in the Louisville area, as well as to teachers who request class sets.
If you wish to share this magazine with your students or in your business, please contact us.
Would you like to sponsor or advertise with us? More information can be found on page 60.
Digital copies of all magazines can be found at issuu.com/ontherecordmagazine. Additional stories can be found online at ontherecordmag.com. Check us out on Instagram @ontherecordmag and TikTok @ontherecordmagazine.
CONTACT US!
On the Record would love to hear from you! Our magazine is published by the students of the Journalism and Communications Magnet at duPont Manual High School, 120 W. Lee Street, Louisville, KY 40208. Leave us feedback at ontherecordmag.com or email at ontherecord@manualjc.com.
You may also contact the faculty adviser, Liz Palmer at lizpalmer@manualjc.com
Emma Johnson photographer
Julia May print managing editor
Maanya Sunkara marketing assistant
Sophy Zhao multimedia
Nora Ruscoe reporter
Liz Palmer adviser
Blake Sinclair multimedia
Addison Lowry multimedia
Jazmine Martinez design editor
Sammie Haden assignment editor
Zoe Huguley reporter
Anna Burzynski assignment editor
Lily Cashman editor-in-chief
Terra Dempsey designer
EDITOR letter from the
Dear Readers,
The distinct yellow hue. Searching frantically to find a seat in the coveted “cool kid” area. Getting airborne going over speed bumps. The push of someone’s knee into the back of a seat.
That’s how I used to remember school buses. An experience of childhood, a nostalgic feeling — a feeling I remember well. A few months ago, whenever I passed a bus on the street I was reminded of time passing as I grew up. The school bus felt like a distant memory of my past. However, my perception of busing is now tainted by JCPS’ recent decision to cut busing to magnet and traditional schools, with few exceptions, in the fall. To that end, we bring you “Final Stop,” an ode to the buses that are closing their doors for the last time.
When we heard about the possibility of busing cuts back in our brainstorm for this issue, we knew that we needed to tackle it, especially with how prominent and far-reaching the effects are. We were willing to take on the story back in January, without knowing the outcome of the decision or how complicated the process would be.
So, our cover story, “End of the Road,” on page 30, follows reporter Sammie Haden’s journey in uncovering the big decision. While the constant changes made this story difficult at times, Haden, along with the rest of her story team, stayed dedicated to their content: conducting interviews, attending board meetings, and sifting through research.
In addition to the three elements consistent in almost every OTR story — photography, writing, and design — “End of the Road” also has an accompanying video that follows along the team’s production
process. As you read, be on the lookout for the QR codes in a handful of our stories — including one on unlikely friendships that cross generations and youth reimagining the world of both radio and fashion. They will launch you into a world that exists beyond the pages of the magazine!
Besides busing, you will also learn about how new legislation is targeting people living without homes in Louisville, and dive into more personal stories on a new wave of eating disorder research in our city, as well as an exploration of what options are available for young adults with cognitive disabilities. Also, learn about how youth are using their voices for change within the JCPS program, Justice Now, and a look into the line between being funny and being mean. There is something special on each page.
“Final Stop” has an additional meaning for those of us in the newsroom. Next year, Ms. Palmer, our adviser, will be stepping away from On The Record and turning her focus to Manual’s other news publication, Manual RedEye. Ms. Palmer has been OTR’s guiding force since 2015 when she started the magazine with a team of J&C students. So today we wanted to say thank you. This magazine is what it is because of your consistency, drive, and vision. Thank you for being there for us, for letting us make mistakes but teaching us to grow from them, and for being our biggest cheerleader. You have shaped us. This is your “Final Stop” with On the Record Magazine, and we’re all grateful to have been a part of it!
Peace and love, Lily
Cashman
Sound Off: Max Selby, 16, sits at the soundboard in the ART FM recording studio, March 20. His show, “Emporium,” airs every Wednesday on WXOX 97.1 FM at 4 p.m. Photo by Sadie Eichenberger.
Some in Louisville may think radio is a dying platform, but these teens take to the mic to prove that it still has a place in modern media.
writing by LUKE BOGGS • design by GRACE KIRBY
This is WXOX with Max Ca$h,” he said with a youthful, almost angelic voice. “And now, ‘Good Golly Miss Molly’ by Creedence Clearwater Revival.”
A rugged, guitar-heavy jam echoed through the lobby, engulfing the room in a calm, creative vibe. Each musical note ricocheted between the red and gold decorations scattered across the ceiling.
The energy flowed through the studio, every stroke of the guitar compelling the cluster of listeners in the lobby to sing along, even dance to the old tune.
As the song faded, one would assume the radio show would go in the direction of southern rock — songs guided by the spirit of Creedence Clearwater Revival. Instead, a new, persistent beat emerged, blended with a classical twist and a deep male voice. He switched to “née-nah” by 21 Savage, Travis Scott, and Metro Boomin. The complete musical transition from rock to rap might be unexpected to listeners, but is a standard feature of his radio show.
Max Selby, 16, whose DJ name is Max Ca$h, is a host on Louisville’s WXOX 97.1 FM, also known as ART FM, which is a noncommercial, short-range radio station. Selby is a junior at Louisville Collegiate School and goes on air after school
every Wednesday from 4-5 p.m.
On his show, “Emporium,” his unique style has harvested an eccentric sound for the citizens of Louisville to hear. He is one of many young creators at ART FM expanding the voices of youth in radio at a time when their listenership is lower than that of any other generation.
A 2018 poll by the Broadcast Performing and Research Center indicated that while radio was the most common music platform overall, only 12% of people ages 16-19 and 20-26 used it. In today’s age, radio is commonly associated with older generations. For all age groups over 35, at least 30% of listening was through radio, making it the largest percentage among those groups.
Many attribute the lack of youth listenership in radio to the recent encroachment of digital media platforms like Spotify and Apple Music.
Even with radio’s prevalence decreasing, there are people in Louisville using their voices to captivate the city’s ears and invite listeners to grow their appreciation for radio. Their goal is to redirect the trajectory of an industry that has been on a generational decline.
On Air, Off Script
“My show is cohesively everywhere,” Selby said.
If the switch from rock ‘n’ roll to rap didn’t already showcase that, then the evaluation of his tracklist definitely did. Selby carries this musical spontaneity with him on every show.
“I grew up under the soundboard,” Selby said. “It’s always been in my life.”
His mom, Sharon Scott, is the owner and general manager of ART FM, so the radio station is a familiar environment for Selby. He has used his experience in the field to introduce listeners to new artists, sounds, and genres with the hope that they will come back every Wednesday.
Even with his diverse arrangement of support, Selby has acknowledged the reduction in radio’s media relevance.
“There’s definitely been a decline in the use of radio,” Selby said. “I think it’s been outshined and it’s not a dominant source of media anymore.”
Despite the shifting tides of media consumption, those at ART FM emphasize radio’s consistent presence in society.
“Whenever a medium comes along, they talk about the death of the old medium, and radio, throughout this whole thing, has stayed extremely strong,” said Scott.
This resilience speaks to the enduring appeal and adaptability that Scott has created at ART FM. By allowing many young creators
I think the fact that WXOX lets teenagers be on air is really valuable.
-Lila
Hayden, 16, Louisville Collegiate School
on the radio, including Selby, she has nurtured an environment where self expression is encouraged and engagement in the community is required.
Scott, a long-time advocate for radio, appreciates the station’s uniqueness and ability to connect with local listeners. But above all else, Scott’s favorite part about radio is a characteristic that distinguishes it from all other forms of media: accessibility.
“In a storm or a tornado, a lot of times the internet is one of the first things to go out, but the FM broadcast is much stronger,” Scott said. “There’s lots of instances you see in big, intense, tragic-type situations where the radio is the thing that holds people together and lets them know what they need to do.”
Radio is universal, whether it’s the source of immediate news, a song that can’t be skipped, or the background noise to a vibrant conversation. Its success has stretched beyond the lifespan of many other forms of media, even if it was dimmed by the temporary spotlight of other platforms at their peak.
“We are seeing between 200-400 folks streaming in from 20 different countries worldwide each day,” Scott said, reflecting on ART FM’s online listeners.
This doesn’t account for the people listening directly through the radio. Scott explained that
the online listenership is a fraction of the total number of participants tuning in to ART FM, but gathering data on live radio is very difficult.
Making Waves
A delicate violin reverberated through the speaker, the notes connecting from one to the next.
The DJ, Lila Hayden, 16, is also a junior at Louisville Collegiate School. Her show, “LAM Radio Hour,” airs classical music from 1-2 p.m. on Sundays at ART FM. “LAM Radio Hour” is a collaboration with the Louisville Academy of Music (LAM), and Hayden co-hosts the show alongside Colleen Mahoney, who is a violin teacher at LAM.
Skilled in the composition and history of classical music, Hayden co-hosts an hour of symphonic melodies and the dissection of archival greats.
Hayden’s specialization in classical music comes with a stereotype that is similar to that of radio — an old and outdated interest that was once popular. But her passion for this type of music ignites the means of her own self expression.
“Being able to bring many types of genres to people of all ages is really important,” Hayden said.
This emphasizes the necessity of including young voices in radio, allowing youth to introduce their peers to new genres.
“When you listen to the radio, you don’t really hear teenagers talking — it’s strictly adults,” Hayden said. “So I think the fact that WXOX lets teenagers be on air is really valuable.”
ART FM’s emphasis on youth voice in radio is a major reason for its creative environment and diverse content. In fact, it is what attracted Elliot Lueken, 18, to the station in the first place.
Lueken, an Atherton High School senior, participated in a storytelling segment on ART FM called “The Sun Tastes Too Loud,” in which they read poetry and prose.
“Sure, there are generated stations or pre-recorded shows, but it’s made by people and put on by them,” Lueken said.
Their favorite part about radio is its authenticity, especially during a time of algorithm-based media.
“Radio is something that only happens once you hear it in the car, or in your house, or wherever you are,” Lueken said. “To listen to someone talking and choosing their music in real time, it’s a very beautiful thing if you sit there and think about it. It can make you feel less lonely sometimes.”
Even with radio’s one-of-akind characteristics and historical adaptability, streaming services have surpassed radio in terms of revenue and youth listeners.
According to a 2023 report by the International Federation
of Phonographic Industry, music streaming services grew by 10.3% in 2022, taking over 84% of the country’s music industry revenue.
Streaming platforms have dethroned radio on the media stage. In order for radio to captivate more listeners and remain a powerful medium, stations have to include content that appeals to all ages — not just older generations who make up the bulk of their current audience.
“There’s a lot of work that needs to be done,” said Sylvia Goodman, the state capital reporter for Louisville Public Media (LPM) and former On the Record reporter. “And I think part of that is bringing in more youth
voices. But it’s not just about getting youth voices on the radio, it’s about how you source your stories in the first place.”
This serves as a call to action for media professionals to prioritize inclusivity in storytelling, particularly by involving younger generations as primary sources in media.
“I think there’s this idea that kids aren’t interested in news and I think that anyone who’s been on Twitter or TikTok knows that’s not true,” Goodman said. “There’s hunger for information, accurate information, and interesting information.”
By understanding the preferences and interests of
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young people in today’s society, radio can be a major facilitator in providing an always present, but new form of listening for youth. Stations like LPM and ART FM’s involvement of youth perspectives is vital for the success of radio’s future in Louisville.
As the steady beat of “Wolf Like Me” by indie rock band TV on the Radio slowly faded away, Selby’s voice filled the airwaves once more. His signoff carried a sense of continuity, a promise of returning the following week and continuing the musical dialogue.
“This has been ‘Emporium,’” Selby said. “Thanks for listening. I’ll see you all in some time.” •
Changing Tunes: Lila Hayden, 16, researches music pieces and composers for the show she co-hosts, “LAM Radio Hour,” April 14. She chose a monthly theme, which for April was “The Realms of the Earth.” Photo by Sadie Eichenberger.
For years, people without homes in Louisville have searched for somewhere to rest their heads. Soon, they won’t have anywhere else to turn.
WRITING BY NORA RUSCOE • DESIGN BY SILAS MAYS
Movement.
Just to the left of Bardstown Square, a stretch of road led behind the sprawl of shops to where a trickle of water pooled into a puddle of trash and food.
The car continued down the pavement, searching for any indication of a person.
“There,” said volunteer Matthew Feltner, pointing behind the water to a dark green dumpster, where a man’s head peaked above the rim.
Lauren Stokes followed his direction and parked directly in front of the dumpster. The two stepped out of the car, Stokes going to talk to the man, Frank, while Feltner moved to grab a sandwich out of the trunk.
I followed Feltner, surveying the many bins, bags of food, cases of water, and folded clothing that filled the back of the car. He grabbed a brown paper bag and jogged over to Stokes, who was coaxing Frank from the dumpster.
He was one of the regulars that the two served on their weekly route for Louisville Outreach for the Unsheltered (LOU), a nonprofit dedicated to supplying homeless people with resources necessary for their survival. Stokes is their communications director.
Frank held the bag in his hands as his eyes drifted to the left, where a couple of regulars were making their way toward the car.
Stokes greeted them and handed them both a sandwich.
From there, they began catching up like old friends, discussing everything from the weather to the camp clearings all over Louisville.
“Speaking of,” Stokes said, the words sparking a memory, “Have you seen Patrick?”
They shook their heads no.
Stokes sighed, but wished them well as they headed back the way they came.
Once they were out of earshot, I asked, “Who’s Patrick?”
Stokes explained that she had met him on her first serve
back in January 2023, and has served him consistently since.
He’d camped in a variety of locations during that period, usually along Bardstown Road, and had been cleared at least 10 times according to Stokes. It was March 10, and the most recent clearing happened in February when Patrick had been camping behind a dumpster.
“I can’t find him and I’m worried about him,” Stokes said.
I thought back to a camp I’d seen under the Watterson
Expressway every morning when I went to school, but it wasn’t until it was suddenly gone that I really paid attention.
I’d heard talk that the city removed them for various reasons, but the majority of the clearings came down to appearance.
“It didn’t look good.”
“It was an eyesore.”
After the camp was gone, I found myself glancing out the window every time we passed where it used to be, thinking maybe the people would have
Deserted: A highway underpass on E. Hill Street in Old Louisville sits deserted after a recent homeless camp clearing, March 20. Photo by Anna Burzynski.
returned, but nothing remained except the occasional plastic bag.
When a camp is cleared, it’s assumed that the inhabitants just go somewhere else, some other patch of grass or hidden spot, but where?
Where could they go if everywhere in the city was under the threat of being cleared?
What made them choose the streets rather than a shelter?
Where could they go, and why weren’t more people talking about it?
Experience it Firsthand
The parking lot of Beargrass Christian Church slowly filled with volunteers and outreach workers as LOU’s “primary serve” began. They ran up and down the side stairs in the activities building, dropping off boxes and picking up supplies from the trailer at the far end of the lot.
Amy Nguyen, the donations director at LOU, was in charge of ensuring the trailer stayed clean, organized, and easy to access. Throughout the day, Nguyen periodically set out a big blue tarp with piles of new supplies and tasked volunteers with sorting them. Students from schools like Trinity High School and Sacred Heart Academy donate many of these supplies and get service hours for doing so.
On March 3, I became one of those volunteers. From 2-4 p.m., I separated shoes and pants according to gender, size, and type.
Even though this experience showed me the importance of having an abundance of resources and volunteers, I still didn’t know the ins and outs of the job. So I decided to come back the next week, but this time, it would be different.
Eviction Notice
On the morning of March 10, a car door slammed as a woman with an orange ponytail in a gray sweatshirt,
leggings, and boots jogged up the stairs and into the kitchen.
Stokes smiled and introduced herself before grabbing her designated supplies and loading them into her car. I followed her and climbed into the backseat.
A couple minutes later, Feltner, clad in a black zip-up and khaki pants, slid into the passenger seat, and introduced himself.
The two of them drive a route throughout Louisville every week in search of anyone on the streets who may need help or resources. Many of the people they serve are regulars they have distributed to frequently ever since they started doing the route a little over a year ago.
In most cases, their regulars are easy to find, given that they tend to stick to homeless camps — visible structures such as tents, shanties, or shacks where more than one unhoused person lives. To onlookers, they may seem like an eyesore, but to those living in them, they’re home.
The Louisville Metro Police Department (LMPD) has recently cracked down on the removal of these camps, making it infinitely harder for outreach workers like Stokes and Feltner to do their job.
For more information on the camp removal process, I reached out to Aaron Selbig, the communications coordinator at Louisville Metro Office of Resilience and Community Services. He said that LMPD’s Homeless Services Division (HSD) inspects the encampment and evaluates the level of risk it imposes through a variety of factors, such as proximity to school buildings and roadways, number of campers, amount of trash, etc. Then HSD leaves notices around the camp for a removal in 7-21 days. Resource outreach specialists routinely check back with all of the inhabitants of the camp to
provide them with local services and transportation to shelters.
Once the allotted time is up, most campers have already left, but any remaining belongings or waste are disposed of by the Metro Public Works Department.
This information comes from Selbig, but accounts differ among outreach workers.
“They throw their tents away, they throw their birth certificates away, all of those things that we work to acquire for them,” Stokes said.
She also described a procedure in which those remaining in the camps are picked up and taken to hotels in Louisville. They are allegedly placed there for nine days before being released back onto the streets.
“The nine days sounds like it’s doing a good thing, but it’s really not,” Stokes said. “It’s getting these people used to being back indoors. It’s just enough time to get used to it and then they’re kicked back out on the street.”
When this occurs, outreach workers aren’t notified on where people are being taken, nor where they’re being released. This affects organizations’ abilities to find and aid the unsheltered individuals who have been displaced in the process.
Still, Amie Michel, the director of LOU, explained how even though the removals separate the regulars from their normal spots, people often return to what’s familiar.
“Typically, people are creatures of nature, and so we tend to go back to what we know,” Michel said. “So a lot of times they will return to where they were before.”
As we continued our route, we stopped at an already cleared camp and picked through the remnants in an attempt to find
any sign that someone in need of resources might still be there. Nothing.
For months it had bustled with activity, but now trash littered the ground and there was no one in sight.
Venturing farther into the remains of the camp, a wave of unease passed over me as I remembered that, on top of the clearings, people without homes would soon face an additional hurdle — with new legislation, they will have nowhere left to turn.
Punishable by Law
The Kentucky Legislature recently passed a law that not only allows
LMPD to fine homeless people caught camping throughout the city, but also jail them.
This bill is known as the Safer Kentucky Act, or HB5.
According to state Rep. John Hodgson, a Republican from Fisherville and co-sponsor of HB5, the goal of the bill is to reduce violent crime.
“Studies show that one half percent of the population is terrorizing the other 99.5%,” Hodgson wrote to me in an email.
“And if we hope to have a safe and civilized society, these violent criminals need to be removed from the street until they are no longer a threat to their neighbors.”
However when I followed up with him to check that his statistics were sound, he couldn’t provide me with any studies.
“These are estimates based on interactions with professionals on the subject, from multiple cities,” Hodgson wrote in response.
Still this is one of the common arguments for why the bill classifies street camping as an act punishable by law. In section 17, it states that an individual is guilty of illegal camping when they knowingly enter and remain on public or private property with the intent to sleep or camp there, with the exclusion of temporarily sleeping in a vehicle.
Storage: Amy Nguyen, the donations director at LOU, stands in front of a storage container filled with donated clothes, March 3. Every week, volunteers take what supplies they need for their routes. Photo by Anna Burzynski.
I don’t think it’s fair to add homelessness into a bill that is trying to mitigate violence and murder.
- Stuart Walker, program manager at Sweet Evening Breeze
Additionally, any person who knowingly camps anywhere that hasn’t been approved will be written up for a violation on their first offense, resulting in up to a $250 fine. Repeat offenders can be charged with a Class B misdemeanor, which is punishable by either the same fine, up to 90 days of jail time, or both the fine and jail time.
The bill does leave room for the judges to provide an alternative to jail, such as relocation to drug or mental health rehabilitation instead of releasing them back onto the streets after their punishment has been determined and served.
“There is no compassion in allowing them to remain living on the street untreated, where they will die 30 years prematurely, and negatively impact the community safety while they are doing so,” Hodgson wrote.
However, this “diversion program” is dealt out on a caseby-case basis, and offenders might not have the resources for representation other than public attorneys, making it more difficult for them to put together a case that doesn’t result in jail time.
When I asked Selbig for a statement on the bill in April, he stated that his department has “not yet been able to closely study the possible ramifications of the Safer Kentucky Act,” and didn’t have any further comments.
However, people at various Louisville outreach organizations voiced their opinions on the topic.
Stuart Walker is the program manager at Sweet Evening Breeze, a nonprofit providing a wide array of resources to LGBTQ young adults experiencing homelessness. Walker agreed that some portions of the bill have benefits, but the drawbacks outweigh them.
“I don’t think it’s fair to add homelessness into a bill that is trying to mitigate violence and murder,” Walker said. “Because one, you’re equating homelessness with violent crime, and then two, it makes it harder to fight that part in the bill that’s about homelessness when you know the other parts of the bill are pretty valid.”
David Smillie, the executive director of LOU, agreed that the bill has its downsides.
“It’s very, very clearly an overly ambitious bill that bundles way too many issues into one package as a sort of cure-all for some sort of real and or imagined safety threats in our state,” Smillie said.
Michel agreed, stating that she didn’t see the logic of the bill, as it would only perpetuate the cycle of homelessness.
“You’re fining someone who doesn’t have any money. You’re putting them in jail for what purpose? Because when they release them, what are they supposed to do?” Michel said. “It’s expensive to keep someone in jail, and you’re not gonna get money out of them. They don’t have money. That’s why they’re on the street.”
Instead, she wished the time, energy, and money spent on enforcement of the bill could be put toward programs that would help people.
On April 9, Gov. Andy Beshear echoed the concerns of the outreach workers when he vetoed the bill for similar reasons. However, the Kentucky House and Senate overruled this veto and the bill was passed into law on April 15. The bill is set to go into effect on July 15, but as the backlash spreads, citizens and organizations continue to fight for the homeless people of Louisville.
Housing Not Handcuffs
“What do we want?”
“Affordable housing!”
“When do we want it?”
“Now!”
Stephanie Johnson, an organizer of the Housing Not Handcuffs rally, shouted into the crowd. She grew louder with each repetition of the chant until the noise came to a crescendo and died down.
On April 22, the Coalition for the Homeless and other Louisville nonprofits organized a rally outside of the Mazzoli Federal Building downtown in opposition of the passage of HB5, as well as Johnson v. Grant Pass, a case currently being heard in the Supreme Court.
Johnson v. Grant Pass originated in Grant Pass, Oregon, where the city started ticketing
people found sleeping in the streets. In 2018, a group of homeless people sued the city of Grants Pass, citing the Eighth Amendment in that ticketing and jailing people on the street is cruel and unusual punishment — especially when there aren’t enough safe and accessible shelter beds. The city has since petitioned the Supreme Court to hear the case.
Whether or not legislation like the Safer Kentucky Act and the law in Oregon are constitutional will be determined in late June when the Supreme Court sets the precedent by releasing their decision.
For now, opponents of the Safer Kentucky Act continue to fight for what they believe in.
At the rally, Louisville’s Coalition for the Homeless invited nine speakers from different
social and political backgrounds to discuss the issue at hand.
I moved toward the front, the lull of the crowd dissipating behind me as I focused on the speaker at the podium.
“I want to live in a country where my dignity isn’t tied to where I live or how much I make,” said Dr. Eric French, a preacher at Antioch Missionary Baptist Church. “I want to live in a country where I don’t have to worry about being arrested because I have no place to live. We have the means to address homelessness, we’ve just taken the easy route.”
When the actions of legislators align with sayings like “out of sight, out of mind,” they not only displace hundreds of homeless individuals, but uphold the belief that if the issue isn’t visible, it isn’t there.
“When we talk about homelessness, we discuss it in terms of the homelessness issue. The homelessness crisis. The homelessness problem,” state Rep. Nima Kulkarni, a Democrat, said at the rally.
Instead, she urges people to look past the perceived “crisis,” and consider the humans behind the statistics.
“We do not talk about the son struggling with mental illness,” Kulkarni said. “Or the daughter who may have an intellectual disability. We do not talk about the single mother, who is trying to keep her children safe as they live out of their car.”
Although they all went about it in their own unique way, each speech contained a similar message: jailing someone for living without a set address is cruel and unusual
Sorting: Amy Nguyen, a volunteer for LOU, explains how shoes are sorted before going into the storage container, March 3. Photo by Anna Burzynski.
punishment. They also agreed that the funding for HB5 should be directed toward outreach organizations and affordable housing efforts.
“So no, handcuffs will not be the solution. Corrupt politicians will not be the solution,” said Democrat Charles Booker, a former state Rep. and U.S. Senate candidate, who also spoke at the rally. “We know what we need to do. The solutions have already existed for a long time. If we prioritize people and invest in people and do the repairing work that we need to do, we can end the crisis of people living without a roof over their heads.”
LOU and other organizations provide for everyone they can, but there are over a thousand people living without housing in Louisville and outreach organizations can only do so much, especially as clearings increase and legislation like the Safer Kentucky Act is put into effect. Since Louisville doesn’t currently have enough affordable housing to solve this issue and Kentucky legislators signed HB5 into law, homeless people are left with just one legal option: shelters.
A Place to Rest
April Morris was homeless for six years, from April 2017 to September 2023.
At first, finding a place to sleep wasn’t an issue because there were many open lots and fields that offered the one thing that city shelters didn’t: privacy.
This notion was echoed among many, including organizers at various shelters like Walker at Sweet Evening Breeze.
“The living conditions are not very private at all, it’s communal,” Walker said.
“Restrooms and showers are also communal sleeping spaces, and some people would just prefer to live out somewhere.”
Still some people do favor the shelters, but there isn’t enough space for them to do so.
Creating Change: Former Rep. Charles Booker, a candidate for the U.S. Senate, leads a demonstration for the Housing Not Handcuffs rally at the Romano L. Mazzoli Federal Building, April 22. Housing Not Handcuffs is a nonprofit organization that advocates for housing as a human right. Photo by Anna Burzynski
Before I started doing this, I had a misconception that homeless people were people who’d rather do drugs or alcohol or whatever their fix is instead of work.
- Matthew Feltner, volunteer at LOU
According to a 2023 survey by the Coalition for the Homeless, over 1,600 individuals were either living out on the streets or in shelters in Louisville. As a whole, only about 750 beds are available every night, which means that, should they seek it, over 800 individuals would be denied access due to shelters being at capacity.
“You have to either be in line by 3 p.m. to get into one of those shelters or call by 1 p.m. to reserve a bed,” Walker said. “And with as many people out here experiencing homelessness as there are, you’re not guaranteed a place in the shelter at all.”
As time went on, Morris realized that she wasn’t going to be able to live on the streets forever. During a visit on the street by an outreach organization, Morris began the process of obtaining a housing voucher and has since secured a permanent supportive housing voucher. This means that she has and will continue to have a permanent shelter over her head for the rest of her life.
Taking it All In
Trees passed in a blur of green as we circled back along the route to the Beargrass Christian Church. Stokes and Feltner started talking, attempting to include me in their conversation,
but I couldn’t focus on anything they were saying. My mind remained on the people I had just met. My two hours on the route had come and gone, but the experience I had was engraved into my memory.
After speaking to Feltner in the parking lot, I quickly learned that I wasn’t alone in my feelings toward this day. Feltner had been just as impacted on his first route with LOU.
“Before I started doing this, I had a misconception that homeless people were people who’d rather do drugs or alcohol or whatever their fix is instead of work,” Feltner said. “This has completely and entirely changed my outlook on that. There’s a ton of good people just like you and I that have had horrible things happen to them, or they’ve had trauma in their lives. And they’ve made some poor choices, admittedly, but they’re dealing with stuff that a lot of us could never imagine.”
Stokes and Feltner have formed strong connections with the people they’ve served over the past year, and have grown concerned when they aren’t able to find them. Sometimes, it was months before they ever made contact again.
This was the case for finding Patrick, but luckily, after a little over a month of being missing,
he reached out to Stokes to tell her he was okay.
“I talk to him just about every day!” Stokes wrote to me in a later message, relieved that she had reconnected with Patrick.
• • •
This story began with a question, one that I thought would be simple to answer. But as I continued learning more about the topic, I realized that the issue is more far reaching than I previously assumed.
Yes, there are camp clearings and yes, there aren’t enough shelter beds, but those are just some of the most immediate threats to those without homes in Louisville.
State governments across the country have drafted legislation that aims to restrict their rights even more, and as this topic gains more traction in the government and media, it becomes imperative for everyone to get involved. This can be as simple as donating a pair of outgrown shoes or as proactive as calling your state representatives and expressing your concerns about new legislation.
“If the highest court in the land overturns this decision, it is up to us — all of us here in our city, in our state — to make sure that we enact local policies that treat people like people, and not like problems to be swept away,” Kulkarni said at the rally. “Housing is a human right.” •
Eating Disorder care throughout the state is sparse, but new research may lead to more treatment options.
writing by ZOE HUGULEY • design by UYEN NGUYEN
Last year, in the weeks leading up to spring break, I looked around and realized that a lot of my friends were no longer eating their lunch. Vera Bradley and Target lunch boxes packed full of food were stowed away in backpacks, never to be taken out at the table. Nobody said anything about it, but we did discuss where everyone was going for the break.
Florida was a popular spot. So was a Bahamas cruise, and many were visiting family up north. As conversation about destinations continued, I heard people discussing bikini bodies and Instagram posts. One of my friends was cutting whole food groups, some were going the “normal” dieting route, and others were fasting in preparation.
I tried not to put much thought into it, but as I ate my leftovers at the circular cafeteria table, my stomach flipped. I was so embarrassed to be one of the only ones eating.
This idea of shaping up for events was nothing new to me. I have struggled with an eating disorder (ED) since I was 11, and every day I have to fight the temptation to fall back into the scarily comforting pattern. Still, I was always aware of the unhealthy behaviors I exhibited — I nearly craved the sickness.
When I was younger I was on a lot of social media, and at the time, a lot of creators were coming forward with their stories of how they had struggled with disordered eating. While most creators had good intentions, I didn’t heed their warnings. Being young and loving these influencers with everything in me, I took their stories and ran with them. I wanted to be like them, and if this was the way, this was the way.
I did home exercises in my room, crept out of bed in the middle of the night to use my mom’s elliptical in the den, and told all of my sixth grade friends that I was swearing off sugar, carbs, fats, and anything else
“unhealthy” you could find in food. I dreamt of being like my idols and thought that this way of chasing thin would lead me to be a 20-something, beautiful bombshell YouTuber living in L.A. This kind of addiction to perfection has followed me from 11 to now, at 16. I’ve gone in and out of different low-impact recovery methods and today I can say that the idea of thinness stays mostly in the back of my mind — not taking over every thought, but still there, creeping up in moments of weakness.
However, not every ED story nor recovery journey is the same.
Cyres McCay, 18, a senior at Atherton High School, has struggled with their own ED.
“I’ve always had pretty low self-esteem and body image, especially growing up because I was taller and I just kind of felt like I didn’t really fit in looks-wise,” McCay said. “But after the death of my mom, I kind of used it as a coping mechanism in a way, as a way of controlling my emotions because I was in a time of really a lot of turmoil in my life.”
McCay was also lost on where to go for treatment. They had to choose between partial hospitalization programs (PHP) and intensive outpatient programs (IOP). McCay isn’t alone in this struggle. Others in Louisville also find it difficult to get adequate treatment. Louisville does not currently have any
Overcoming: Cyres McCay, 18, a senior at Atherton High School, talks about their eating disorder recovery at Safai Coffee Shop, March 16.
Photo by Iris Apple.
inpatient care facilities, forcing people to travel outside of the city for more intensive care. Along with a lack of recovery resources, the issue of untreated disorders is growing. The National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders found that an estimated 9% of the U.S. population will struggle with an ED in their lifetime, not including the many that will go undiagnosed. Fifteen percent of American women will experience an ED by their 40s or 50s, but only 27% of those will receive any treatment. In order to begin making treatment more accessible, it is crucial to understand the complexity and range of the various types of EDs, as well, as the challenges they present.
Stopping Stereotypes
White, thin women make up the majority of ED stereotypes, but they do not only affect a certain demographic. Black, indigenous and other people of color are affected by EDs at similar rates compared to their white peers. Plus, men represent up to 25% of people with EDs.
That said, there are many different types of disorders that come with their own set of niche behaviors, and in some cases, a person may struggle with multiple. We often hear stories about anorexia nervosa and bulimia. Commonly glamorized on social media as a quick route to thinness, anorexia is a restrictionbased disorder often tied to a low body image. Bulimia is an ED with periods of overeating and purging, and similar to anorexia, is associated with low body image. Contrary to popular belief, EDs extend farther than just restriction-based patterns. For example, binge EDs are linked to the overconsumption of food in a short amount of time and can cause feelings of losing control
over oneself. Particularly among adolescents, it is one of the most common chronic illnesses.
However, lesser-known disorders like ARFID and orthorexia also significantly impact people’s lives.
Something for Everyone
It’s important to remember that recovery is far from linear — it’s a spectrum. Treatment is not as simple as the quick-fix revelations in some media portrayals. Rather, it can include going through multiple forms of recovery.
“They call it a revolving door disorder because about 50% of people who receive treatment end up relapsing and having to go back to treatment,” said Taylor Porter, study coordinator for Eating Anxiety Treatment (EAT) Lab, a Louisville research and treatment clinic for eating disorders.
This spectrum ranges from self-treatment and selfmedication to more involved methods like reaching out for professional guidance or therapy.
A significant step up in the level of care can be found in IOP and PHP. Both are for patients that require extremely structured treatment and support, but do not need 24hour hospital style care. IOP sessions typically span 2-3 hours, occurring 3-5 days per week, and PHP sessions are typically over 6 hours of support 5-7 days a week.
Complete inpatient hospitalization is the most intensive form of care, with a goal of providing round-the-clock medical and psychiatric services based on severity and diagnosis. There is also residential care, where people live temporarily while receiving treatment.
Within Kentucky’s treatment landscape, there are therapists that specialize in EDs, but Louisville Center for Eating Disorders (LCED) is the only
5 Types of Eating Disorders
Anorexia Nervosa
An extreme restriction of food intake, leading to obsessive thoughts around food and body image. Symptoms: Dramatic weight loss, dizziness, hair loss.
Bulimia
The cycle of binge eating followed by compensatory behaviors such as self-induced vomiting. Symptoms: Mood swings, weight fluctuations, preoccupation with weight.
Binge Eating Disorder
Recurring episodes of consuming large amounts of food in short periods of time. Symptoms: Eating until uncontrolably full, avoiding eating around others.
ARFID
Avoiding certain foods and restricting their intake. Symptoms: Extremely picky eating, fear of gagging on food, avoiding particular textures, tastes, or smells.
Orthorexia Nervosa
Fixation on ‘healthy eating’ and the quality of food. Symptoms: Compulsive checking of nutrition labels, interest in what others are eating, high levels of perfectionism.
Source: National Eating Disorder Asssociation (NEDA), 2024
treatment facility that offers methods like IOP and PHP. However, LCED does not offer residential care, therefore it is unavailable in Kentucky.
Despite this highest form of treatment not yet being offered at LCED, Cheri Levinson, the clinical founder, remains instrumental in advancing ED care in Louisville. As an associate professor at University of Louisville (UofL) and director of EAT Lab, her dedication to her work is clear.
“I grew up in Louisville, Kentucky, and I had friends and family who had eating disorders and there wasn’t really anywhere for them to go to get help,” Levinson said.
In November 2023, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) awarded Levinson and her team at EAT Lab a total of $11.5 million in grants. NIH distributed the money in three segments, each for different causes to better understand and address the effects that EDs have. They received two grants, nearly $4 million each, one for research on the development of EDs throughout childhood and beyond, and the other to better identify the patterns of anorexia. Levinson also received the NIH Director’s New Innovator Award, which constituted an additional $4 million toward her research. Levinson is the first UofL professor, as well as the first person studying EDs to receive the award, which NIH grants each year to early stage researchers proposing large, impactful projects. The money will go to furthering the creation of personalized treatment for EDs, as well as integrating demographic factors.
LCED and EAT Lab lead innovative work and are at the forefront of ED research, but for all of Kentucky, ED care is still largely inaccessible.
“If you look at the map of eating disorder treatment, it’s very concentrated in certain areas,” said Emma Crumby, a member of Levinson’s EAT Lab research team. “And a lot of times people have to travel hundreds of miles just to get eating disorder care, and it’s also really inaccessible financially, too, so it costs thousands of dollars to send someone to a higher level of care for eating disorders.”
These expenses are not overlooked, and Levinson’s team is currently working on new ways to reach out to more people and change treatment styles.
“We are pioneering treatment that is going to be individualized to the person instead of using cookie cutter treatments, and I think it can change the face of treatment, not only for eating disorders, but treatment for all psychiatric illnesses,” Levinson said.
These “cookie cutter treatments” referred to how, in care facilities, people may not be receiving treatment personalized to themselves and their specific disorder. It’s important that each treatment is customized, as EDs come from an array of life experiences and trauma. In many cases, EDs can coexist, and specialized treatment is necessary to make sure all aspects of a person’s case are accounted for. This was true for McCay.
“I mainly deal with restrictive eating. I have also struggled with binging and purging,” McCay said.
Porter is directly working on solving this “one size fits all” issue.
“I’m essentially developing an app for women to use on their phones or on their computers to do a self-guided treatment that’s specific to their symptoms,” Porter said.
Her app aims to eliminate long waitlists for care to augment
accessibility. Users will answer a multitude of questions to determine their specific symptoms and needs, and then the app will guide them through treatment.
“We made little animated videos for them to listen to, and little interactive ways for them to put in questions,” Porter said. “And treatment’s not typically very fun, so just trying to make it as interactive for people as possible.”
Regarding the future of in-person treatment, there are people in Louisville like Levinson and her team that are taking steps in the right direction. Things are looking up.
A Bigger Picture
“It’s really just combating the pressures we get every day to conform to a certain look and assign value and worth to this outward appearance,” Porter said. “Reminding the people around you that their value and worth is not attached to superficial things like long hair, clear skin and a specific weight I think would be really helpful.”
Porter calls this “body activism,” and I can see the firsthand effects of this strategy. One small compliment when you’re feeling rough on yourself can make anyone’s day, and I know my friends could agree. However, while these small scale actions can make a world of difference, there often remains a need for it to be paired with more intensive treatment. In many cases, this pairing can create a well-rounded support system for people going through EDs.
This is why it’s important to remember that programs like LCED and EAT Lab are not the only solution, but rather, a part of a greater one working toward ED recovery. And now, our city is ready to be a part of this bigger picture — Louisville is ready to get with the program. •
Proactive: Taylor Porter, a study coordinator with EAT Lab, speaks about her research in her Old Louisville apartment, March 27. Photo by Iris Apple.
Humor can be used to mask degradation and discrimination. How do we know when we’ve gone too far?
writing by SYDNEY WEBB • design by MALI BUCHER
felt my skin crawling — the type of crawling that only occurs when a conversation is painful to escape. At the 2024 Golden Globes, host Jo Koy faced waves of criticism for his description of “Barbie” — a movie that analyzed the female experience and empowered women. His monologue included sexualizations of the movie, ultimately developing his takeaway that “Barbie” is based on “a plastic doll with big boobies.” I cringed in response, and I was not alone in my reaction. Director Greta Gerwig’s expression was one of disappointment, and co-
stars Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling looked embarrassed and slightly nauseated.
As I attempted to pull my gaze away from the trainwreck that was Koy’s performance, I could only wonder how blunders like his occur. While it remains unknown how writers allowed Koy’s jokes to make the public stage, it is explainable as to why he was not met with laughter. The root of his problem lies in disparagement humor, a form of comedy based on degrading another person or social group.
Disparagement humor is only effective because it holds two
messages: one explicit and one implicit. The explicit message is offending its target, but the implicit, lighthearted context of comedy is meant to counteract its negative effects. At the Golden Globes, Koy’s explicit message outweighed the implicit, but oftentimes, disparagement humor succeeds without criticism. In these cases, our laughter has the power to justify derogatory humor, perpetuating an endless cycle of prejudice.
Some comedians defend despaging humor — complaining that today’s audiences are too sensitive. Jerry Seinfeld made
headlines recently when he said the “extreme left” and “PC crap” were ruining TV comedy.
So where do we draw the line between comedy and cruelty? Whether it’s laughing at a performance or just joking with a friend, we love to laugh — just as long as it is not about us.
As comedy culture changes as a whole, the answer may be found in the comedy style of “punching up.” While widely debated across critics and comedians, punching up is the concept of the “weak” joking about the “strong.” This form of humor ensures that the privileged
and powerful don’t use comedy to disguise preying on those of less societal stature. But how often are comedians actually punching up? And more importantly, what happens when they don’t?
Drop the Mic
To answer this question, I turned to a smaller scale with less awards and more brick walls: the Louisville comedy scene. Here, big names headline while locals find comfort in the familiar. Various venues, such as the Louisville Comedy Club (LCC) and The Caravan, host a mix of famous acts and open mic nights. New
comedians can work on stepping out of their comfort zones, developing a new hobby, or trying out fresh material. Because of this, their jokes immerse the audience in the comedic spectrum. When I attended shows at both LCC and The Caravan in February, this spectrum came to life. Couples in their 20s could laugh alongside ones in their 60s, while comics joked about everything from Lizzo to menopause. There is something for everyone and some things that aren’t for anyone, and as the co-owner of The Caravan, Diannea Comstock has seen it all.
“There’s a difference in being funny and being hateful, and that’s your fine line.”
- Diannea Comstock, co-owner of The Caravan
After working there over 20 years ago during college, Comstock is no stranger to comedy culture, knowing all the local headliners, openers, and features. Following a 17-year interlude working a corporate job, she returned to buy The Caravan with her husband when previous management flaws threatened to shut down the business permanently.
Comstock has watched comedians blossom, fail, and fall somewhere in between. However, she attributes their success, or lack thereof, less to comedians’ personalities and more to how they portray their trains of thought.
“They have a thought process going in their head of where they’re going with it even if they haven’t made it to the finish line appropriately yet,” Comstock said.
It is when comics struggle with this tunnel vision — especially those that pursue controversial stage characters — that they can become immune to the harmful effects of their comedy.
“If you’re saying comments that you think are funny and you’re the only one laughing, then it’s not funny,” Comstock said.
To combat the negative effects of comedy, many Louisville comics are making conscious efforts to avoid disparagement humor. Two of these comedians are Brandi Norton and Jake Hovis — comics that I had the pleasure of watching at an open mic night at
The Caravan. The key for them lies in the topics that they most like to joke about.
“I don’t want the victim to be anybody that doesn’t deserve it,” Hovis said. “So most of my jokes are at my own expense, so I’m purposefully self-deprecating.”
And it’s true! His act contained jokes mostly about him, his dog, his wife, and other funny quirks of his day-to-day life. Hovis’ selfdeprecating comedy is a common practice, but comedy doesn’t have to be solely about the speaker to remain socially conscious. Norton is a prime example of this. Her strategy is to simply be present with the audience and talk about anything — literally.
“I like to work with what’s already been established for sure,” Norton said.
That night, her improv bounced off topics already discussed in previous acts, audience members, and even a heckler in the back. It was fascinating to watch her direct jokes at others while not passing into aggression.
“You can make fun of someone and it be mean, but you can also just make something fun,” Norton said.
One way Norton did this was by involving the oldest audience member in her jokes. An elderly woman in the front row had been laughed at by other comics as she struggled to understand some jokes relating to pop culture. Rather than continuing the trend, Norton chose to make jokes from the lady’s perspective
while keeping a silly demeanor to include her. The smile on the woman’s face was visible from across the room while she laughed at jokes that she could relate to without being the butt of them.
Norton and Hovis have found balance in their comedy, but there is still work to be done. In fact, most of the work may need to happen out of the spotlight.
Off the Stage
Oftentimes, we — the regular Joes — use humor as an outlet for our grievances. Apart from misunderstanding its effects, there exists a manipulation of comedy as a disguise for biases and microaggressions.
“There’s a difference in being funny and being hateful, and that’s your fine line,” Comstock said.
But what happens when this line is crossed? On the stage, a bad joke could lead to a silent, offended crowd. But off of it, the effects of harmful comedy are all the more real.
It often stems from how we approach problems at a young age. This can be seen in a common
response to a young boy teasing a young girl: “If he is teasing you, he must like you.” Seems harmless at the time, but responses like this support the idea that humor can evade social norms.
As we grow up, this idea can manifest itself and have detrimental effects. According to 2016 research by Dr. Monica Romero-Sanchez, a social psychologist at the University of Granada in Spain, exposure to sexist humor can create an environment that fosters sexual aggression toward women. In her study, men exposed to this form of derogatory humor noted an increase in their self-reported rape proclivity while the men exposed to neutral humor did not. But these environments are not limited to observations made in a study, they are a part of our everyday lives, blending into popular media.
In his Netflix special, “Natural Selection,” comedian Matt Rife joked about a waitress he had encountered who had a black eye. While joking that management should have kept her in the kitchen, he ends with the punchline that “maybe if she could cook, she wouldn’t have that black eye.”
Jokes like this normalize the abnormal, desensitizing us to harmful comments in the name of comedy.
While it is easy to point fingers, the cause of our society’s growing extremism can be found in ourselves. It’s human nature to be drawn to likeminded people. It’s why we find ourselves laughing at late night shows and comedy skits skewed in our respective political directions, and it is why we are frequently apprehensive to explore humor from the other side.
But what if the situation was flipped and the spotlight was on us? While we may not be
offending social groups on as large a scale as the Golden Globes, our jokes still carry weight as both a teller of a joke and as a member of the audience.
As former “The Daily Show” host Trevor Noah said, “Just because something is a joke doesn’t mean it can’t be something else as well.” It is crucial that we evaluate the nuances within everyday comedy we use to ensure the benefits humor has to offer.
Laughter has been proven to release endorphins, reduce stress, and even boost our immune system.
At the end of the day, comedy is subjective. Different comics are meant for different audiences, and for some, it can take an entire career to find the right fit. However, as comics and audiences walk the tightrope between just enough and too much, it is remembering why we enjoy comedy in the first place that can help us make it a community for everyone. •
Mic Night: Brandi Norton performs her stand-up comedy piece at The Caravan, Mar. 6. Photo by Anna Burzynski.
Confused about the JCPS transportation changes? So were we. Read more about the historical context, the decision, and next steps for the district.
writing by SAMMIE HADEN • design by NOA YUSSMAN
Ready to Roll: A JCPS school bus waits for students outside of duPont Manual High School, April 25. Photo by Sadie Eichenberger.
Iwas 11 years old the first time I rode the TARC. The haul from my home in the East End to Noe Middle School became too much for my parents in the midst of their busy lives and work schedules, so we made plans for the after school trek to my community theater to include the TARC bus.
With a notebook in my lap and pencil in hand, I sat with my older siblings, scribbling down directions on how to travel across the city. My dad read my brother the street names — he was always the best with directions — and my sister and I noted important landmarks that would ensure we knew how to get from point A to point B.
I told some of my friends that I took the TARC after school and they were impressed. It felt like such a grown-up thing to do, to ride a bus with other adults without my parents.
What I didn’t realize at the time was that there were students just like me who rode the TARC bus to get to school, and that there would likely be even more in the future. I now see my “big girl” activity as an out of touch experience compared to the
Follow our story team’s production of “End of the Road” in this behind-thescenes video!
ByAddison Lowry
thousands of kids across the district who may resort to TARC routes after JCPS cut busing to magnet and traditional high schools. But this story isn’t about TARC — it’s about the students who have become collateral damage in one of JCPS’ numerous transportation controversies.
They’re Cutting What?
In On the Record’s January pitch meeting, we circled a few main points for this story: why the decision is controversial, when it would be made, and what could be done.
This article has proven to be as difficult to write as it is to comprehend. From sorting through decades of research to accounting for thousands of people across our city who will be impacted, it has been easy to get lost in the mound of information. The fact that so many students would lose their main form of transportation has been the only thing to keep me focused. Such a major decision impacting Louisville’s youth is being reported on by major news outlets who view the issue through the eyes of adults. Student perspectives are essential, and lacking, in a decision directly impacting us.
“I think sometimes the people who are making these decisions, they just need to hear perspectives from the students as well,” Trinity Evanson, 17, said in a March interview prior to the JCPS board officially deciding to cut busing. “They don’t really take account of that.”
Evanson, a junior at duPont Manual High School, worked toward attending the magnet school for years. When she heard that busing to magnet schools may be completely cut next school year, she was shocked.
“I was in the car with my dad and I was like, ‘Do you hear
this? This is absolutely insane,’” Evanson said.
Although she can sometimes rely on her parents, there will inevitably be days next school year where she will scramble for a ride or simply have no way to get to or from school.
“I need to be able to go to school every single day,” Evanson said. “I can’t just be like, ‘Oh yeah, I have to miss today because my parents can’t take me.’”
Only Getting Worse
Evanson represents one of thousands of kids across the district who will be left without guaranteed transportation to and from school. A decision this major warrants the question of its necessity. Ultimately the change was prompted by a shortage of bus drivers, which resulted in a lack of buses and routes. This led to an increased number of students arriving late to school or waiting hours for their buses daily.
The issue is not unique to JCPS — the bus driver shortage is severe across the country. The National Education Association reported that in September, there were approximately 192,400 bus drivers working in K–12 schools, down 15.1% from September 2019. But as the 30th largest school district in the country with almost a fifth of its students attending magnet schools, JCPS differs from other districts in the number of students that need busing.
JCPS created magnet programs in the 1970s to diversify schools and combat white flight, which was the self-imposed migration of white people to suburban areas as urban areas became more diverse. The district decided the value of magnet programs was worth the extra transportation costs — until recent busing shortages.
JCPS’ lack of bus drivers is not a new dilemma — the district
-
Trinity Evanson, 17, junior at duPont Manual High School
I think sometimes the people who are making these decisions, they just need to hear perspectives from the students as well. They don’t really take account of that. “
has been battling the issue for years. In March 2023, the board announced new start times with hopes that assigning more routes per driver would alleviate problems resulting in shortages. Additionally, the district hired AlphaRoute, a software company out of Massachusetts, to redraw routes with the help of AI.
However these attempts backfired and caused the district to cancel over a week of school after the first day. They faced intense backlash over the ongoing and worsening transportation issue, caused by a lack of bus drivers, new routes, and a new system of delayed school start times.
James Craig, vice chair of the JCPS Board of Education, addressed the transportation crisis when I interviewed him in Feburary. He revealed that in October 2022, there were 18,769 total late students.
“It will be 101,000 in 2023 for the same month,” Craig said. “So five times worse. You remember last year —”
“I’m sorry,” I interrupted, out of utter shock. “You said how many times worse?”
“Five times worse.”
“Five times worse?” I repeated.
“Yeah,” Craig said with a
laugh at the absurdity of the situation. “It’s pretty terrible.”
To put these numbers into perspective even more — students have lost over 1.3 million minutes of instruction. There are over 5,000 students late per day. Nearly every day at my high school, Manual, at least one bus is announced over the intercom to expect a near three-hour delay for dismissal.
After my February meeting with Craig, my story team, members of the community, and I awaited the meeting in which the decision to cut busing to magnet and traditional schools would be made. The board scheduled the vote for March 5, but shortly before, they voted to delay the decision. With our story deadline approaching, we anxiously waited until March 26, the next scheduled meeting.
Going in Reverse
In the meantime, we discovered that JCPS is no stranger to the link between transportation and segregation.
In the 1954 landmark case, Brown v. Board of Education, the Supreme Court ruled that racial segregation in public schools was unconstitutional.
While this decision was monumental, many white
families still discovered ways to avoid desegregation by moving to other predominantly white school systems. At the time, there were three districts within Jefferson County. To integrate schools, a judge ordered two of those districts to merge in 1974.
Another part of this ruling was mandatory busing, which would require white students in predominantly white areas of town to be bused to schools in predominantly Black areas of town and vice versa. This way, the geographical segregation caused by white flight wouldn’t be reflected in the demographics of neighborhood schools. Over the next decade, Louisville would become nationally recognized for its public school desegregation efforts surrounding busing.
However, ever since major pushes to spur integration in the 70s, the courts have deprioritized diversifying public schools. In 2004, JCPS was involved in a major court decision forbidding making assignments based entirely on race and gender when placing students in schools.
Under Dr. Marty Pollio’s leadership as superintendent, JCPS introduced the School Choice Plan. For students residing primarily in the West
End, the plan clears obstacles that previously prevented them from choosing schools close to home — an unfortunate result of the well-intended busing plan from the 70s. The plan lessened the burden of busing on many West End residents — which has the county’s highest Black population — who wanted less commuting, to travel to white neighborhoods in order to balance the diversity of schools.
That’s the short version of decades of lengthy issues plaguing our school district — issues that seemingly won’t go away. From kids waiting multiple hours per day to simply get to and from school, to the returning issue of segregation, we’re left with one question: what is going on with our district that prevents these massive issues from being solved?
There are, of course, factors others can point fingers at: the size of our district and lack of support from our state legislature are two places people seem to start. Regardless of who is to blame, we’re tasked with finding a way forward.
Fear the Sting
On March 26, my story team and I attended the rescheduled board meeting at the JCPS VanHoose Center. Surrounding the front were dozens of protestors and reporters. A sea of yellow and black t-shirts — the colors of Central High Magnet Career Academy — were met by two police officers standing at the entrance. Even though we were half an hour early, another attendee told us we might as well go home. He said that they weren’t allowing any more people inside.
This didn’t stop a crowd from forming and speaking their mind. A large group of students, teachers, and parents from Central were gathered outside the meeting. Above the crowd of supporters was a sign, hoisted by junior Anaya Coleman, 17, that read “SAVE 1130 — NO BUS, NO US — FEAR THE STING.”
Central is the district’s oldest historically black school — the famous alma mater of Muhammad Ali — and the only other allmagnet high school in JCPS aside from Manual. The word “sting” references the school’s mascot, a yellowjacket, and “1130” refers to 1130 W. Chestnut Street, the school’s address.
“I decided to come out today so I can use my voice and show off what my school can do,” said Coleman, who is part of Central’s Academy of Innovation magnet. “We have a laser cutter and I decided, well, a whole bunch of people decided to make signs, so I made a sign.”
Central senior Angelina Abello Licea, 18, worried about the impact on her younger brother, a sophomore in the Academy of Innovation who relies on busing to get to school.
“He fought his way to get to this program, really. The program has given him a lot of opportunities as a student,” Abello Licea said before the board’s final decision. “I really don’t want him to have to move schools.”
I also talked to Joe Gutmann, the magnet coordinator of the school’s Law and Government magnet program.
“Imagine being a senior or an upcoming senior being
told, ‘Oh, next year you have no transportation and you’d have to transfer to a new school,’” Gutmann said. “That’s like pulling the rug out from under you. And that’s wrong.”
Chris Kolb, a member of the JCPS board, has seen and felt the impacts of JCPS’ busing issues as both a board member and a parent.
“I’m the parent of a magnet school child who rode the bus on the first day and didn’t after that,” Kolb said. “And we carpool, thankfully. We have some people we know at the school, so we’re able to take turns, but it’s a major inconvenience.”
But not every family is as lucky as Kolb’s — especially those who don’t have alternative transportation.
“I would probably try to find another way,” Evanson said. “But it’s just difficult when there’s not a lot of people that live there that go to the same school.”
I talked to several students from Central outside of the meeting. Unable to enter the building due to the sheer size of the crowd, dozens of others watched livestreams of the meeting on YouTube. My team and I saw students huddle around a phone and raise it to their ears, anxiously waiting to hear if some of them would be able to remain at Central for the rest of their high school careers.
After two and a half hours of waiting in the rain, the board decided to postpone the decision. Again. This time, they scheduled it for April 16.
I’ve found it hard to ignore my personal annoyance with the decision delays and how they
The 1130 Effort: Anaya Coleman, 17, junior at Central High Magnet Career Academy, proudly holds a sign in support of busing for magnet schools at the VanHoose Education Center, March 26. She made her sign in protest of the JCPS transportation decision that was being made inside. Photo by Sadie Eichenberger.
have impacted my upcoming story deadline. However, I know my annoyances don’t compare to those of the students and their families who will be directly impacted by the decision.
On April 10, I learned that, after already delaying the transportation decision twice, the board had called for a special meeting that night to end the anticipation once and for all.
As the only board member opposed to delaying the vote at the March 26 meeting, Craig was eager to make a decision fast. When I initially spoke to him in February, he didn’t make his stance clear.
“The Board of Education has to choose between that terrible situation and the existing terrible situation,” Craig said. “Where students across the county — because we have too many routes
— are showing up late every single day to many more schools than just the 20 that are affected.”
As the meeting approached, his perspective became clearer. Craig told several news outlets that he would vote “yes” to cutting buses to magnet high schools, and he would advocate for this decision to be made with haste.
Members of the public were able to attend the special
Rain or Shine: Two students from Central High Magnet Career Academy stand with an umbrella outside the VanHoose Education Center, Mar. 26. They listened to the school board meeting over livestream as they awaited the busing decision. Photo by Sadie Eichenberger.
meeting, but because the board called it on such short notice, the crowd wasn’t as large as it might’ve been at the regularly scheduled meeting on April 16.
Even though I was just rewatching the livestream, I could sense the tension. Verbal disputes between parties pushing for different votes made the meeting a riveting but uncomfortable watch.
Craig emphasized the desperate need for a decision as quickly as possible.
“It would be wholly negligent when our transportation department is telling us that they need a decision to get this right next year for us to continue to sit on our hands,” he exclaimed. “We have to fix the problem that is in front of us today.”
Still, some opposed Craig’s urgency.
“It should be understood that this board is taking this vote and has called this meeting 24 hours before a scheduled community REAP,” said Corrie Shull, the chair of the board.
REAP stands for Racial Equity Analysis Protocol, a process that evaluates equity in schools. It helps ensure fairness for lower income students in JCPS, and the outcome of the REAP was highly anticipated. However, calling for a vote before the REAP could be conducted was not the most popular decision.
In a final attempt for more review, board member Joe Marshall called for another delay of the vote, but had little support.
After months of waiting by families with students who attend or plan to attend magnet schools, the board called for the vote the district had dreaded. I watched grimly as the majority of the members, entirely white, raised their hands to vote yes to JCPS’ new transportation plan — a plan that will prevent some deserving students from going to schools they dream of attending.
Frustrations with JCPS extend to the lack of youth voices in decision making.
“We should be asking you guys what the best solution is,” said Edward Miller, a surgeon at UofL Hospital, who spoke in support of Central on March 26. “It shouldn’t
be a bunch of adults with old gray hair that are making decisions that affect you guys.”
However, the youth that came to the meeting weren’t entirely ignored.
People from Central showed up just like they had on March 26 — and not for nothing. This new, ratified plan differs from Pollio’s original proposal to cut transportation for all magnet and traditional schools. The new plan cuts busing for magnet and traditional high schools who fall below a 75% free and reduced lunch threshold. The schools not included in this are Central and Western High School. The board had listened, and while many schools will be affected by busing cuts, Central students used their voices to make sure they were not one of them.
As a student at Manual, busing will be entirely cut for all students at my school, except for Exceptional Child Education (ECE) students and students affected by homelessness, as defined by the McKinney-Vento Act.
The demographics of the board’s vote were telling, with it being divided on racial lines. Corrie Shull, Gail Logan Strange, and Joe Marshall — the Black board members — voted no. The four remaining board members: James Craig, Sarah McIntosh, Chris Kolb, and Linda Duncan — all white — voted yes.
Among the magnet and traditional high school students that will be impacted, JCPS’ Black students will be disproportionately affected. On March 25, JCPS spokesperson Carolyn Callahan reported that about 6,500 of the 8,000 Black students who currently attend JCPS magnet and traditional schools ride the bus. Some of these students will have to scramble for another way to commute to their magnet or
At Central High School, it only took one, and we all would’ve been standing here and we all would’ve been fighting for our ability to be educated.
- Taylour Champion, Central Medical/ Health
Services
Magnet teacher
“
to three — 7:30 a.m., 8:40 a.m., and 9:40 a.m. This will allow more routes to be added to bus drivers’ schedules, making up for the loss of routes to magnet schools.
The board is still trying to figure out how to best support magnet students who rely on buses.
“We’re going to continue to work with TARC to provide as many options as possible,” Kolb said. “Unfortunately, you know, if students do have to transfer, we’re gonna make that as easy as possible.”
With TARC announcing driver layoffs, city officials hope they will seek employment as drivers for JCPS.
Kolb also mentioned that JCPS students will have free TARC rides at any time to address concerns over how lower income families will pay for public transportation. Still, some students may live miles away from the nearest TARC stop.
The board is considering providing stipends to parents of students losing bus transportation: $10 per school day for those who qualify for free or reduced lunches, and $5 per school day for parents of other students.
students, I only noticed a few Manual students in attendance. And even then, most of us were there to report on the meeting, not to gather in protest like those from Central.
Where were Manual’s students? What about Male? Fairdale? The fact is, Central’s students made their voices heard and advocated for the change they’d like to see. They compiled statistics and student accounts and fought for their right to have busing.
“At Central High School, it only took one, and we all would’ve been standing here and we all would’ve been fighting for our ability to be educated,” Champion told us.
An issue as overwhelming and systemic as racial equity in JCPS is difficult to tackle, but it must be confronted. As young people in Louisville, we are confronting both the past and our future in public schools.
• • •
traditional high school, or will be forced to transfer schools entirely.
As of now, the board and community seemingly only share one emotion: outrage. Both Marshall and McIntosh have announced that they will not be seeking reelection. After the meeting, JCPS’ chief equity officer and Kolb engaged in a heated discussion which prompted police officers to approach them.
What’s Next?
There are more changes coming next year to make transportation more efficient. For one, JCPS plans to cut down on the number of different start times from nine
Although the public can take some comfort in this proposal, it’s only a prosposal — a temporary solution to a problem that will impact thousands of students.
Take Accountability
When I think about the students at my school who will lose access to busing, I think back to the March 26 board meeting. During our two and a half hour wait, we were approached by a Manual alum, Taylour Champion, who is now a teacher in the nursing program at Central. She asked us where the Manual students were at the board meeting, since like Central, Manual is an all-magnet school.
Where we differed from Central was our student advocacy. In a sea of Central
The opportunity to attend magnet schools, both in middle and high school, has given me formative life experiences — most rewarding has been the opportunity to learn from students of all backgrounds.
In a few years, we may see the environments of our magnet schools flipped entirely upside down. If we continue in the same direction, with a lack of student advocacy and a worsening bus driver shortage, some magnet programs could end due to low enrollment. Students will have fewer opportunities to learn from a diverse group of their peers, a detrimental loss for a new generation of JCPS students.
Central has proven that using our voices is our best hope of reversing this decision and preserving diversity in education. But that requires that youth believe that diversity is worth fighting for. •
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Erica Fields
Strike a Pose: Models assume various poses during the annual KMAC Couture fashion show, April 13. KMAC Couture is one of the leading fundraisers for the KMAC Museum. Photo by Erica Fields.
RUNWAY READY SET
This Derby season, Louisville teens designed and modeled for the KMAC Couture fashion show.
writing by
KENDALL
GELLER • design by AMELIA
JONES
KMAC’s board is heavily supportive of youth participation in the arts. For example, admission to the museum is free for students, and new KMAC Couture artists are given mentors for one-on-one help during the design process, as well as stipends to fund their creativity.
One designer for KMAC Couture was Evynn Pollard, 19, a freshman at Western Kentucky University. Pollard believes that youth participation in fashion is necessary for its future.
“Looking back at styles from generations before us, they left such a mark on us now, and a lot of it is stuff that we repeat,” Pollard said. “I think it’d be nice for us to have our own things, for people of future generations to look back at.”
Keep reading to learn about two Louisville high schoolers who designed and modeled their own pieces for KMAC Couture — their backgrounds, their inspirations, and their futures in fashion.
“Having sewing skills is super important because if you know how to sew, you can make your clothes last so much longer.”
- Leah Schuhmann, 17, senior at
clothes out of paper,” she said. “And I just always thought it was kind of cool.” Schuhmann took the “Run for the Roses” theme more literally, with roses featured on her dress and tucked into her bag. A recent performance at the Louisville Ballet inspired her look.
“I just really like ballet costumes,” Schuhmann said. “I remember I had just seen the Nut cracker when I was sketching so I was kind of feeling inspired by that,” Schuhmann said.
Along with her rose-flourished dress, her accessories mirrored the Derby spirit. For the bag, Schuhmann purchased a horse mask from Amazon and filled it with flowers and roses. Another youth artist, Anna Cohen, 18, who is also a senior at Manual, painted her
Schuhmann believes that fashion knowl edge is essential for all people to have, even if it isn’t in the way of flashy, eye-catching outfits.
“Especially with fast fashion and every thing. Like knowing how to rework the clothes you have,” she said. “And just having sewing skills is super important because if you know how to sew, you can
Schuhmann doesn’t plan on entering the fashion industry, but wants to stick to something
“I want to do something in the field of design,” she said. She is currently interested in architecture, which is what she will major in this fall as a freshman at Tulane University.
Runway for the Roses: Leah Schuhmann, 18, a senior at Manual, models a dress she designed in the KMAC Couture fashion show, April 13. Schuhmann cycled through several sketches of the dress before settling on the finished product. Photo by Erica Fields.
“Ideally, and if all hopes and dreams go to plan, I would have my own clothing line and business.”
- Maya
Rawlins, 17, junior at Sacred Heart Academy
Garden Daze
Maya Rawlins, 17, a junior at Sacred Heart Academy, has designed for KMAC Couture since she was a freshman in 2022. Since then, Rawlins’ passion for fashion has grown. In the summer of 2023, she attended a three week program in New York City at Parsons School of Design. She sees fashion design in her future, both in college and beyond.
“Right now I’m just focused on getting into a college that is going to be good for the first steps into getting into the fashion world,” Rawlins said. “Ideally, and if all hopes and dreams go to plan, I would have my own clothing line and business.”
For “Run for the Roses,” Rawlins kept the floral aspect, but put her own spin on it.
“This year I kind of took it more as Derby in the sense of, ‘What would I love to wear to Derby that would be just so over the top, that would be fun still?’”
Rawlins said.
She ended up making a nude, strapless dress covered in handmade 3D flowers, along with a matching fascinator also covered in flowers.
“It’s 3D almost and the flowers on the strapless top kind of fade up and so you can’t tell where they start and begin,” Rawlins said. “So it kind of just looks like there’s flowers growing off of your body. It’s really cool.”
Rawlins thinks that youth involvement in fashion is important to bring a variety of voices into the conversation.
“There’s so many different perspectives and you’re not going to get the same perspective from somebody who’s older as someone who’s younger,” she said. •
runway in the dress she designed
STEP UP TO THE MIC
One JCPS program, Justice Now, allows students to use their voices for change, despite barriers.
writing by JOANNA LEE • design by JEREMY YOUNG
There were similarities on each street — small white houses, a convenience store, a family-owned laundromat, and a church. A woman walked with two young children, an older man laughed through a conversation with a passerby, and rowdy teens played baseball in their front yard.
This is Louisville’s West End, an area full of rich culture and tight-knit communities. Because of this, the problems plaguing western Louisville may be invisible to outsiders; however, many of the citizens’ lack of access to services and opportunities affects their lives every day — especially the shortage of grocery stores and healthy food.
West Louisville houses about 60,000 residents. Despite this, full-size grocery stores are hard to come by. There are only two Kroger locations to support the West End’s nine neighborhoods, one on West Broadway and the other off 35th Street.
On the flip side, grocery stores in the East End are abundant and growing in number. In January, Publix opened its first Kentucky location in the East End and not long before its opening, Kroger announced that they were planning on opening a location just across the street.
In this area on the eastern edge of Louisville, there are already many grocery stores, including a Costco Wholesale, Meijer, Walmart, Aldi, two other Krogers, and The Fresh Market, which will open soon. All of these options are within three miles of each other, yet they continue to expand while those in the West End lack this variety. In addition to less grocery stores, many residents don’t have the transportation needed
to make trips to the farther locations. According to the Greater Louisville Project, more than two-thirds of Louisville’s residents without a vehicle live over a mile from a grocery store. This means some people only have access to the discount stores, gas stations, and food marts that are within walking distance of their homes.
Since city and other public funding isn’t able to fully mitigate this issue, a group of high school students are working to transform the narrative — one meal and stop at a time.
Grub on Wheels
Students in a partnership between Waggener High School and Southern High School are aiming to mitigate food apartheid in Louisville. Food apartheid is a
lack of access to fresh, healthy food due to societal inequalities such as race, geography, and class. This can have detrimental effects, such as increased rates of diabetes, heart disease, and even asthma, costing communities millions of dollars in extra health care expenses.
The students at Waggener and Southern are constructing a program called Grub on Wheels which will deliver fresh produce and meals to individuals in the West End. To do so, they are renovating a bus called the Justice Express. Meal delivery routes will be constructed through a geographic information system.
Grub on Wheels is just one of the many projects to come out of the JCPS program, Justice Now.
Justice Now began in January 2021 and allows elementary through high school students to advocate for social change within Louisville.
The mission of Justice Now is to empower students to become innovators and community leaders.
“It is all about the idea that a small group of citizens can change the world,” said Matthew Kaufmann, co-founder of Justice Now and Seneca High School teacher.
Students create cohorts that address specific issues or inequalities that are not getting enough of a spotlight in the community.
“They become experts, researchers,” said Kaufmann. “It’s all about action research.”
The students then directly address their chosen topic by creating a project-based solution. After this, students have the opportunity to attend JusticeFest, an annual event where cohorts present their projects to a group of panelists made up of representatives from different businesses, organizations, and nonprofits around Louisville. Students identify their issue and explain their research, the phases they are in, and what further funding they need. The presentations are a way to gain funding and community support
JUSTICEFEST: Two Waggener High School students give their presentation of food apartheid to the panelists at JusticeFest, on Feb. 28. They spoke in hopes of receiving funding for the Justice Express. Photo by Erica Fields
I just want to help people. I want to make changes for the future.
- DJ Burnett, 17, senior at Waggener High School
for their projects. Panelists also give the students feedback and future ideas to further their work.
The goal is to allow students to be the drivers of change. Currently, many students are not given opportunities to use their voices, as adults are mainly the ones to take charge in issues that pertain to youth.
“We always talk about students being leaders in the future, but students can be leaders, they are leaders right now,” Kaufmann said. “This is trying to flip that script.”
It’s Go Time
The oak-stained walls of the Muhammad Ali Center surrounded the conference room. Towering over the room, a large screen hung, projecting a textfilled slideshow presentation. Within a few minutes, the empty conference room filled with people. A group of students walked toward the front of the room holding crumpled scripts and decks of flashcards. In front of them, a series of panelists sat at a long table, looking up at the presentation screen.
Stepping forward, one of the students took the microphone out of the stand. This was it. The students had been working on their JusticeFest presentation since the start of the school year, and the pressure was now on.
“Hi, my name is Shalom and I’m a senior at Southern High
School,” said 17-year-old Shalom Ndimubwihisho, bringing the microphone toward his face. With this, the presentation began.
The students outlined the implications of a lack of grocery stores and food security in the West End, as well as details about their project, Grub on Wheels.
For the next eight minutes, the students channeled all of their passion and hard work into the presentation, smiling and making eye contact with the crowd.
The students thanked the audience, opened the floor for questions, then passed the mic to the panelists.
“We want to give a donation of $5,000 to the project to assist you with whatever you need,” said Jessica Sharp, manager of Louisville Kroger Division of Corporate Affairs.
The mic moved to the next panelist.
“I’ll also commit for our team — volunteer hours and support in getting those donations,” said Shauntrice Martin, founder of Feed the West, a food delivery program where those in need can request groceries.
Donations and support from these panelists provide an opportunity for students to continue their work and outreach. These presentations from JusticeFest allow them to make waves in the community.
Southern students originally pitched the Justice Express
at JusticeFest in 2022, where they received a JCPS school bus to renovate. Later in 2023, Waggener’s Black Student Union (BSU) joined the effort, garnering a large sum of money.
“Last year, Waggener received donations totaling $30,500 to help with our project,” said Jeremy Doe, 16, a junior at Waggener.
With the bus and donations, the two student groups were able to merge and work together on the Grub on Wheels program.
Projects of All Sizes
In addition to the bus, Jaswanph Doraigh, 14, a freshman and member of Justice Now at Waggener, is programming an app to make the delivery service more accessible to those with physical or mental disabilities. Doraigh is using the programming language Python to create the app, which will allow users to order produce or meals virtually.
“It’s like a mobile grocery store,” Doraigh said.
While the program is a response to food apartheid in Louisville, its creation is a result of the students’ passion.
“I just want to help people,” said DJ Burnett, 17, a senior at Waggener. “I want to make changes for the future.”
Many of the students at both Waggener and Southern also see the impacts of food apartheid on the West End firsthand, bringing them closer to the subject.
A lot of our students live in the West End and it affects them.
This is something they are going through everyday.
- Laura Motley, the sponsor of Waggener’s team
“A lot of our students live in the West End and it affects them,” said Laura Motley, the sponsor of Waggener’s team. “This is something they are going through everyday.”
These efforts from students at Waggener and Southern are part of a larger movement to push students to become changemakers.
Other schools’ Justice Now cohorts have also had direct impacts on the community, from when Justice Now was founded during COVID-19 to present day. The projects are different from school to school, with one in particular focused on the arts by putting students on center stage.
In their cohort, students at Mary V. Moore High School created a play that documented protests in Louisville over time. The students created a script that compared protests from the Civil Rights Movement with those regarding police brutality in 2020. This play was then produced at Actors Theatre of Louisville, where kids of all ages were able to learn more about the history of justice and protests within the city. In
addition to the students from Moore, students from schools such as Ballard High School, W.E.B. DuBois Academy, and Western High School acted in and helped produce the play.
“It was a phenomenal thing,” Kaufmann said. “It was a big dream to come from an idea.”
Lowering the Volume
Despite the efforts from the cohorts within Justice Now to create change in the community, there are legislative barriers that may prevent them from continuing.
Over the past few years anti-DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) bills have swept the country. As of March, NBC News analysis of Plural Policy Data reported that over 30 states have introduced DEI initiatives in their respective legislative sessions. Bills have been signed into law, especially in states with Republican-dominated legislatures, such as Texas, Utah, Tennessee, etc. and the numbers are continuing to grow.
Lawmakers in Kentucky have proposed a handful of anti-DEI, as well as other bills that target minority groups. If passed, these bills would stifle the type of projects Justice Now students work on — from LGBTQ to racialbased topics, preventing individual cohorts from talking about anything of political nature.
On Jan. 8, Senate Bill 93 (SB93) was proposed to the Kentucky Senate before dying in the Education Committee just days later. However, if passed, it would have had the capability to dismantle Justice Now.
“It would get rid of BSU, Justice Now, anything of political nature,” said NyRee ClaytonTaylor, co-founder of Justice Now and executive director of Hip Hop Into Learning (HHN2L), which is a program dedicated to providing
Black youth a platform to use hip hop for positive social change. SB93 included language that would “prohibit public school districts and schools from expending any resources or funds on diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging or political or social activism.” This means that schools would have to get rid of many programs and clubs that they have set up to give students a sense of community or a place to discuss and tackle social issues. Even though SB93 died in committee, it showcases the trajectory of bills in the future.
Some students and educators are taking action against these bills, mainly through outreach.
“We are working together by writing letters and attending protests,” Motley said. “We are well aware.”
For many students K-12, Justice Now is a way to express themselves and their voices. Student projects, such as the Grub on Wheels program, are how students make change happen. Currently, Grub on Wheels is still in progress, but the students are continuing to renovate the bus and build the app, and hope to have the program up and running by summer.
However, with the possible implementation of such bills, students at schools like Waggener and Southern would be robbed of an opportunity to make change in their community. Youth voice is extremely valuable because the issues around us will one day, in the near future, be ours to tackle — we will be the policy makers, the voters, and the community leaders. Justice Now amplifies student voices by giving them the necessary resources and platforms, and serves as an embodiment of the importance of youth voice. •
THE WHEELS ON THE BUS: The Justice Express sits outside of Southern High School, April 18. Students from Waggener and Southern High Schools are renovating an old school bus to deliver fresh produce to people around the
West End. Photo by Emma Johnson.
Core Curriculum: Chase Vanderhoff, 14, an eighth grader at the Phoenix School of Discovery, at his home, April 19. Vanderhoff, who has been diagnosed with autism, learns social skills through a curriculum designed for students with cognitive disabilities.
Photo by Emma Johnson.
My brother, Chase, has a cognitive disability. For him and many others, the future is uncertain, but various Louisville organizations are trying to change that.
writing by LUCY VANDERHOFF • design by CLAIRE DIXON
lick. Click. Click. My brother, Chase, fired off the answer quickly and the computer screen lit up with a green check mark. Table after table, graph after graph. Give him some math problems, and he’s just like any other student.
But when it comes to English, it’s a different story. We’ll read a chapter of his assigned book together and then move on to the comprehension and recall questions that follow. Even though he just read the answer in the book moments ago, he struggles to recall the content. Silence.
My 14-year-old brother with autistm is silly, sweet, and can tell you any car’s make, model, and top speed from just a quick glance — an attribute that has rubbed off on my entire family. But he struggles with simple daily tasks, from tying his shoes to washing his hair. Which makes my parents and me wonder: what will his adulthood be like?
Will he date someone or hang out with friends? Will he find meaningful work and be able to support himself? Will he live on his own?
Right now, he’s only in the eighth grade and we’re optimistic. His current school, the Phoenix School of Discovery, teaches social skills and has a curriculum specifically designed for students with cognitive and learning
disabilities. But what about when he graduates high school?
Chase is just one in a rising number of youth with developmental and cognitive disabilities. According to the Center for Disease Control, between 2009 and 2017, diagnoses rose for developmental disabilities across the board, but particularly for autism.
Is our society prepared to help those with intellectual disabilities live their lives to the fullest?
Now Hiring
JCPS’ Exceptional Child Education (ECE) department offers assistance to students with cognitive disabilities starting at age 14. The supervisor of transition for ECE, Stefanie Lynch, said that they support families with the transition into post-graduation avenues, such as further education and employment opportunities.
Partnerships with various local colleges give post-high school ECE students accessible options for core content classes and electives. The University of Louisville, Bellarmine University, and Jefferson Community and Technical College work with students on non-degree seeking routes so they can take courses based around their interests.
Beyond these opportunities, ECE students can also stick within different JCPS schools
and programs until they are 21 to continue their education. One of these programs is the Ahrens Work Transition Program, which allows students ages 18-21 to work at different job sites on weekdays. Some of these students attend Ahrens full time, graduating by their third year, while others participate on select days, continuing their regular schooling.
When I ask Chase about his future, he says that he wants to head straight into a job. Ahrens is an alternative for young adults like Chase who may struggle in a traditional college setting. Instead, they can learn crucial skills that prepare them to join the workforce.
Ahrens begins by teaching students how to use the TARC bus system to commute to the J. Graham Brown School, where the program is based. There, students meet every morning to split into small groups and walk or ride to different work sites.
Eventually students move up in the program, becoming seniors by their third year. During that year, students work with the Ahrens’ job trainers to find steady employment. One of these seniors is Rebecca Robertson, 20. Ahrens helped her locate lasting work at Jimmy John’s, where she has worked since January. She no longer rotates to different sites with the other members.
Being at the College for Living has given me all of my independence.
- Daniel Noltemeyer, 42, program member
disabilities. But one building on Day Spring’s campus houses a program different from the rest.
that fits his upbeat personality — sorting and unloading packages.
“I’m very energetic,” O’Bannon said. “The area of unload is a perfect fit for me.”
O’Bannon recently secured a part-time position at UPS, which has a training center to help those with disabilities to adjust. In February, he approached his sixmonth mark and his coworkers encouraged him to maintain the job. O’Bannon feels ambitious about his next milestones.
“I might live in my own house someday and I might live with a roommate,” he said.
Home Away from Home
Living independently may feel like a challenge for many young adults, but it can be harder for those with cognitive or learning disabilities. There could be additional financial, social, or safety concerns.
That’s where organizations like Day Spring come in.
Day Spring provides residential services and care, including small group homes and staffed residences to adults with various
One day after their work, I saw a group gathered around the television watching “Jessie” in the communal living space at the College for Living, a residential program at Day Spring that teaches participants how to live independently. After a while, a mentor returned with another resident from a shopping errand and gathered the group for some instruction on first aid.
Among the residents was Jacob Cantrell. I asked Cantrell what he liked about the College for Living, and his reply came easily.
“Being able to make my own rules about my apartment, not having to listen to mom 24/7,” he laughed.
Cantrell eagerly invited my story team and me into his apartment and showed off his “Harry Potter” and “Star Wars” posters with pride. A new one had just arrived, ready to join the myriad of decorations.
The College for Living provides apartments with a dorm-style communal living space to those with intellectual disabilities and offers daily classes on career and life skills. Participants learn communication and home economics — including cooking, laundry, safety, cleaning, and decorating.
“Being at the College for Living has given me all of my
independence,” said Daniel Noltemeyer, 42, a member of the program who will become their first graduate in the spring.
The program was launched in 2017 with the goal of setting up young adults to live on their own. Despite setbacks from the pandemic in 2020, Noltemeyer will achieve just that by living in his own apartment.
“We also teach a lot, catering to what the residents and the students need,” said Abra Baker, the marketing and engagement coordinator at Day Spring. “We take weekly outings where we take them out into the community to do a variety of different things.”
Friends for Life
Glancing around through her wire framed glasses, Kristin Stewart, 40, stood at a kitchen counter next to me as she reflected back on high school with mixed emotions. She had very supportive teachers and good friends, but she also experienced the typical ups and downs of being a high school student.
“You have awkwardness, embarrassment — those kind of things from high school — but the school taught me a lot of stuff,” Stewart said.
Stewart has Down syndrome, which is caused by an additional copy of chromosome 21 that affects both brain and body development. As a teenager, this made her experience unique from
her peers, and at times, more difficult. Things didn’t get easier when Stewart graduated.
“I had jobs that were not comfortable with me,” she remembered.
Fortunately, ever since she was just a few days old, Stewart has been attending programs at Down Syndrome of Louisville (DSL), an organization she credits for giving her some of her best friends and memories. DSL offers lifelong community and support through classes, social gatherings, and other programs.
DSL has a program similar to Day Spring called the Adult Development Academy, simply
referred to as “The Academy.” The idea is to get young adults steady, meaningful employment like the kind Stewart has.
She translated her passion for gymnastics, once expressed through her cheerleader status, into her job, doing office work at the sports facility All About Kids and DSL.
The Academy also offers job interview skills. One Academy student described his improvement in eye contact and how he found a job he was happy with through DSL’s assistance.
The organization offers weekly activities and events, including a dance program,
called the Boogie Down Crew, with weekly dance parties. The room is filled with electric energy every Thursday as over 20 friends gather to dance.
“I love it here. It’s like a family,” Jill Wright, 23, said.
Wright is a senior at Bellarmine. She has Down syndrome and has been coming to DSL since she was just 19 days old. She currently assists the principal at Mercy Academy, where she taught theater for a few years. Wright has no shortage of hobbies — whether it’s through dancing, modeling, taking photos, or practicing one of her six sports, she brings positivity and enthusiasm to everything she
Be Yourself: Rebecca Robertson, 20, a senior at Ahrens Transition Program, March 22. Ahrens helped her secure a job at Jimmy John’s, where she has worked since January. Photo by Emma Johnson.
They motivate me no matter what. They’ve always been here for me and now I’m here for them.
-Jill Wright, 23, DSL participant
does. Even while maintaining a job, she’s taken classes in theater, communications, and photography, with her friends at DSL encouraging her along the way.
“They motivate me no matter what,” Wright said. “They’ve always been here for me and now I’m here for them.”
• • •
I’m confident in my brother’s abilities and his passions. The assistance from people around him, whether from family, friends, or organizations, will only propel what skills and drive he already has. Hopefully, these can bring him closer to the car dealership job he’s started
thinking about and give him the capability to live on his own or however else he desires.
Support for people of all walks of life trying to work toward their first job or home must continue to expand as our society progresses. Providing opportunities and lessons for growth benefits not just those with intellectual disabilities, but society as a whole.
These students want what we all want: to reach our highest potential. To that end, we can learn from Wright’s advice as we begin our own journeys into the future.
“Just be yourself,” she said. “Make the world be better.” •
XOXO: Jill Wright, 23, a senior at Bellarmine University, at Down Syndrome of Louisville (DSL), March 7. Wright has been a member of DSL since she was just 19 days old. Photo by Emma Johnson.
While there’s a perceived divide between the elderly and youth, some local teens prove that friendship has no age limit.
writing by MAYA O’DELL • design by TERRA DEMPSEY
t started like any other workday for Kampbell Fitzpatrick, 16. Her mom dropped her off and she went to the dining room to prepare for the day. Fitzpatrick is one of many tasked with fulfilling the dining needs of several people.
Once lunchtime started, she went about taking orders and filling up waters. Everything was mostly normal, except for one thing: one of the ladies being served, Joan Chatman, who is in her 70s, kept calling her “Maggie” instead of Kampbell. Fitzpatrick was confused, but assumed that the lady was mixing her up with someone else on staff.
This “mishap” went on for weeks, until one day, Chatman explained that the name Maggie was in reference to a song titled “Maggie May” by Rod Stewart. The song, which came out in 1971, is about a beautiful girl. Chatman wasn’t getting Fitzpatrick’s name mixed up; she was calling her beautiful the entire time.
Once Fitzpatrick learned this, she and Chatman exchanged
phone numbers, marking the beginning of what would blossom into a friendship — one that transcended age. Fitzpatrick and Chatman have had a special connection ever since.
Fitzpatrick, a junior at Ballard High School, works at Brownsboro Park Retirement Community. She decided to work there simply because she needed a job, but it has become a home to her just as much as it has for the residents. Chatman lives at Brownsboro Park and is grateful for the young people that work there.
“I love them all very much,” Chatman said. “I’m closer to them than anybody else. You’re going to make me tear up. They’re great people.”
Many of the teen workers have adopted Chatman as their designated “funma,” a grandma, but even more fun. Chatman has been living in the residence for close to two years and has made the place her home. She explained how sometimes, at dinner, the teenage waitstaff will
sit down with her and talk until the dining room hours are closed.
“It’s very interesting to me to know what young people go through, what they’re thinking,” Chatman said. “Their lives are so different from what I went through.”
These talks, which happen regularly at the retirement home, showcase the beauty of cross-generational conversation. And while it’s not uncommon for retirement homes to have teenage workers, the teens that work at Brownsboro Park seem to be a big part of the staff — immersing themselves fully and even participating in some resident activities.
“I’ve been to bingo,” said Lizzie Dohn, 16, another Ballard sophomore who works at Brownsboro Park. “I only stayed for like 10 minutes because it was at the end of my shift, but it was so fun.”
An average day at work for Dohn consists of setting up for meals, taking orders, getting everyone their food, and cleaning
up. Similar to Fitzpatrick, talking to the residents is an important part of Dohn’s job.
While serving up dinner, Dohn and many of the other volunteers and workers get to become close with the residents.
Emily Ansari, 15, is also a sophomore at Ballard and agrees that working at Brownsboro Park is enjoyable and fulfilling.
“I just like talking to the residents,” Ansari said. “They’re really nice and welcoming, and they’re fun to talk to.”
While Chatman said she loves all the teen employees, her special relationship with Fitzpatrick stands out. Chatman even went to one of Fitzpatrick’s dance competitions where she won first place.
“We kept getting closer and closer, so we picked her up and she saw me go on,” Fitzpatrick said, reminiscing on the competition day while sitting next to Chatman.
Chatman beamed, her pride for Fitzpatrick evident as she pulled up photos of her dancing.
“I’d never seen something like that, it was amazing,” Chatman said.
She keeps these photos close, a reminder of their adventures together.
“I printed out pictures for her that we took at the dance competition,” Fitzpatrick said. “And I came in with them when I was working one day, and she was just so excited and then she framed them in her room.”
Chatman and Fitzpatrick have an incredible bond, but
Showing Off: Joan Chatman, a resident of Brownsboro Park Retirement Community, shows off photos from 16-year-old employee Kampbell Fitzpatrick’s recital, Mar. 18. Photo by Anna Burzynski.
A lot
of
them have just taught me how to be more mature about certain situations and how to act.
- Madeline Neil, 16, Brownsboro Park Retirement Community worker
they aren’t the only ones who have made an unlikely friendship. Donna Ellis, another resident, loves hanging out with the teenage workers there. While the staff can learn from her sense of humor, they’ve also taught her something in return.
“One day I told Sam, who’s a server here, to tell Derrick that the rolls were ‘bussin,’” Ellis said. Ellis giggled, explaining how she had learned the slang term from one of the workers and had used it on multiple people to see their reactions. This isn’t the only time Ellis has used trendy words — she has also used the term “rizz” on the waitstaff, which cracks them up.
The residents also help the teens learn important life lessons while they’re on the job. Ballard sophomore Madeline Neil, 16, has experienced this firsthand.
“A lot of them have just taught me how to be more mature about certain situations and how to act,” Neil said.
It may be surprising that even with the wide age gap, everyone gets along well; however, for the majority at Brownsboro Park, age is just a number when it comes to friendship.
“It’s kind of like the friendships you have when you’re younger and really find someone you instantly click with,” Fitzpatrick said. Growing up as a teenager in 2024 is worlds away from growing up as a teenager in the 1960s. With a large age gap and extremely different means to being brought up, there can often be a divide in groups like Baby Boomers and Gen Z’s.
A place like Brownsboro Park can help the generational divide, as well as give people from different eras a chance to learn from and grow with each other. Additionally, to anyone that doesn’t have a grandchild or grandparent, these interactions can be crucial to understanding all walks of life with decades of difference.
“When I was little we didn’t learn our ABCs or 123s until we went to first grade, all we’d do was play from 1 to 6,” Chatman said. “But you all don’t, that’s why you’re so much smarter and wiser by the time you’re 16.”
Working in a place where there are differences in personalities, upbringings, and ages can be difficult, but knowing that the residents’ knowledge is vast, and that they have stories
waiting to be uncovered, can interest teens.
“It’s not something that’s just easy, you have to want to be here,” Dohn said. “But it’s so fun. I would recommend it to so many people.”
While retirement homes may not seem like groundbreaking settings, they have become a way to connect generations. No matter if you’re young or old, retirement homes have given everyone an opportunity to learn and grow from one another.
“You meet so many wonderful people along the way if you pay attention,” Chatman said. “I don’t think I always did, but as I’m getting closer to that upper scale, I definitely do.” •
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