My KFTC Story - Chanelle Helm

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

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

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

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

Chanelle Helm

KFTC Member