Posted by: KFTC Staff on May 12, 2014
One thing Amelia Kirby and David Fisher both knew when they opened businesses in downtown Whitesburg was that they wouldn’t get rich. They knew it was about something larger.
I. Summit City
When Kirby and her partner, Joel Beverly, opened Summit City Lounge in 2007, they had a feeling they were launching something that would be important for Whitesburg. But they had no clear game plan other than “a belief in having a space that whatever needed to happen in the town could happen.”
The town of about 2,000 in southeastern Kentucky lacked a “community convivial space” such as a bar or pub where cross-pollination of ideas and culture could occur.
“That is a really, really significant and underestimated piece of how community building happens in a lot of places,” said Kirby. “It puts people who would not necessarily be sitting together together in a space with usually the intent of finding some common ground.”
Posted by: KFTC Staff on May 9, 2014
KFTC member and Kentucky author Silas House published a young adult novel in 2012 called Same Sun Here, a collaboration with New York City author Neela Vaswani. The book is a series of letters between River Dean Justice, who lives in eastern Kentucky, and a girl named Meena, who lives in New York City. House talked with KFTC recently about the book.
Posted by: Dana Beasley Brown on May 2, 2014
There are many important stories coming out of the 2014 General Assembly – the outcomes of bills, the work of citizen lobbyists, the story of all the rallies and lobby days KFTC participated in.
For me, one of the highlights of KFTC’s work in the General Assembly – and, really, a highlight of all the work KFTC does – is the leadership development that happens around the session.
Throughout the session, KFTC is committed to developing leaders and helping their voices be heard. Whether it’s my friend Al lobbying for the first time. Or Mantell from Lexington taking his turn at the mic in front of the large crowd at the Voting Rights Rally. Or all the KFTC members who serve on various strategy teams that, throughout the session, contribute to our collective game plan … KFTC is about developing leaders.
I’ve been doing a lot of thinking lately about KFTC’s approach to leadership development.
Posted by: Donovan Taylor on April 30, 2014
The Saturday before the Kentucky primary election voter registration deadline, Jefferson County Chapter of KFTC organized Bike the Vote, a pop-up voter registration drive in West Louisville. Eighteen people volunteered to register voters, some riding bikes between the four pop-up locations; two grocery stores and two parks. After four hours and eight miles of biking, the group registered 40 voters. Chapter members registered a total of 84 voters during the week of April 14.
Posted by: Kentuckians For The Commonwealth on April 28, 2014
It's May Day week – a great time to take action that builds new economic power.
Posted by: Jessie Skaggs on April 24, 2014
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At their March chapter meeting, members in
Perry County discussed different ideas for possible upcoming workshops and events that the chapter could have this year. Wanting to reach newer current members as well as potential members, they decided to hold a series of workshops that would educate people on KFTC, how we organize, and our issue areas. This past Monday, the Perry County chapter hosted the first of these, a
KFTC 101 Workshop.
Posted by: Kentuckians For The Commonwealth on April 18, 2014
Posted by: KFTC staff on April 16, 2014
Yesterday, April 15, was the final day of the 2014 regular session of the Kentucky General Assembly. Supporters of legislation to allow for the automatic restoration of voting rights for most former felons once they have completed their sentence (House Bill 70) gave the Kentucky Senate yet another chance to pass this meaningful legislation.
Posted by: Carissa Lenfert on April 11, 2014
KFTC is beginning to plan our 2014 Annual Meeting (August 22-24 in Carrollton, KY). The theme is around building grassroots leaders. What workshop topics would make you want to come to this year's annual meeting? What speakers would you like to hear? Other ideas you have to make it a great overall weekend? We would love to hear all ideas so we can plan a great program! Just submit comments below or email your thoughts to [email protected]. And we hope you'll mark your calendars and plan to join us!
Posted by: Janet Tucker on April 11, 2014
Our community lost a strong leader the 7th of this month with the passing of April Browning. Her strong voice for justice and equality could be heard on many fronts. In about every speech April gave it often started out with, "First and foremost, I'm a mom." She said in one interview, "My son Elijah . . . makes every day worth living and special . . . That's the first and most important thing you need to know about me." She went on to explain, "But after that, it's really important to me to take initiative to make my community a better place - for Elijah and everyone else."
April was a board member of Central Kentucky Council for Peace and Justice. She was the inspiration and one of the founders of Occupy Lexington in 2011. Her voice was heard at the rallies organized by Kentuckians Against the War On Women. She was a spokesperson around the restoration of voting rights for former felons in Kentucky and for Kentuckians For The Commonwealth.
April was born in Flint, Michigan, but grew up in Central Kentucky. She understood first hand the struggle of low-income parents in Kentucky. She understood first hand being denied rights as a former felon for a mistake long past paid for. She understood the struggle of the 99% against the 1%.
In her words, "I am politically active and I feel that my voice as well as thousands of other Kentuckians' voices should be heard. ... I'm fighting for progress across the board and this fight is personal."
We mourn the loss of her leadership and activism, but her spirit will remain with us as the struggle continues.
