KFTC to Host Smoketown GetDown for Democracy

The history of Smoketown – and the innovative ideas from local residents for its future – will be celebrated at the first annual “Smoketown Getdown for Democracy,”­ a neighborhood block party powered by the people and open to the public on Friday, September 19.

The event also marks the completion of the Vision Smoketown Canvassing Project, an effort by Kentuckians For The Commonwealth (KFTC) with help from the Center for Neighborhoods that elicited survey responses from 140 Smoketown residents about their vision for the future of their rapidly changing neighborhood.

“Vision Smoketown is an effort by our chapter's Economic Justice Team to identify what the Smoketown community wants and needs in their community. It was important to us to survey at this time because there's so much change in Smoketown, mainly with the re-opening of Sheppard Square,” said Solange Minstein, who helped design the survey and canvassing plan.

Smoketown is a historically black neighborhood formed when thousands of freed slaves moved post-Civil War to the area from rural Kentucky. KFTC, a 33-year old grassroots social justice organization working in Jefferson County and across the state, moved its local office into the neighborhood last year.

“Surveyors, members of KFTC, are excited for a chance to help link the organization at its new home to members of the neighborhood, and to help members of the neighborhood find their voice during a time of systemic changes in the neighborhood,” explained canvasser Curtis Stauffer, a member of KFTC’s Vision Smoketown Committee that organized the project.

The block party will spotlight Smoketown community leaders, food vendors and non-profit organizations. This family-friendly event will include a live art wall led by Smoketown artists, children’s activities, voter registration, and free photos courtesy of Magnolia Photo Booth Co. Featured performers include DJ Yared Sound, The Afrophysicists, TreBella, Loohavull Lip Slam, and the Safiyyah Dance Company. As an official event of the Louisville Craft Beer Week, the block party will include a beer garden featuring West Sixth’s new Cocoa Porter.

It will take place on Friday, September 19 from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. outside of KFTC’s Smoketown office at 735 Lampton Street (corner of Lampton and Shelby streets). KFTC, Kertis Creative and West Sixth Brewing Company are cosponsoring the event.

Organizers encourage walking, biking, or bussing to the event. Bicycle parking will be provided by Falls City Community Bikeworks, and the event is located on TARC routes 23 and 43. Street parking will be available on Shelby and Clay Street.  

Some of the findings from the Vision Smoketown Project will be highlighted at the Getdown, and a complete report presented to city officials and stakeholders in October.