Change Today Change Tomorrow

by Dawn Anderson | courtesy photos

Featured on an episode of The Daily Show with Trevor Noah during Black History Month this year, Change Today, Change Tomorrow (CTCT) is a local nonprofi t receiving national attention for its efforts in providing for Louisville’s most marginalized communities. On September 15, Change Today, Change Tomorrow will join other nonprofi ts across Kentuckiana for the Community Foundation of Louisville’s annual Give for Good Louisville fundraising campaign. The online giving day demonstrates the tremendous impact of small contributions, raises awareness about participating organizations, and features local events to support the causes our community cares about most.

“Change Today, Change Tomorrow provides barrier-free and direct services that are deeply impactful to Black and underserved communities,” says Public Relations and Event Coordinator Ali Gautier. Founder and Executive Director Taylor Ryan fi rst envisioned opening a school in the West End. Quickly realizing the fi rst order of business would be to fi ll the signifi cant gaps in the basic needs of area children and their families, she launched Change Today, Change Tomorrow in September 2019. Along with a full slate of Black women leaders, Ryan developed the organization to provide “access to resources, education, and community engagement.” Born and raised in Paducah, Kentucky, Taylor Ryan has a BA in Communications from the University of Louisville and two Master’s degrees from Marshall University. A community volunteer and organizer since childhood, Ryan sought more direct access to programs and services for Louisville communities. Focusing on the three pillars of food justice, educational services, and public health initiatives, CTCT has served well over 100,000 residents and delivered more than $5 million in groceries locally. According to Gautier, Change Today, Change Tomorrow started with “one individual (Taylor Ryan) seeing a direct, immediate need from a friend on Facebook. And that’s really how all of us came to the organization.” Following her 2015 graduation from Centre College, Danville, Kentucky, native Ali Gautier moved to Louisville for two terms of Americorps service. She is an activist, comedian, and performing artist with a YouTube channel, “Could Be Worse,” and podcast, “Funny Fat Friend.” Recently, Gautier has been involved with the Highlands relocation of Pocket Change (CTCT’s Black Business Empowerment Hub and retail collective) and a successful Open House and Housewarming Party for CTCT’s new headquarters at 902 South 15th Street. Other recent CTCT events include the 2nd Annual Summer Lovin Drag Show for houseless outreach and the Healthy Change Vegan Cook-Off. But this month, Gautier focuses on CTCT’s September 15 Give for Good online fundraising campaign. “Give for Good Louisville is signifi cant because the services we provide come from direct monetary and in-kind contributions and support in the community,” says Gautier. “Give for Good is so community-focused, harvesting from our own community and family members competing in an all-day party. Our Give For Good theme this year is ‘History in the Baking’ and we are partnering with local bakeries to highlight their specialty dishes and bring awareness to our campaign.” Social Media Manager Skylar Davis and the rest of the young staff are heavily promoting the campaign in this TikTok/Instagram era. CTCT will post multiple social media blasts leading to the September 15th event. There will be giveaways for match minutes and donor spotlights online. Stay tuned for more information on this year’s Give for Good community party at CTCT’s new offi ces.

To support Change Today, Change Tomorrow, consider hosting a Give for Good business fundraiser or creating an individual Give for Good fundraising profile and sharing the link to your networks. CTCT sustainers contribute $5 or more monthly to uplift community engagement, food justice, and public health: • $5 provides diapers to a Community Baby Shower family • $10 supports food for the Umoja Project serving

Downtown Louisville’s unhoused community • $15 provides groceries for a #FeedTheWest family • $20 supports one hour of CTCT’s 2023 JCPS partnership • $25 assists a Black Trans Fund recipient or provides one hour of gardening services at the new CTCT location • $50 supports a #BlessTheBlock family during the holiday season • $85 sponsors one #FeedTheWest share to combat local food injustices • $100 provides feminine hygiene products every first

Friday of the month for It’s Friday, Period. • $250 sponsors a 2022 #BlessTheBlock family • $500 provides toiletries to the unhoused population for two weeks

• $1000 supports the 2023 Healthy Change Vegan

Cook-Off

CTCT also maintains Amazon wishlists for #BlessTheBlock, #FeedTheWest, Community Baby Shower, and the Umoja Project. Also on September 15, CTCT will host its September Small Business Workshop on Networking from 7 to 9 pm on Zoom. Saturday, October 29, My Morning Jacket makes a triumphant return for its first Louisville show since May 2016. The Louisville rock band’s special hometown concert will be a “Halloween costume ball and celebration,” with a portion of proceeds to Change Today, Change Tomorrow. Help #BlessTheBlock in November and December when CTCT fulfills family wishlists with books, electronics, games, toys, meals, and other household needs.

For more information, visit change-today.org and giveforgoodlouisville.org and look for Change Today, Change Tomorrow. Follow @ChangeTodayChangeTomorrow on Instagram and Facebook. •

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