The Olmstead Parks Conservancy and the Louisville Parks and Recreation are hosting a pop-up fall festival. They are calling it ‘Hayride in the Park’. It will take place on Sunday, October 25 from 2-5p in Shawnee Park, located at 4501 W. Broadway. The event will be held in the pavilion. There will be face painting, children’s activities, some food trucks and entertainment. The loop of the park will be closed to vehicles so families can run around freely in the area while enjoying the festival. The event is free and open to the public.
Family & Children’s Place will hold an in-person rally on Thursday, March 30th at 10:00 a.m. in the parking lot of our headquarters located at 525 Zane Street.
April is the designated start of Child Abuse Prevention Month but anyone who works and/or advocates for children understand it’s a 365 24/7 obligation. Educating children on their right for being safe in hopes of strengthen families across Kentucky and Southern Indiana. The month also brings awareness to those in the community unaware of how serious the problem is in Kentuckiana.
According to the latest national report of Child Maltreatment, Kentucky has dropped in the ranking from fifth, to sixth in the rate of child abuse/neglect. That’s 14.7 victims per 1,000 children. Indiana remains at #11 with their rate of child abuse/neglect at 13.6 victims per 1,000 children.
In response to those startling statistics and to bring awareness, Family & Children’s Place will have dignitaries, community leaders and advocates talking about child abuse, violence, exploitation, neglect, prevention, intervention, and restoration efforts for children and families.
The following have confirmed their participation as speakers for the March 30th rally:
Pam Darnall, President/CEO, Family & Children’s Place
Lt. Governor Jacqueline Coleman
Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg
KY State Senator Julie Raque Adams
Keturah Herron, State Representative
Eric Friedlander, KY DCBS Secretary
Barry Dunn, Kosair Charities
Dr. Terry Brooks, KYA
We have additional invited guests. As they confirm their participation, we will update our release and social media platforms.
We will also acknowledge a group of individuals who have supported our organization over the years. The following have confirmed their attendance for the rally:
Louisville Deputy Mayor David James
Tom Wine, Commonwealth Attorney
Mike O’Connell, County Attorney
Jeremy Mull, Clark County Prosecuting Attorney
Caroline Ruschell, KY CAC Executive Director
Emily Bonistall, Marsy’s Law
Nicole George, Deputy Mayor
Dana Mayton, Deputy Mayor
Phillip Baker, City Councilman District 6
Please announce and/or post our event. If you have any questions and/or would like to setup an interview, please contact us by calling 502-341-7306 or by email at info@vippcommunications.com.
WHAT: Rally kicking off Child Abuse Prevention Month
WHEN: Thursday, March 30, 2023, at 10:00 a.m. (In-person)
WHERE: Family & Children’s Place, 525 Zane St, Louisville, KY 40203
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For more than 140 years, Family & Children’s Place has been a critical presence in Louisville, helping our most vulnerable citizens — children, that have experience physical and sexual abuse and neglect. We believe that every child deserves a happy, healthy childhood free from abuse and that every family should have the tools and resources to maintain self-sufficiency.
(Louisville, KY) Reckoning Inc. will present an Introduction to African American Genealogy workshop on Saturday, February 25h at the St. Stephen Family Life Center, located at 1508 W. Kentucky Street in the Multi-Purpose Room #1 from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.
This workshop is intended for anyone seeking to begin the process of building a family tree—no previous genealogical experience is required. Just come with any information you possess about all known elders in your family. It will be conducted by Denyce Peyton, a professional genealogist with over 25 years of experience who is currently project director for Reckoning, Inc.’s Kentucky U.S. Colored Troops Project. The workshop is free and open to the public.
If you would like to setup an interview with African American genealogist Denyce Peyton, please contact VIPP Communications at info@vippcommunications,.com or call 502-341-7306.
Reckoning, Inc. is 501(c)3 nonprofit organization whose mission is to examine the legacy of slavery in America, and to create ways for communities to engage with this information through research projects, media productions, educational curricula, online content, and other means.
Reckoning, Inc. receives funding from the Kentucky African American Heritage Commission, Gheens Foundation, Community Foundation of Louisville, LG&E and KU Foundation, David A. Jones, Jr., and Mary Gwen Wheeler, Hardscuffle Inc., Metro United Way, National Endowment for the Humanities, American Historical Association, and the Owsley Brown III Philanthropic Foundation.
(Louisville, KY) Reckoning Inc. will present an Introduction to African American Genealogy workshop on Saturday, February 11th at the Kentucky Center for African American Heritage, located at 1701 W. Muhammad Ali Blvd from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
This workshop is intended for anyone seeking to begin the process of building a family tree—no previous genealogical experience is required. Just come with any information you possess about all known elders in your family. It will be conducted by Denyce Peyton, a professional genealogist with over 25 years of experience who is currently project director for Reckoning, Inc.’s Kentucky U.S. Colored Troops Project. The workshop is free and open to the public.
If you would like to setup an interview with African American genealogist Denyce Peyton, please contact VIPP Communications at info@vippcommunications,.com or call 502-341-7306.
Reckoning, Inc. is 501(c)3 nonprofit organization whose mission is to examine the legacy of slavery in America, and to create ways for communities to engage with this information through research projects, media productions, educational curricula, online content, and other means.
Reckoning, Inc. receives funding from the Kentucky African American Heritage Commission, Gheens Foundation, Community Foundation of Louisville, LG&E and KU Foundation, David A. Jones, Jr., and Mary Gwen Wheeler, Hardscuffle Inc., Metro United Way, National Endowment for the Humanities, American Historical Association, and the Owsley Brown III Philanthropic Foundation.
*PHOTOS: When you open the story you can see the slideshow of photos courtesy Rudolph family
Rudolph set the “gold” medal standard for sprinters
Special Report by Sherlene Shanklin. WHAS11, ABC Louisville
With the Summer Olympics just weeks away, there was an athlete that changed track and field in the 60s. Did you know that Olympic champion Wilma Rudolph has family in Louisville? I sit down with her nephews who just know her as Aunt Wilma.
She was an Olympic champion, civil rights activist, coach, educator and mom of four. Born Wilma Glodean Rudolph, a premature baby having pneumonia, scarlet fever and polio. At five she wore a leg brace and could barely walk but was later named the fastest woman in the world. She was the first American woman to win three gold medals at one Olympic games back in 1960. Some of Rudolph’s family lives right here in Louisville.
Larry Rudolph, Wilma Rudolph’s nephew tells me how they are related. “I am Wilma Rudolph’s nephew. Wilma and my dad were brothers and sisters.” Larry and Sammy Rudolph tell me there were 22 children in the family. Wilma was number 20 and their dad was the first son. Rudolph was called the Black Pearl, the Chattanooga Choo Choo but if you called her by her childhood nickname you really knew the track and basketball star.
Larry says “Skeeter was her nickname,. They called her Skeeter because she was so small. (Laughter) She was called Skeeter all through college and most people don’t call her Wilma. The ones who really know her called her Skeeter.”
Even as a child she was resilient and turned obstacles into opportunities. Rudolph says “She had polio and had to wear braces the whole nine. More or less they thought she couldn’t walk again but she proved them all wrong. And when she finally got to walk and then run she would always race against the boys, would beat the boys. After a while, boys would never want to race her because they let a girl beat them and she was that fast.”
Sammy did not know his aunt was an international star until he was in fourth grade. Here’s how he found out.
“I called my dad. I’m doing a story on a Wilma Rudolph, he said do you know who that is? No sir, that’s your auntie, that’s my sister. I went back to school telling everybody that Wilma Rudolph was my aunt. I was so proud to have a famous aunt in a book that you read in school. It was just amazing.”
Larry says his dad actually kept Wilma’s three gold medals from the 1960 Olympics in his Louisville home for years. “They were in his basement at one time. I remember going to his house and they were hung up in the basement. They were there for years but to us it was common knowledge and paid no attention it was medals to this day I couldn’t tell you what happen to them.”
Sammy tells me that a young Cassius Clay and Wilma were an item after the Olympics. He talks about the time when they showed up at his school in Louisville.
“Well that’s funny. I used to play basketball for Thomas Jefferson High School my junior year and a big limo pulls up outside Wilma Rudolph and Muhammad Ali at the time was Cassius Clay they came to my school to watch me play ball. I was telling everybody that’s my aunt. You don’t know that woman. I said Aunt Wilma and she came over and gave me a hug and I got to shake Muhammad Ali’s hand.”
This week, Wilma would have been 81 years old. She died in 1994 of cancer. The state of Tennessee recognizes it as Wilma Rudolph Day. I asked how significant is her legacy?
Larry says “For a poor Black woman, little Black girl to come up , reach the status she did equivalent it means a lot to the whole town because she put that town on the map Clarksville, TN was known because of Wilma Rudolph.”
Sammy added by saying “Not only did she win three medals in one games. You realize she was the fastest woman in the world in the 60s. Its amazing. The fastest woman in the world. So she was the GOAT. She was the goat of track and field. Its hard to believe coming from what she went through as a kid. To be the fastest woman in the world. It’s just an amazing story.”
Special Report from Sherlene Shanklin, WHAS11, Louisville
Orginially aired on January 14, 2021
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — On Sunday, Muhammad Ali would have been 79.
On June 3rd, 2016 Ali passed away and thousands lined the streets of Louisville to thank the champ who was not only a boxing champion but an activist and philanthropist respected by many across the world.
For the first time, in an exclusive interview, WHAS11 talked to the person who was his childhood friend, caregiver and sister-in-law. You saw her in many photos over the years.
Now, Whas11’s Sherlene Shanklin tells you her story of the Champ you didn’t know.
Marilyn Williams says “Muhammad’s mother Odessa Clay and my mother Marguerite Williams were best friends.”
Their families were very close. As a child, she looked up to him as a big brother having no idea that years later she would call him her brother-in-law.
‘Lonnie Ali is my big sister,” Williams said.
Prior to working with family, she was a successful entrepreneur owning her own salon and then worked at the Ford Plant right here in Louisville.
So, when Lonnie was looking for someone to help with their business affairs and later assist Ali and with his Parkinson’s diagnosis, Marilyn was the perfect choice to be his caregiver while some even thought she was their bodyguard.
“I was his security because if you got close to Muhammad you were in trouble if you weren’t supposed to be there,” said Williams.
She talked to me about being a caregiver for Ali. “I knew I had to do the best I could do. I had to be the best. I had to be on it. I knew this man. I knew him ever since I was a child so I had to be on it.”
People always asked, could he speak after being diagnosed with Parkinson’s? Williams said, “Muhammad could smile, stars eyes would just sparkle and he talked a lot with his eyes, he talked with his voice, his hands. He definitely got his message across.”
Anytime ‘the Champ’ could get home he did and Marilyn shared this fond memory.
“Muhammad loved Louisville. You say Louisville if I was working and I said I was going on vacation. Where are you going? I said I’m going to Louisville. I wanna go.”
I also asked Williams could she tell me something about Ali people didn’t know. She sighs before answering–“Muhammad and Lonnie will say this too. He had a kind and loving heart. He saw nothing wrong with no one. He would be with kings and queens, presidents and then turn around and be with the poorest person on this earth or the sickest person on this earth. It didn’t matter to him. He loved all.”
To see everything happening in Louisville sometimes even along the street that bears his name and across the country how does that make you feel?
“Well I can’t actually speak for Muhammad because he can speak for himself but a few things he taught me and that was respect for all mankind. One thing I asked him, I was always asking him questions when I was younger growing up and he told me that there’s good and bad in every race and every religion. There’s good and bad,” Williams said.
The final question of the interview I had to ask what she misses the most about the GOAT?
With tears in her eyes, she responded by saying “His eyes, his kindness, his spirit, his spirit was so beautiful. To be around him he gave you energy. Even if there was a gray day outside he made the sunshine.”
I had to use the video one more time of Louisville’s own, the man who had no problem telling you “I’m still the greatest!!!”
Juneteenth Family Fun Day will take place this weekend just before Juneteenth, the oldest known celebration commemorating the ending of slavery in the United States.
The Juneteenth Family Fun Day is where community is invited to come and explore the solar system in UofL’s Rauch Portable Planetarium, participate in puppet-making workshop with puppet master Troy Johnson, and Nana Yaa Asantewaa will perform her “Weaving Webs of Wisdom” in her storytelling circle. This year, they will feature Maker13 and the Maker Mobile. There will also be other fun things for children to enjoy from face painting, snapping it up at the photo booth, Planet Mogul to a bouncy for youth to enjoy. In addition, you can get your competitive spirit on with cards, checkers, chess, cornhole and more!
The Juneteenth Family Fun Day is FREE and open to the public.
The Kentucky Center for African American Heritage is located at 1701 W. Muhammad Ali Blvd in West Louisville.
