Jefferson County | Kentuckians For The Commonwealth

Chapter: Jefferson County

 

Since the chapter formed in 1983, we have supported and worked with allies on issues that affect you and me, including affordable housing, police abuse, sweat shops, hazardous waste reduction and recycling. Our doors are open to anyone who wants to fight for justice while building a compassionate, connected, and fun community here in our great city. With over 2,500 KFTC members across the County, JCKFTC is an anchor chapter of Kentuckians For The Commonwealth. The chapter focuses on three issues: Education Justice, Energy and Climate Justice, and democracy Justice. 

  • You can find JCKFTC members agitating and lobbying the local school board, rallying for trans students, traveling to Capiltal to lobby and rally for education bills that support students, and creating strategies to save education in Kentucky. 
  • RSVP here for KFTC's Education Justice Lobby Day & Rally at the Capital on Tuesday, February 4, 2025
  • RSVP here for KFTC's monthly virtual Statewide Education Justice meetings.
  • Share your voice by taking our digital Education Justice Survey by October 31, 2024.

  • In addition to being part of the Just Transition Coalition, the Jefferson County chapter also has a robust Energy & Climate Justice working group that meets monthly on the 4th Wednesday from 7 - 8 pm EDT. You can RSVP here for our monthly Energy & Climate Justice working group here:

  • JCKFTC members register voters across the County, including at places like Actor’s Theatre, Simmon’s Freedom School, Sarabande Books’ Annual Poetry Carnival, Carmichael’s Bookstore, and more. 


From schools to houses of faith to recovery centers, JCKFTC offers training and presentations on all of our issues. Some of the most requested trainings and presentations are on voting rights restoration, political education, voter registration training, the state of education justice, arts and activism at the intersection of climate and energy justice, and organizing for change. Email us today to begin a conversation about bringing a training or presentation to your group.

You’ll be able to find KFTC’s quarterly newspaper, Balancing The Scales, at various locations, including multiple Heine Brothers Coffee locations, the Old Louisville Coffee Co-Op, Elderserve, Goodwill, the Bishop’s Table, and more. JCKFTC members enjoy reading Balancing The Scales and contributing to the publication. You can find JCKFTC members’ Balancing The Scales articles on the KFTC Blog. 


Each 2nd Monday of the month, from 5 - 7:30 pm, JCKFTC hosts a Chapter Meeting - all are welcome and invited. We begin by sharing a meal & networking for an hour, then spend the remaining 90 minutes discussing our ongoing work & strategizing for a future where all Kentuckians can thrive. We have an average attendance of about 45 - 50 people. This is a life-changing family-friendly event. You can RSVP for a monthly chapter meeting with us here. 

We offer POWER 101, an in-person intro to organizing for change course. This two-hour organizing course covers The Transition Zone, Powerful Questions, the Accountability Pathway, and more. The chapter plans to pilot a virtual option to POWER 101 in early 2025.  
 

You can find all things JCKFTC on our LinkTree.

Recent Activities

Energy for Change rally draws more than 2,000

KFTC on June 22, 2013 in Coal and Water, New Energy and Transition, Communities Taking Action, Jefferson County, Air Quality, , coal ash, , Power Plants, , Water Quality

KFTC members joined more than 2,000 others in Louisville on Thursday for the Energy for Change: Interfaith Action for Clean Energy and Healthy Communities rally.

"It matters little where we live … dirty energy is polluting our air and water," said Mark Steiner of Kentucky Interfaith Power & Light told the crowd, many of whom were in Louisville from across the country for the Unitarian Universalist General Assembly. "Dirty energy is making us and making our children sick."

Activist Tim DeChristopher said he grew up in West Virginia where people live with "fear under the oppression of the coal industry." But he was able to overcome his fear "when my actions aligned with my sentiments.

Jefferson County Annual Chapter Meeting

Alicia Hurle and Emily Nordling on June 12, 2013 in , Jefferson County, Air Quality, , coal ash, , Fundraiser

 Twenty-five members came out to this week’s Jefferson County Annual Chapter Meeting and potluck at First Unitarian Church. The meeting started off with a review of the chapter’s work over the past year:

Our chapter registered 1,400 people to vote during the 2012 Election and transported dozens of people to the polls in November. We recruited 24 new members during the 5th Annual Louisville Loves Mountains Festival in May 2013. Chapter members attended all the major lobby days in Frankfort during the 2013 General Assembly and turned out busloads of people to I Love Mountains Day. We have tabled at 6 community events in Louisville since the beginning of the year. Hundreds of people have signed KFTC petitions and interest forms during these events. Members have given presentations about KFTC’s work at two colleges and two churches since January. Our chapter celebrates its 30th anniversary this year. We are kicking off the celebration with a Birthday Bash on Saturday, June 22nd at Tim Faulkner Gallery.

 

Sec of State Election Meeting Schedule Finalized

Dave Newton on May 30, 2013 in Voting Rights, Kentucky Voting Rights Bill, Jefferson County, , Madison County, Voter Empowerment

100_1465Secretary of State Allison Lundergan Grimes has been conducting a series of town meetings to gather input on election laws and practices. 

The exact times and locations of the final three events are now set:

June 3rd at 12:30 p.m. CST – McCracken County:  Robert Cherry Civic Center, 2701 Park Avenue, Paducah, KY
June 6th at 12:30 p.m. EST – Jefferson County: Muhammad Ali Center, 144 N. 6th Street, Louisville, KY
June 20th at 5:30 p.m. EST – Madison County:  Madison County Extension Office, 230 Duncannon Lane, Richmond, KY

The format of the input meetings is fairly straightforward.  It's a 60 minute discussion facilitated by the Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes. There is some context at the beginning and some recognition of county clerks' office representatives. 

But mostly, the event is focused on a series of questions like "What are your thoughts about our current voter registration process?" "18 states offer online voter registration. Should we try to move in that direction?" "What is your election day experience like?" and "32 states allow early voting. Should we allow no-excuse early voting in Kentucky too?"

Jefferson County Chapter discusses local issues

Alicia Hurle on May 21, 2013 in Economic Justice, Voting Rights, Coal Ash, , Kentucky Voting Rights Bill, , Mountaintop Removal and Strip Mining, Jefferson County, Air Quality, , coal ash, , Fundraiser, , Immigrants' Rights

Last week’s Jefferson County Chapter meeting kicked off with a brief report from Mary Love about Alliance for Appalachia’s 8th Annual Week in Washington. Mary was a member of the KFTC delegation again this year. The Alliance focuses not only on ending mountaintop removal mining but is also working toward a just and sustainable transition in Appalachia.

Jared Zarantonello gave a presentation on WFOR Forward Radio, “a community-based, low power FM radio start-up and media project operating as an educational arm of the Louisville chapter of the Fellowship of Reconciliation (FOR) in pursuit of peace and social justice. WFOR seeks to create a network of community partners to aid in building a more diverse and relevant model of media. This will ensure that our diverse local voices that are ignored by the mainstream media are heard and that the public interest is served through media.”

During the presentation, members shared their ideas for radion programming: story on the mission of St. George’s Community Center, Strange Fruit Podcast on LGBTQ issues, stories from TARC users, biking issues in Louisville, info from AARP, helping folks figure out if they owe taxes, and energy efficiency and renewables. If you have ideas you would like to share or if you want to learn more about WFOR contact Jared at, 502-468-6519 or [email protected]. 

Louisville Loves Mountains Youth Essay Contest Winners

Alicia Hurle on May 21, 2013 in Coal and Water, Mountaintop Removal and Strip Mining, Jefferson County

We know that young Kentuckians care deeply about our mountains and mountain communities. This year, we wanted to make sure their voices were heard loud and clear at Kentuckians For The Commonwealth’s 5th Annual Louisville Loves Mountains Festival on Friday, May 17, 2013. We asked young people to share their written thoughts and ideas for a brighter future for our mountains. Dozens of youth from across Louisville wrote essays on the topic, “Why we need to protect our mountains and mountain communities." 

The three winning essays were displayed during Louisville Loves Mountains Festival. The young authors were also recognized during the festivities and presented with prizes by essay contest judge Carol Besse, co-owner of Carmichael's Bookstore. Heine Brother’s Coffee and Carmichael's Bookstore donated prizes and the winners also received a Louisville Loves Mountains Festival t-shirt. The winning essays are featured below.  

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Chapter Feature:

Regular Meetings:

Jefferson County KFTC office
786 Shelby Street
Louisville, KY 40203
Monthly Chapter Meeting

Each 2nd Monday of the month, from 5 - 7:30 pm, JCKFTC hosts a Chapter Meeting - all are welcome and invited.

We begin by sharing a meal & networking for an hour, then spend the remaining 90 minutes discussing our ongoing work & strategizing for a future where all Kentuckians can thrive.

We have an average attendance of about 45 - 50 people & folks are welcome to bring a dish to share.

This is a life-changing family-friendly event.

You can RSVP for a monthly chapter meeting with us here.

Chapter Organizer:

Bonifacio Aleman
786 Shelby Street
Louisville, KY 40203

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