Louisville, KY native – Lanisha Porter – is a 20 year-old college student at Manhattanville College in Purchase, NY as well as the author of a women’s self empowerment book entitled Things I Never Talk About.
Porter is the product of Louisville’s impoverished West End and was raised with her four brothers in a single-parent household headed by her father. Her mother lives in Louisiana so her father inherited the task of preparing her for womanhood. Being a middle school employee, her father began instilling solid core values into her life at a very young age.
“MY FATHER WORKS AT A MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HE’S ALWAYS SAID, ‘LANISHA PORTER, DO NOT GET YOUR NAME WRITTEN ON A BATHROOM STALL’ AND I KNEW WHAT THAT MEANT. THAT MEANS DON’T DO ANYTHING DEGRADING BECAUSE AS A YOUNG WOMAN – YOUR NAME IS YOUR TICKET. THAT’S YOUR REPUTATION AND YOU HAVE TO LIVE WITH THAT. THERE IS NO WIPING IT CLEAN. THERE IS NO CLOROX FOR THAT. YOUR NAME IS YOUR NAME AND YOU KEEP IT CLEAN.” – LANISHA PORTER
Entering high school Porter had set goals of graduating as the class valedictorian. She fell short of her goal by seven spots but the hard work allowed her to graduate from Central High School with a 4.0 gpa. She used the barriers that existed in her West Louisville neighborhood as fuel to overcome any and all obstacles. However – an unexpected hurdle was thrown her way at the last-minute.
It had been a longtime dream of Porter’s to attend the University of Louisville (UofL). In high school she enrolled in a dual-credit course which allowed her to take the class at UofL and receive college credit. She completed the course with an “A” but following graduation – UofL denied her enrollment application. Despite her 4.0 gpa – her low ACT score was the disqualifying factor.
Porter feels that most high schools don’t educate students properly about how to take exams like the ACT and SAT. She emphasizes that many students aren’t aware that they shouldn’t spend 10 minutes on a particular question because it won’t allow them to complete all the answers in the allotted amount of time. She also feels that parts of the tests are culturally biased and a lot of the jargon is unfamiliar to students from Urban communities. She would later discuss this topic in her book.
Frustrated with being rejected by UofL – Porter began looking at other schools outside of the state of Kentucky. At the time her interest was in entertainment law so she accepted an invitation from Manhattanville College based on its liberal arts curriculum and close proximity to New York City. Her father’s focus on education, goals and morals would be the template that mold her thoughts and actions throughout her college career.
“MY FATHER WAS VERY BIG ON ENCOURAGING ME TO DEVELOP MYSELF SO I DIDN’T DATE FOR A LONG TIME. I’M VERY INTO MY BOOKS – MY MOTTO IS: ‘BOOKS OVER BOYS ANY DAY’. MY FATHER WOULD ALWAYS TELL ME THAT IF I WANT TO CHANGE SOMETHING THEN I HAVE TO START WITH MYSELF. YOU CAN’T SAY THAT YOU WANT TO BE SUCCESSFUL AND YOUR BEHAVIORS AND YOUR PRACTICES DON’T ALIGN WITH THAT – SO I ALIGNED MYSELF.” – LANISHA PORTER
Porter hit the books hard and during her sophomore year she decided to write a book that she had been working on since high school. The book is entitled “Things I Never Talk About” and was inspired by her Facebook status updates. She would often post motivational passages on her Facebook page and her friends inspired her to write a book based on her natural ability to empower others.
“AROUND MY SIXTEENTH BIRTHDAY, I REMEMBER BREAKING DOWN ALL THE THINGS THAT I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT AND THOSE BECAME THE CHAPTERS AND THEN THROUGHOUT THE YEARS I WOULD JUST GO AND WRITE WHAT I FELT. SO THERE’S A ‘BOYS & RELATIONSHIPS IN LOVE’ CHAPTER… THERE’S A ‘CHILDHOOD’ CHAPTER… THERE’S A ‘SELF ESTEEM’ CHAPTER AND MANY MORE.” – LANISHA PORTER
The book is meant to empower women that come from at-risk-communities such as she did. Although the book is targeted to women – Porter says that several men have said they relate to the book as well. The content is based on her experiences growing up in an impoverished community without the guidance of her mother and also the experiences of those around her. Porter offers advice on how to avoid the pitfalls associated with poverty and how to maintain healthy relationships.
“I’M A VERY OBSERVANT PERSON SO ALTHOUGH I’VE NEVER HAD A SERIOUS RELATIONSHIP WITH GUYS – I’VE BEEN ABLE TO LOOK AT THINGS IN HOW OTHER WOMEN’S RELATIONSHIPS HAVE PLAYED OUT AND I CAN DETERMINE WHAT A HEALTHY AND UNHEALTHY RELATIONSHIP LOOKS LIKE” – LANISHA PORTER
“Things I Never Talk About” has been used as an educational tool at several institutions. A program called Urban Girls Rock at St. Stephen’s Baptist Church in Louisville, KY meets twice a week and each week they focus on a different core value which is derived from the book.
“THERE IS A MINISTRY IN TEXAS THAT WORKS WITH AT-RISK-YOUTH AND THAT MINISTRY ADOPTED MY BOOK. MY BOOK HAS ALSO BEEN ADOPTED BY ST. STEPHEN’S SCHOLARSHIP COMMITTEE AS A PREREQUISITE SO IF PEOPLE ARE SIGNING UP FOR A SCHOLARSHIP – THEY HAVE TO READ THE BOOK AND DO AN ESSAY ON THAT.” – LANISHA PORTER
Porter has also become involved in motivational speaking at different venues throughout the city of Louisville. Her focus is with at-risk-youth but she has also spoken to groups at psychiatric facilities and churches. He message to the world is all about positivity and self empowerment.
“OUR YOUTH HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT THEY MATTER AND THAT THEY ARE IMPORTANT. THEY HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT THEIR LIFE IS GOING TO INFLUENCE SOMEONE ELSE’S LIFE. THERE WAS THIS 15 YEAR-OLD GIRL DOWN THE STREET FROM ME GROWING UP AND SHE PROBABLY NEVER KNEW IT – BUT I USED TO LOOK UP TO HER. HOW SHE CONDUCTED HERSELF SOMEHOW HAD AN EFFECT ON ME. I DON’T KNOW IF SHE LOOKED AT HERSELF AS THOUGH SHE MATTERED BUT WHETHER YOU BELIEVE YOU MATTER OR NOT – YOUR EXAMPLE MATTERS TO SOMEONE ELSE.” – LANISHA PORTER
“Things I Never Talk About” can be purchased on Amazon, on the College Boy Publishing website and at LanishaPorter.com. The book is also available to check out at the Central High School Library in Louisville, KY.
Growing up in Louisville’s Southwick Housing Projects in the 70s and 80s bred a different mentality than it would today if the apartments still existed. Prior to crack epidemic of the late 80s and early 90s – it was a peaceful close-knit community that provided affordable living for many low-income families of Louisville’s West End.
John McKissick (43) was one of those residents. He was born and raised in Southwick and has memories of many good times that he and his friends experienced throughout their childhood. In 2008, he began creating a cartoon series called Southwick Gang Adventures. The cartoon is based on life in the Southwick projects and uses real-life experiences to teach children about the dangers of bullying, stealing and fighting.
“When I was younger – when we lived in Southwick – my grandmother (Rosemary Cook) used to run the community center. She used to pull young kids off the street and have them cleaning up the recreation shop and things like that. Everybody knew who she was – she kind of kept us disciplined. There could be a crap game going on and she’ll walk right through it and everybody had so much respect for her, they’d stop what they were doing and let her go on about her business – so she kind of kept everybody straight.” – John McKissick
McKissick’s family moved from Southwick and purchased a home when he was 15 years-old but he continued to spend majority of his free time hanging out with his friends in the projects. He never imagined that years later he would create a cartoon series about his experiences as a child.
As a young kid McKissick discovered his innate passion for writing and began writing as much as he could in his spare time. During his teenage years he used his writing skills to pursue a short-lived rap career. He began rapping under the moniker J. Love and released a local hit entitled, “The Power Isn’t in the Gun” to address gang violence in Louisville during the early 90s. The song aired on local radio stations and led to a few offers from independent record labels.
“I’ve been writing since I was a kid. When I was younger I used to look at TV shows like Sanford & Son, the Jefferson’s and Three’s Company. Most people look at it for comedy but I was looking at it and studying it. I would wonder how they come up with the characters and the dialogue. I was maybe six or seven years-old when I studying. I didn’t know I was studying but I was figuring out how they came up with shows.” – John McKissick
Creative thoughts flow through McKissick’s head so frequently that he will often stop in the middle of eating a meal and jot down ideas for scripts on napkins – and then continue eating. This process allowed him to complete his first full script when he was 19 or 20 years-old. Over the next 25 years he’d complete two screen plays, five sitcoms, three cartoon series and several short films. All these projects are fully scripted and ready to be filmed once he acquires funding for their budgets. He has since created a film company called Noir Ink Entertainment and all these projects will be released under this brand.
One of those completed cartoon series is the Southwick Gang Adventures. The concept for the cartoon was developed after McKissick became uncomfortable with many of the prime-time cartoons that are currently being aired with adult content. Despite many of these programs being rated TV-14 – some parents feel as though they aren’t appropriate for anyone under the age of 18.
“One day I watching my little nieces and nephews watching a prime time cartoon and I noticed that there was all this cursing going on in the cartoon and I was looking at them thinking, ‘Why the hell are they looking at this cartoon?’ I was already a writer, so at that moment I decided to come up with something that they can learn from and at the same time, laugh hysterically. So that was the birth of the Southwick Gang Adventures and that was seven years ago, so this cartoon is seven years in the making.” – John McKissick
McKissick immediately began writing the concept and script which developed into 17 episodes over the next seven years. He would later enlist his wife, Dichiara McKissick and local comedians, writers and actors: Rashida Webber, Darren Webber, William Hamilton, Nick Phillips and Bradford Thompson to provide the voices for the characters. The animation was created by Shawn Cowan and the vice president of Noir Ink – Dez Thompkins -assists with all the production.
Each episode costs roughly $25,000 to create so due to budgeting limitations – it would take seven years until the first episode was actually complete and ready to air. McKissick planned to debut the cartoon at a Louisville movie theatre in December 2014, so he reached out to local activist Christopher 2X to help promote the premier since he is often involved with mentoring at-risk-youth.
“We were having a premier for the cartoon and we decided to reach out to Christopher 2x because we knew he was doing something positive with the kids. So we had a meeting with Christopher 2X and he said that he knew somebody that wanted to be in the cartoon. I asked him who it was and he said that it was Master P. He asked if I had a part for him. I said yes and wrote him into the script. Master P did that for free for us as long as we mentioned his ‘Let the Kids Grow’ Foundation in the cartoon.”
The first episode features an all black cast but McKissick says that most of the other episodes are multicultured. His hopes are that these cartoons can teach positive morals to children while entertaining them and bridging any cultural gaps. He is also hoping that the cartoon eventually becomes syndicated nationwide and is picked up by PBS, Cartoon Network, Nickelodeon, or Disney.
In addition, McKissick is releasing the Southwick Game Adventures book series on Amazon in late December 2015. The first book in the series is called “Sticky Fingers” and teaches children about the dangers of stealing.
McKissick’s film company – Noir Ink – currently has a Kickstarter Campaign to help fund further episodes of the Southwick Gang Adventures. If you would like to support this project click the Kickstarter link. More information is also available on the Southwick Gang Adventures Facebook page. John McKissick can be reached at noirinkent@yahoo.com
Below is the first episode of the Southwick Gang Adventures which warns children about the dangers of bullying.
With Louisville, Ky experiencing its deadliest year since 1979 – politicians and residents are scrambling for solutions. As of November 30, 2015 – 76 homicides have been committed in Jefferson county – compared to 54 in all of 2014. Even more startling is that this recent rise in violent crime isn’t unique to Louisville. Many police departments from large cities across America are reporting similar violent crime statistics.
The FBI and other crime experts have yet to determine why there has been such a rise in violent crime but many suggest that “turf wars” related to the illegal drug trade play a significant role. Whatever the reason – residents of the communities that are experiencing the highest rise in violent crimes wish that their once peaceful neighborhoods would return to the days of tranquility.
A Louisville filmmaker – Remone “B-Nu” Wilkerson isn’t waiting for politicians and law enforcement agencies to devise a strategy against the violence in his West End neighborhood. He has taken it upon himself to use art as a tool to help the curve the violence. His latest movie – “A Troubled City” – addresses the criminal lifestyle that many young inner-city youth fall victim to.
“The concept of the movie is a man’s will to make a change in the city and when opportunity presents itself he acts on it and is able to make a change and give back. The film shows the transition of the main character – Marcellus – struggling with the influence of the street life – to changing his life and making a positive change in his city.” – Remone “B-Nu” Wilkerson
Wilkerson is a licensed barber who currently owns the barber shop “Brand Nu Kuts” and began writing scripts for movies and documentaries during his spare time – in the late 1990s. He later formed the independent film company – B-Nu Films – and began the process of bringing those scripts to video.
Wilkerson is a self-taught filmmaker who writes, films, edits and produces all of his theatrical creations himself. At times he may enlist an additional cameraperson to assist with the filming process but he is the driving force behind the creativity.
“I’m always trying to do something creative and I’ve always tried to keep Louisville in mind when I do something. I made two documentaries before I made my first movie. I made, ‘From the Booth to the Streets Vol. 1′ and ‘From the Booth to the Streets Vol. 2′. I also made a Vol. 3 but I never released it.
The first two documentaries were basically about rappers in the city [Louisville] that were expanding their brands and I was interviewing those guys and shooting their videos – free of charge – and then featuring the videos in my documentaries.” – Remone “B-Nu” Wilkerson
Being creative is often a gift and a curse for Wilkerson. He’s constantly inspired by everyday life so he finds himself working on new material – often during the same time that he has a movie on the market. This process has allowed him to create several scripts but has also conflicted with the marketing required to properly promote his released films to the masses.
Wilkerson is changing his marketing strategy this time around. He is focused on circulating “A Troubled City” to as many residents of Louisville as possible – due to the recent rise in homicides and violent crime. He feels as though this movie has the potential to resonate with many young people who are currently involved in criminal behavior or are exposed to its ramifications.
“I hope this movie inspires people to think about what your actions are and how they affect the people around you.
In this film a young man loses his life and it brings a lot of pain, not only to his mother but to the city as a whole because he was well known. Many people knew him as a young child so when he was murdered it touched a lot of people.” – Remone “B-Nu” Wilkerson
Wilkerson began filming “A Troubled City” in the city of Louisville in the summer of 2014 and filming was complete in the middle of 2015. All the actors are residents of the city of Louisville.
“The greatest gift that I received out of filming this movie was that the people of Louisville helped me film this movie. There were a total of 64 cast members and to get 64 people to come together and do something – I thought was amazing.
That was part of the blessing because I just asked people that I knew to do me a favor and they actually came out and did that for me – and I don’t have a lot of money to pay anybody but the people came out to support my vision.” – Remone “B-Nu Wilkerson
A Troubled City is currently available for purchase at Better Days Records, on the website www.atroubledcity.com or by contacting FilmMaker Remone Wilkerson on Facebook. As a promotional tool – Wilkerson is also releasing the film for free in 12-15 minute episodes on his Youtube channel brandnubnu. There will be a total of 7-8 episodes – with a new episode being released every few weeks.
Remone “B-Nu” Wilkerson can be contacted by email at atroubledcity@yahoo.com or on Facebook at FilmMaker Remone Wilkerson. Episode 1 of a “A Troubled City” is available below. Rated R – Parental Discretion is advised.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Rv5-skiEzI
Liberty Tax Service is a national corporation that specializes in preparing and filing taxes for individuals and businesses. The company was established in 1997, and there are currently over 4,300 Liberty Tax Service offices operating in the United States and Canada. There are 18 Liberty Tax Service offices located within 25 miles of downtown Louisville, KY and several of those offices are owned by African-American businessman Marcus Warren.
In an effort to promote the Liberty Tax brand while also promoting goodwill throughout the community – Liberty Tax Service of greater Louisville decided to hold its first ever annual “Miss Lady Liberty” beauty pageant to select a spokesperson for the company. The pageant was held in Petersburg Park in Louisville, KY on September 26, 2015 and female Kentucky residents – ages 18-25 – were encouraged to register for a chance to compete.
The pageant was structured around an anti-bullying theme and the contestants were judged on their appearance and performances in three specific categories: Talent & Performance, Evening Gown and Question & Answer. Louisville native – Angie Thompson – scored high in every category but her anti-bullying rendition of rapper Kurtis Blow’s 1980 hit “The Breaks” helped soar her to victory.
Thompson is a graduate of Valley High School in Louisville and currently attends McKendree University where she’s majoring in Business Administration. She’s been an accountant for the last six years and has worked at Liberty Tax Service as a tax preparer for the past three years. During one of Liberty Tax Services monthly employee meetings – she was notified about the Miss Lady Liberty beauty pageant and decided to enter the contest.
“I am the first Miss Lady Liberty. They [Liberty Tax Service] had a pageant back in September and basically my duties are to promote the business but I took it a step further – so I go out and do volunteer work. My favorite part about my job is going to events and putting crowns on the little kids. One time I went to an event at Shawnee Park and I had my crown on. I started talking to this little girl and when she walked away I heard her say that she was a princess. I had a moment because that really meant something to me.” – Angie Thompson
Thompson’s reign as “Miss Lady Liberty” is a 12-month term that will end in September 2016 – at which time she will have the honor of crowning the next pageant winner. Her duties include positively promoting the brand by attending scheduled events – dressed in Miss Lady Liberty attire – as an ambassador of goodwill.
“I’m the face of the company and I’m a double threat because I also do taxes. If I go out and I meet people and they have a tax question – I don’t have to refer them to anybody because I do taxes as well – so it works. It’s kind of like the perfect fit.” – Angie Thompson
Fully embracing the opportunity – Thompson goes above the call of duty by regularly attending festivals and events that are not scheduled by Liberty Tax Service. She often spends her lunch break from work reading books to children at local elementary schools. Thompson has also been working with local comedians to help her create a series of Liberty Tax Service video skits – addressing popular myths associated with filing and preparing taxes.
“Last year I posted a lot of myths online of what people think they can do on their taxes but they actually can’t – so I’m really just bringing that to video but I want to incorporate humor into it as well because that’s what spreads it around faster.” – Angie Thompson
Thompson’s natural nurturing demeanor is exhibited throughout every facet of her life. Following graduation from high school she moved to Cincinnati to attend college. She was living there for four years and had become gainfully employed but relocated back to Louisville to take care of her grandfather after her grandmother passed away.
“I lived in Cincinnati for about four years and then my grandmother passed away here [Louisville] so I moved back to take care of my granddad. So I literally gave up everything. I had my own apartment – I lived literally a block away from the school and 10 minutes from work, so I had it all worked out – but I had to do what I had to do for my family.” – Angie Thompson
She often brings her younger sisters and cousins to the events she attends to show them what giving back to their community actually looks like. Thompson is also very passionate about self-empowerment and reinforces that ideology with almost everyone she meets. Whenever she discovers that someone is having a bad day – she immediately encourages them to focus on the positives in their lives.
“My little cousins laugh at me because I make them do affirmations. If they are feeling down or in a bad mood – we’re looking in the mirror and we’re empowering ourselves. They feel weird doing it but they feel better afterwards.” – Angie Thompson
Thompson is scheduled to earn her degree in Business Administration in December and has plans of starting her own book-keeping service. Since winning the Miss Lady Liberty pageant she has also become interested in marketing – so she may incorporate that into her career portfolio as well.
Her outlook on life is always positive and she embraces being a role model to people living in the same at-risk-communities that she grew up in. It is not uncommon to see her throughout the city of Louisville wearing her Miss Lady Liberty ribbon and crown because it’s a constant reminder to herself and the public that you do not have to be a product of your environment.
“When I won the pageant I did not want to take my crown off. I couldn’t believe that me – a little black girl from the West End – just won a pageant and is now the face of a company. I kept wondering how did this happen. I didn’t want to take it off and luckily that was my birthday weekend so I wore it every day that week.” – Angie Thompson
If you happen to see Angie Thompson in your community wearing her ribbon and crown – just know that she is on a mission to make that community a better place.
Eating healthy foods on a consistent basis is something that millions of Americans struggle with daily. A poor diet can lead to serious health problems such as diabetes, heart disease and stoke. According to the CDC obesity affects certain ethnic groups more than others. African-Americans have the highest rate of obesity at 47.8% and many experts attribute that high percentage to a poor diet and a lack of adequate exercise.
In 2015 – the American College of Sports Medicine ranked Louisville, KY the 46th healthiest city out of the 50 largest metropolitan areas in the U.S. According to Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear the Commonwealth of Kentucky ranks 42nd in obesity and 46th in physical inactivity amongst the 50 states. A shocking 31.3% of adults in Kentucky are obese.
Recognizing the alarming rate of obesity in Louisville, 29 year-old Marcus Childs created a meal prep company called Healthy Eating which prepares prepackaged healthy meals and delivers them to businesses and residents. The meals are prepared with fresh lean meats, friuts & vegetables and can be heated in a microwave if desired.
“BASICALLY WE DO LEAN MEATS, FRESH FRUITS, HEALTHY GRAINS, AND HEALTHY STARCHES IN INDIVIDUALLY SEALED AIR TIGHT CONTAINERS. WE HAVE DIFFERENT PACKAGES – THEY CAN RANGE FROM 5 MEALS TO 28 MEALS PER WEEK. WE GUARANTEE A SEVEN DAY SHELF LIFE AND THE MEALS COME PREPARED AND PRECOOKED. RIGHT NOW WE HAVE LUNCH AND DINNER BUT WE WILL DOING BREAKFAST IN A COUPLE OF MONTHS.” – MARCUS CHILDS
Customers can custom order their meals via À la carte by choosing from the menu items listed on the Healthy Eating website. There are a wide variety of items to choose from and the main dishes range from shrimp scampi and seared salmon to a sirloin burger and jerk chicken. Nutritional facts and the calorie content of each menu item are listed on the website to assist customers with incorporating these meals into any diet programs/plans they may be participating in.
Turkey BurgerMesquite Chicken
Childs created Healthy Eating in 2013, beginning with only a few clients – averaging 50 meals per week. He now averages 150 meals per day and is often frequented by local police officers, fire fighters and the athletic departments from local colleges and universities. Healthy Eating has become the preferred choice for local professionals who desire healthy meals but lack the time required for preparation.
“OUR SMALLEST PACKAGE IS 5 MEALS WHICH IS $39.99. ALL THE MEALS COME AT ONE TIME SO OUR CLIENT’S MEALS ARE BASICALLY PLANNED OUT FOR THE WEEK. MANY PEOPLE ORDER A 5 MEAL PACKAGE FOR THEIR WEEKLY LUNCH AT WORK. CLIENTS CAN ORDER A 10 MEAL PACKAGE OR A 14 MEAL PACKAGE WHICH IS TWO MEALS PER DAY – EACH WEEK. OUR 21 MEAL PACKAGE IS 3 MEALS PER DAY – 7 DAYS A WEEK. OUR 28 MEAL PACKAGE IS 4 MEALS PER DAY – 7 DAYS A WEEK.” – MARCUS CHILDS
How the service works is that customers log onto the website – custom design their meals – and place an order for the week. There is a five meal minimum required for purchase. The average price is about $5.99 per meal.
Chicken wrap w/asparagusTilapia, rice w/asparagus
All meals are then cooked with fresh meats, fruits and vegetables and placed in air tight containers. The meals can be refrigerated at home or work and reheated as needed. Customers have an option for delivery or pickup. Healthy Eating delivers throughout the entire metro-Louisville area including Southern Indiana. All delivery orders are subject to a $15 delivery fee.
Healthy Eating also serves made-to-order meals at its restaurant – located at 332 W. Broadway Street – inside the Heyburn Building. The restaurant’s menu items are slightly different from the online meal-prep menu and meals average about $7 each. Customers can order a single meal or multiple meals (ready to eat) from the restaurant location. The company prides itself on only using fresh food items so it receives fresh produce from local vendors daily.
Marcus Childs is a native of the Cleveland Ohio area who was recruited by Sullivan University in Louisville after excelling in his high school’s culinary arts program. He received an associate degree in Hotel Restaurant Management/Culinary from Sullivan and started a catering company called Cater4You in 2011. A random request from one of his catering clients is what provided the spark to create Healthy Eating.
“WHEN I STARTED CATER4YOU- I HAD A CLIENT WHO WAS A BACHELOR WHO OWNED HIS OWN BUSINESS. HE AND HIS DAUGHTER LIVED IN A MINI MANSION. THE ONLY PROBLEM HE HAD WAS THAT HE DIDN’T COOK – SO HE CONTACTED ME AND ASKED HOW MUCH I WOULD CHARGE TO PREPARE HIS MEALS FOR HIM 7 DAYS A WEEK AND JUST DELIVER THEM TO HIS HOUSE.
HE WAS A VERY SIMPLE GUY. ALL HE WANTED WAS SALMON, SIRLOIN STEAK AND VEGETABLES. I TOLD MY TRAINER AT THE GYM ABOUT THE HEALTHY MEALS I WAS PREPARING FOR THIS CLIENT AND HE STARTED ORDERING MEALS AS WELL. AFTER THAT – THE OWNER SIGNED UP – A COUPLE OF OTHER TRAINERS SIGNED UP – SOME CLIENTS SIGNED UP – SO WITHIN MONTHS IT STARTED TAKING OFF.” – MARCUS CHILDS
Healthy Meals insists on preparing its food to ensure that customers are receiving the highest nutritional value from each item. One of the ways of providing that services is by “blanching” their vegetables.
“THE WAY WE DO THINGS HERE IS A LITTLE DIFFERENT – FOR EXAMPLE – WE BLANCH OUR VEGETABLES. IT’S BASICALLY A QUICK COOKING METHOD THAT WE DO. WE COOK OUR VEGETABLES FOR ABOUT 15-20 SECONDS IN A POT OF BOILING WATER – TAKE THEM OUT AND SEASON THEM – THEN SERVE THEM. THE LESS YOU COOK VEGETABLES – THE MORE NUTRIENTS AND VITAMINS REMAIN. A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE USED TO COOKING VEGETABLES UNTIL THEY ARE SOGGY AND FALLING APART. WHEN YOU DO THAT THERE REALLY ISN’T MUCH NUTRITIONAL VALUE LEFT IN THE VEGETABLE AT ALL.” – MARCUS CHILDS
Louisville, KY may have its own version of Flash Gordon in the form of an 8-year-old girl. First year track star – Alexandra Allen – has dominated the 100, 200, & 400 meter sprinting events throughout her region – making her the fastest “8-and-under” female in Kentucky, Ohio, Michigan, West Virginia, Tennessee and Alabama.
Allen’s journey into the world of track & field was rather unorthodox. Being an active child – she has always been interested in sports. She’s played organized baseball and basketball but when she was 6-years-old she randomly decided that she wanted to play football. Being supportive – her parents allowed her to join a flag football team at the Southeast YMCA in Louisville. Her mom – Anitra Allen – said that while playing football – Allen’s lightning speed was discovered.
“She played flag football and one of the coaches came up to me after one of the games and asked if she ran track. I said that we had been thinking about it but at the time she was only 6-years-old and a lot of teams don’t take kids until they’re a little bit older. – Anitra Allen
Allen’s speed has made her unstoppable on the football field. She has played flag football for the past two seasons as a quarterback and a running back. She has a friendly but very competitive demeanor which is the perfect complement to her natural talent. These two attributes combined have allowed her to excel immensely in every sport she’s involved herself in. In addition to sports – the 8-year-old is academically at the top of her class at Louisville Collegiate School.
“She just finished her second flag football season where’s she’s a running back and a quarterback. Pretty much every game she either ran for or passed for a touchdown. So next year we’ll probably do national flag football which is a little bit more competitive. She loves it. She’s an athlete on the field and a scholar in the classroom.” – Anitra Allen
Following her second season of flag football – Allen joined the Kentucky’s Fillies headed by coach Tamika Townsend. The Fillies are KY’s only elite – all female – track & field team and have dominated the events at several AAU meets. In June 2015 – the Fillies won 30 metals at the Kentucky AAU District meet at the Assumption Green – which helped qualify the team for its fourth straight invitation to the Junior Olympics.Watch Full Movie Online Streaming Online and Download
According to LOUISVILLEWOMENSPORTS.COM during the Assumption Green AAU meet – four sprinters from the Fillies: Alexandra Allen (8 & Under), Nevaeh Johnson (10 Yr), Veronique Ninamou (11 Yr) and Kaleb McDonald (15-16 Yr) finished in first place in each of their running events – solidifying them as the fastest female runners in their age groups in the state of Kentucky.
Allen’s natural talents are irrefutable. In her first season – the sprinter has won 19 metals and is ranked 6th in the nation in the 100 yard dash for females “8 & under”. She’s ranked in the top 8 in the nation for the combined times of the 100, 200 & 400 meter dash events for females “8 & under”. She’s also the fastest “8 & under” female sprinter in KY as well as five other states.
Her total list of accolades for the 2015 track & field season are:
2015- USATF Kentucky District Champion 100m, 200m, 400m
2015- AAU Kentucky District Champion 100m, 200m, 400m
2015- USATF Region 5 Champion 100m, 400m
2015- AAU Region 6 Champion 100m, 200m, 400m
2015-Georgia Games Silver Medalist 100m, 200m, 400m
2015- USATF Jr. Olympics – 6th Place 100m
2015- USATF Jr. Olympics – 7th Place 400m
2015- AAU Jr. Olympics – 8th Place 100m 2015- AAU Jr. Olympics – 7th Place 200m
According to her mother – she’s very competitive but like most kids – she hates to practice. It seems that Alexandra Allen is destined to be great at whatever profession she decides to pursue. The gift of brains and brawn definitely make her a double-threat and with the support and guidance from her parents – the sky’s the limit.
“I believe that from the time your children are born you are already raising adults – They aren’t going to be children forever. So while they’re children – you need to be ‘all-in’. Do whatever ‘all-in’ looks like for you. Your ‘all-in’ might not be mine and that’s fine but you need to be ‘all-in’ with them because there’s going to come a point when they walk out that door and then you won’t be able to influence anymore.” – Anitra Allen
The phrase #502ComeUp has spread across the city of Louisville, KY like wildfire over the past year. The phrase is basically an acknowledgement of the rapid growth that the city is experiencing as of late. In the mist of major interstate reconstruction – substantial job growth – and the influx of people relocating to the city – it is only fitting that local companies are beginning to expand their brands to national consumers.
West End Louisville natives – James Ray (29) & Keith Nash (28) – are clothing designers that own the brand “Beyond The Pen Clothing”. The company was established by the longtime friends in 2012 – and to pay homage to that monumental date – the number 12 is incorporated into many of their products.
After earning a bachelor’s degree in Sports Administration from the University of Louisville – Ray began working in corporate America but also was a freelance graphic designer on the side. He would create fliers, business cards and other digital images for clients on a regular basis. Acting spontaneously on a random thought – Ray decided to use his creativity and talents to create a custom clothing line.
“Randomly one day I thought it would dope to take some of the designs that I create and put them on some shirts. I didn’t have a name for the brand so a friend of mine from California suggested that I call it “Beyond The Pen” because I would often hand draw designs – then put them on the computer and bring them to life.” – James Ray
Realizing that a task of this magnitude was too large for one person – Ray decided to enlist the help of his childhood friend Keith Nash. After lengthy discussions detailing their visions for the brand – a partnership was formed and “Beyond The Pen Clothing” officially became a clothing line.
“He sent me over a few designs and I identified the pieces that I would wear personally and also pointed out the pieces that I didn’t like. From that point he knew that I wouldn’t be a ‘Yes Man’. He knew that if I didn’t think the designs were ‘poppin’ then we couldn’t do it. We already had the friendship so our business chemistry fell right in line.” – Keith Nash
Establishing a quality clothing line wasn’t easy. The pair put in a lot of hours researching – developing – and eventually creating a signature look to represent their brand. They decided to start small and learn through trial and error – so creating custom T-shirts was their first introduction into the fashion industry.
The partners created a website and began marketing their products online as well as making hand-to-hand sales out of the trunks of their vehicles. To raise the awareness of their products – they often gave away T-shirts which resulted in loss of revenue for the newly formed company. Becoming established was difficult but the pair never lacked faith – determination – and drive. They persevered through the storm and eventually the sales began to climb.
Understanding the dynamics of business – Ray & Nash decided to rebrand their clothing line in 2013 to create products that embodied their concept of longevity. In addition to the T-Shirts – they added jogging pants – jackets – and other items to the product line. The idea was to match or exceed the quality that the top commercial brands were currently offering on the market.
“Around a year-and-a-half ago we rebranded totally and stepped up our marketing. I just completed my MBA from Belleramine so going through business school I learned a lot. I learned that marketing is everything – branding is everything. So we rebranded – took a more professional stance and from that point things started to take off more and more.” – James Ray
Utilizing their business skills – Ray & Nash reached out to friends that are now influential public figures as-a-means to establish networking outlets. They also used social media sites to reach out to other celebrities from Louisville – whom they have no personal relationship with – to extend their products to them as well.
“Back in the 6th grade I started playing ball with Rajon Rondo in the AAU circuit and then we played ball at Eastern together. So when you’re playing ball – especially in Louisville – and you’re out there meeting people and being around certain crowds – it helps with getting products to different people from different walks of life.
Also shout out to the homie Bryson Tiller. Just a few months ago I wrote him in his DM’s and Bryson responded and he liked the stuff – so he allowed us to get some gear to him and he shouted us out – which helped us out a lot.” – James Ray
“Beyond The Pen Clothing” also stepped up their marketing campaigns. Recently the company hosted a “Pop-Up” fashion showcase at Established Premium Goods located at 226 W. Muhammad Ali Blvd in Louisville. The luxurious showcase premiered the current and previous lines from “Beyond The Pen Clothing” and allowed consumers to meet Ray & Nash personally as well as purchase clothing items. The showcase was professionally catered and provided a DJ as live entertainment for shoppers.
The event was momentous – largely because the partners were able to host their first ever fashion showcase in their hometown inside the boutique of another Black-Owned Business. Established Premium Goods specializes in carrying clothing brands from several Louisville based companies as well as nationwide brands. They are known as the go-to-shop for local sneakerheads.
“Beyond The Pen Clothing” can be purchased from Established Premium Goods as well as directly from the Beyond The Pen website at www.iwearbtpc.com. The line offers jogging pants – jackets – T-shirts – sweatshirts – and more. Many pieces from the Fall collection offer the “Light-Up Night Fall Pack”.
“As far as the NightFall Pack – It’s designed with 3M reflective material so when the light hits it – it literally lights up. If you take a picture of any of the material with your flash on – you’ll see that it’s glowing. With Fall approaching – it’s getting darker earlier so it keeps you lit all through the night.” – James Ray
Over the past three years things have taken off very fast for “Beyond The Pen Clothing”. Despite the success – Ray & Nash focus on remaining grounded and expanding their brand. They are deeply proud of their Louisville roots and hope to inspire other aspiring entrepreneurs from the city to step out on faith and fulfill their dreams and goals. They are firm believers that working together yields more success than working alone.
“Just thinking back to where we started. We were hand-to-hand out of a trunk – now to being in a storefront and in works actually right now with two other stores – one in Indianapolis and the other in Columbus. So we’re just continually trying to grow.” – Keith Nash
Items form the “Beyond The Pen Clothing” catalog listed below.
Imagine waking up one day at 17 years-old and discovering that your entire world as you know it is an illusion. You are told that the people you’ve called mom and dad your entire life aren’t actually your biological parents. To make matters worse – you are told that your biological mother is serving a 30 year prison sentence for bank robbery and no one knows who your biological father is.
Sounds like the narrative of a Lifetime movie but this is actually the story of a 19 year-old rapper named Destin Yates from Louisville, KY. Yates grew up in a middle class neighborhood and for the most part experienced a pretty normal childhood. He attended Valley High School – was an above average student who played on the football team – and enjoyed rapping as a hobby during his spare time. All was good in his world until an in-law broke the news to him during his Senior year of high school that he was adopted.
“I found out that I was adopted at the end of my Senior year. I found out that my mama wasn’t really my mama and that hurt me. My aunt that was married into the family told me – which is bad. I don’t think she should have done that. Once I found out – it slowed me down in life a lot because I found out she [adoptive mom] was hiding everything from me.” – Destin Yates
Naturally Yates immediately had feelings of confusion and betrayal but anger also formed. He questioned the woman he knew to be his mother – searching for answers. She informed him that his biological mother’s name was Jessica and as the result of a severe drug habit – she was serving a lengthy prison term for bank robbery. His adoptive mother and Jessica were good friends and she would often babysit Yates when he was an infant. Jessica was arrested one day while her friend [his adoptive mother] was babysitting so she began the process of legally adopting him.
While meeting with Yates he explained to me that his adoptive parents are now divorced and his adoptive mother was very strict on him while he was growing up. I immediately recognized an “old-school” upbringing in his language and mannerisms. He was very polite – well spoken – and answered every question with “yes sir”. His demeanor pleasantly caught me by surprise because I was expecting the gangster persona that I heard on one of his rap songs.
Initially our meeting was supposed to be an interview about his aspiring hip-hop career but it changed course after I sensed the pain in his voice regarding his adoption. He claimed that emotionally he was fine but I could tell otherwise and decided to probe a little further in hopes of offering him some guidance. As we talked – he began to feel a little more comfortable and started to open up.Watch Full Movie Online Streaming Online and Download
“Knowing your last name is not Yates but you thought it was – that hurts man. That’s crazy. Me and my mama argue a lot now but I feel like we’re getting stronger but it could be stronger. We still argue about it [the adoption] but I still love my mama. I haven’t been home in I don’t know how long. Well – we talked the other day but that was my first time being home in I don’t know how long – probably about 3 or 4 weeks. When I go over there that’s all we talk about and I don’t like talking about it. – Destin Yates
Yates went on to say that he loves his adoptive mother very much and is grateful that she adopted him but he wishes that he wasn’t lied to or at least was told the truth about his situation earlier in life. He says that she now thinks that he hates her – which he says is the furthest thing from the truth – but his anger surrounding the ordeal has caused their relationship to become estranged as of late.
He has also discovered that he has a biological sister and the two have periodically kept in touch. She has a relationship with their biological mother and often visits her in prison. His sister’s desire is for Yates to become a part of their family and she has invited him to visit their mother in prison. I asked him if he thought meeting with her would possibly bring him some closure and assist in the healing process and he emphatically replied that he has no interest in ever meeting “Jessica”.
“I don’t like to call her my mom – no offense – I like to call her by her name – Jessica – because that’s not my mama. I feel like if I talk to Jessica I’d just get mad. My birth sister invited me to go see her the other day and I didn’t want to talk to her [Jessica] at all – not at all. She didn’t raise me. I haven’t reached out to her and I don’t plan on it either. The story gets deeper but I want to save that for the music part – I’m going to put it in a story on my mixtape.” – Destin Yates
Yates has been interested in music since the sixth grade but didn’t take it serious until he was in high school. During his freshmen year he began recording music and later performed during a pep rally at his high school. He has a passion for music but his strong upbringing keeps him grounded as well. Understanding that a successful career in the music industry is a risky goal – his plans have always been to attend college and major in mechanical engineering.
Following his high school graduation in 2014 – Yates was so emotionally overwhelmed with the discovery of his adoption that he decided to postpone attending college for a year but insists that his head is clear enough to begin this Spring. He has spent the past year and a half working at UPS and working on new music.
In August 2015, he collaborated on a song calledComputerswith fellow Louisville rapper Fonn The General. The song and video were very successful on Youtube but served as a bitter-sweet moment for Yates. Although he’s appreciative that his verse on Computers earned him many new fans – he wished that the popularity came from a song with a different concept. Computers is an edgy street song which is vastly different from the typical music that Yates is used to recording.
As I listened to the music on his Soundcloud page it became apparent that Yates is a versatile artist that embodies many styles. His stories are personal and offer a refreshing alternative to the “trap music” that dominates the airwaves these days. His descriptive lyrics allow the listener to enter the mind of Yates and virtually experience his world.
The way he uses music as a vessel to express romance – pain – and struggle are reminiscent of the rap styles of Wale and J. Cole. If he is able to overcome the obstacle of his adoption and continue to use music as his form of artistic expression – I see great things on the horizon for the young rapper.
Yates is releasing a mixtape on January 14, 2016 called “Dream City” on his 3T Entertainment record label. Although the entire project is not based on his adoption issues – he does address the matter artistically on certain songs.
Good barbers have a huge weight on their shoulders at all times. Not only are they responsible for properly grooming their clients but many people who sit in their chairs expect them to be the information source of their city.
This has been an expectation that has guided me in the right direction many times throughout my travels across America. Whether I’m vacationing or visiting a city for professional reasons – I have reached out to the locals in search of the barber(s) with the most street buzz.
Once I make my decision – arrive at the barber shop and sit in the chair – I usually introduce myself and start with my normal line of questioning: “Any recommendations for shopping?… What type of entertainment does this city provide?… And most importantly – What areas of town do I need to avoid?” Highly recommended barbers should have credible answers to all these questions.
Barbers are an essential part of the urban community and their services are often taken for granted. One Louisville barber is determined to change that. J Dot “Divine Cuts” Alexander – owner of Haircutz’ Barber Shop located at 1103 Larchmont Avenue – had a meeting with the mayor’s office and as a result – November 3, 2014 was declared “Urban Barbers of Louisville Day.”
“I FELT THAT BARBERS NEED TO BE HONORED… BARBERS NEED TO BE PAID HOMAGE TO… SO WITH THAT BEING SAID – I HAD A MEETING WITH THE MAYOR’S OFFICE IN MARCH OF LAST YEAR. I PETITIONED THE MAYOR TO GIVE ME A PROCLAMATION ON BEHALF OF BLACK BARBERS IN THE CITY AND THAT’S WHY IT’S CALLED URBAN BARBERS OF LOUISVILLE DAY.” – J DOT ALEXANDER
In addition to having “Urban Barbers of Louisville Day” declared as an official day – Alexander took it one step further and began hosting an awards ceremony for local barbers in honor of this day. Beginning in 2014 – Alexander has reserved the first Monday in November for the official celebration and awards ceremony for Urban Barbers of Louisville Day since most barbers typically do not work on Mondays.
This year the event takes place on November 2, 2015 at the luxurious The Venue at Oak nightclub from 5pm-8pm. The event is non-formal but no sneakers, t-shirts, ballcaps or athletic gear is preferred. Services will include a cash bar, live DJ, an awards ceremony, spoken word performances, singing and a celebrity guest speaker. A $10 donation is asked to help fund the cost of future Urban Barbers of Louisville Day events.
Nine awards will be handed out to local barbers including two honorary awards. Seven of the awards will be skill based and the two honorary awards are dedicated to the lives of Alexander’s mother – Sister Peggy J. Bolton – who recently passed in September and Donald “Donnie McFly” Mattingly Jr. – a local rapper and aspiring barber who was slain outside a local nightclub earlier this year.
“MY MOTHER – SISTER PEGGY J BOLTON – WENT ABOVE AND BEYOND THE CALL OF DUTY WHENEVER SHE WAS DOING ANYTHING FOR ANYBODY – BASICALLY BASED ON HER CHRISTIAN BELIEFS… I’M HONORING MY MOTHER AND THAT AWARD IS CALLED THE “BEYOND THE CALL OF DUTY” AWARD IN HONOR OF SISTER PEGGY J. BOLTON.” – J DOT ALEXANDER
“I’VE KNOW HIM [DONALD MATTINGLY] SINCE HE WAS 12.. BEFORE HE DIED HE HAD JUST ENROLLED IN BARBER SCHOOL. AS A FRIEND – I CAME UP WITH THE “ASPRING UP AND COMING BARBER” AWARD IN NAME OF DONNIE MATTINGLY JR…THAT AWARD IS GIVEN BASED ON WHAT THE INSTRUCTOR AT THE KENTUCKY COLLEGE OF BARBERING SEES AS THE NEXT BARBER WHO’S UP AND COMING. I DID THIS TO PAY HOMAGE TO A DEAR BROTHER WHO WAS A PILLAR OF THE COMMUNITY AND THE HIP-HOP COMMUNITY AS WELL.” – J DOT ALEXANDER
The celebrity guest speaker at the event will be Andis clipper company educator and celebrity barber Tone McGill. Alexander and McGill have collaborated to share their knowledge about the barbering trade to the citizens of Louisville. McGill is a Philadelphia native – now living in Charlotte NC – who has become one of the most sought after and recognized celebrity barbers in the nation over the past decade.
Alexander is a well-known barber throughout the metro Louisville area and his 2nd place finish at the Bronner Bros International Hair Show in Atlanta earlier this year has possibly increased his popularity throughout other regions. Those regarded as the top barbers in America submit applications to compete in the Bronner Bros barbering competition each year. Out of the 25 selected – Alexander was able to bring the 2nd place trophy back to the city of Louisville.
Now 41 – Alexander began cutting hair when he was 12 years-old after his mother recognized his natural talent and invested in a pair of clippers. He received his barbering licence in 1995 and his been a barber shop owner for the past 16 years. That alone makes him more than qualified to host this monumental awards ceremony for the city of Louisville. The criteria for being selected for an award is that a barber must have 20+ years of barbering experience. Although majority of the awards are skill based – Alexander feels as though the “Beyond the Call of Duty” award is the most prestigious.
“IN MY OPINION I THINK THE MOST PRESTIGIOUS AWARD AT THE EVENT IS ACTUALLY THE ONE THAT IS IN HONOR OF MY MOM BECAUSE WHENEVER SOMEBODY GOES ABOVE AND BEYOND THE CALL OF DUTY – THAT KIND OF HELPS KEEP THE INDUSTRY OR WHATEVER BUSINESS YOU ARE IN MOVING FORWARD… THOSE PEOPLE ARE OFTEN OVERLOOKED AT TIMES. YOU ALWAYS HEAR ABOUT THE CEOS OR THE PEOPLE WHO ARE FAILURES BUT THE PEOPLE WHO MAKE THE ENGINE RUN ARE THE PEOPLE WHO I ADMIRE… THEY MAY NOT BE THE BEST BUT THEY ARE THE SPARK PLUGS.” – J DOT ALEXANDER
Louisville’s latest rising political star – DAWN ELLIOTT – is not only urging Louisvillians to come out and vote on NOVEMBER 3, 2015 but she’s also reminding voters to TURN OVER THE BALLOT.
Statistics show that voters typically enter the voting booth and fill out the spaces on the front of their ballot without realizing that there are judiciary races on the back of the card. This election – Dawn Elliott happens to be the first name listed ON THE BACK OF THE BALLOT.
Attorney Dawn Renae Elliott is running in the current election for a District Court Judge seat. What makes this seat so important is that of the 17 elected District Court Judges that are currently on the bench in Jefferson County – only one of them is African-American.
Elliott is a product of Louisville’s predominately black West-End but was primarily raised in the East-End. She is a graduate of Eastern High School and earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Legal Studies from the University of Louisville’s Brandeis School of Law.
Elliott feels as though she is the perfect candidate for District Court Judge because like many defendants that appear in front of the bench – she knows all too well what the word “struggle” means. For four years the single-mom worked a full-time job as a receptionist and paralegal at the Commonwealth Attorney’s Office while attending college during the evening. Experiencing that struggle made Elliott want to help other people who found themselves in unfortunate situations.
“I JUST HAVE THIS NEED TO HELP PEOPLE AND I BELIEVE THAT I CAN DO THAT MOST EFFECTIVELY FROM THE BENCH – IF I CAN REACH ONE PERSON – IF I CAN SAY SOMETHING THAT CAN INSPIRE JUST ONE PERSON TO TURN THEIR LIFE AROUND AND TO DO BETTER – NOT FOR ME BUT FOR THEMSELVES – THAT’S WHAT I WANT TO DO.” – DAWN ELLIOTT
Prior to becoming a District Court Judge candidate – Elliott has practiced as an attorney for the past seven years. She’s represented clients in Civil Rights Litigation, Personal Injury, Bankruptcy, Criminal Defense, Family Law, Discrimination, Workmen’s Compensation and Employment cases.
“WITH EACH EXPERIENCE THAT I HAD WITH DIFFERENT MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY OF DIFFERENT SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC BACKGROUNDS AND THE ISSUES THAT THEY FACE – THE MORE INTERESTED I BECAME IN ALL THESE OTHER AREAS OF LAW. I SAW THAT I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE ABLE TO HELP PEOPLE AND I’VE BEEN ABLE TO EXPAND MY PRACTICE IN ORDER TO ACCOMMODATE THOSE PEOPLE.” -DAWN ELLIOTT
The campaign trail has been challenging yet educational for Elliott. She and former Louisville Metro Councilwoman Denise Bentley have spend countless hours canvassing neighborhoods throughout Louisville – knocking on doors and personally meeting residents. One of the most discouraging lessons she’s learned is that within the African-American community of Louisville there is a culture of NOT VOTING.
“FROM THE TIME THAT I COULD READ IT WAS VERY IMPORTANT FOR MY FATHER TO KNOW THAT I KNEW THE IMPORTANCE OF VOTING… I’VE COME IN CONTACT WITH A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO SAY THAT THEY DON’T VOTE – WHEN I ASK WHY – THE RESPONSE IS THAT THEIR VOTE DOESN’T MATTER. TO ME VOTING IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE AS AN AFRICAN-AMERICAN THERE ARE SO MANY OF US THAT DIED SO THAT I COULD GET UP ON THAT TUESDAY IN NOVEMBER AND GO CAST MY VOTE. I FEEL LIKE IF I DON’T DO THAT – IT IS SHOWING SOME LEVEL OF DISRESPECT AND THAT THEIR LIVES DIDN’T MEAN ANYTHING – GOING THROUGH THE DATABASES – A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT VOTED FOR BARACK OBAMA IN 2008 AND 2012 DIDN’T VOTE BEFORE THEN AND HAVEN’T VOTED SINCE – BUT LOOK WHAT YOUR VOTE DID.”- DAWN ELLIOTT
Elliott and Bentley have discovered many issues along the campaign trial that may contribute to the culture of African-Americans not voting in Louisville. Many residents within Louisville’s predominately black West-End have expressed to them that political candidates don’t generally visit their neighborhoods. Most likely – the only encounter that African-Americans in this area have with political candidates is when they view their campaign ads on television.
“I’VE HAD PEOPLE SAY – ‘I’VE LIVED IN THIS HOUSE FOR 20 YEARS AND YOU ARE THE ONLY PERSON THAT’S EVER COME THROUGH HERE AND ASKED FOR A VOTE’. I’VE HAD OTHER PEOPLE SAY THAT THEY ARE GOING TO VOTE FOR ME JUST BECAUSE I CAME TO THEIR HOUSE.” – DAWN ELLIOTT
There are other issues that plaque the West End such as voting assignments. Elliott and Bentley have discovered that voters that live in the same neighborhoods are often assigned to different voting precincts. In some cases – residents are assigned to vote at the public school directly across from their homes but their next door neighbor may be assigned to vote at a precinct that is 4 to 5 miles away. For senior citizens that no longer drive or people who suffer from poverty and don’t own a vehicle – these assignments could prevent them from voting.
Elliott and Bentley also stress the importance of voter education. Potential voters needed to be registered by October 13th to vote in the upcoming election. Voters should always come to the precinct with a state-issued picture I.D. and their voters registration card. If a person hasn’t voted in the past five (5) years they may need to check their status before coming to the polls because the state may have purged their name from the registration list. A 17 year-old is eligible to register to vote as long as they will be 18 years of age by the upcoming general election date.
“THE PROBLEM IS THAT WE GO INTO THE BOOTH UNIFORMED. LET’S JUST TALK ABOUT LAST ELECTION CYCLE – EVERY JUDGE WAS UP FOR RE-ELECTION SO THE BACK OF THE BALLOT WAS VERY HEAVY. THERE WERE AROUND 250,000 VOTES CAST ON THE FRONT OF THE BALLOT BUT 100,000 LESS TURNED OVER THEIR BALLOT AND VOTED IN THE JUDICIAL RACES. A LOT OF TIMES WE DON’T KNOW TO TURN OVER OUR BALLOT. HER [DAWN ELLIOTT] RACE IS ON THE BACK SO WE’RE SPENDING A LOT OF TIME AND A LOT OF ENERGY INFORMING AFRICAN-AMERICANS TO PLEASE TURN OVER THEIR BALLOT.” DENISE BENTLEY
District Court Judges are elected every four (4) years and this election it is the only race on the back of the ballot. Of the 21 candidates listed – Dawn Elliott is at the top of the ballot. She urges all registered residents of Louisville to come out and vote because every vote does make a difference. Elliott feels that it’s extremely important that African-Americans vote due to the current disproportion of black judges based on Louisville’s African-American population.
“THE BENCH NEEDS DIVERSITY. DO WE NEED MORE PEOPLE OF COLOR IN DISTRICT COURT? YES. BUT WE ALSO NEED MORE PEOPLE THAT ARE EXPERIENCED IN DIFFERENT SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC BACKGROUNDS. A LOT OF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE ON THE BENCH ARE FORMER PROSECUTORS. WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU ELECT A PROSECUTOR TO BE A JUDGE? NOW YOU HAVE A PROSECUTOR WITH A ROBE ON. THEY CAN’T HELP IT BECAUSE THEY’VE BEEN DOING THAT JOB FOR SO LONG AND IT’S KIND OF HARD FOR THEM TO CHANGE THEIR WAY OF THINKING. THAT’S KIND OF A DANGEROUS SPOT FOR OUR COMMUNITY TO BE IN BECAUSE IT GIVES OUR COMMUNITY THE NOTION THAT THEY MAY NOT GET A FAIR OPPORTUNITY WHEN THEY COME IN SOME OF THESE COURTROOMS.” – DAWN ELLIOTT
ACCESS THE DAWN ELLIOTT FOR JUDGE WEBSITE BY CLICKING THIS LINK.FOR VOTING RULES, REGISTRATION & INFORMATION ACCESS THE KENTUCKY STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS WEBSITE BY CLICKING THIS LINK.
