The Louisville Health Advisory Board (LHAB) met for its bi-monthly meeting on Wednesday, August 25th continuing the 2021 Bi-Monthly All LHAB meeting series. Over 60 community members from non-profits, corporations and the government sector gathered to hear about a new initiative in Louisville to combat housing and learn about the use of the American Rescue Plan funds.
Gabriell Gassaway, former Chief of Staff, Louisville Metro Public Health and Wellness (LMPHW), and Co-Chair of the LHAB, kicked off the meeting with a welcome and encouraged all of us to get vaccinated and wear a mask when unable to socially distance in an effort to help stop the spread of the delta variant of COVID-19. She also shared that West Nile virus has been detected in mosquitos in the Louisville area and the health department advises to wear bug spray and protective clothing. LMPHW also advised that there is an increase in HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) cases. To address this and with support from the Kentucky Department for Public Health, they are increasing screenings and prevention measures as well as urging local healthcare providers to conduct more HIV testing as a routine part of medical care.. last but not least, Gabriell shared that she will be focusing full-time on her Ph.D. at the University of Louisville and transitioning from LMPHW beginning in September.
Dior Cotten, Population Health Strategy Lead, Humana, introduced Noelle Marcus, Founder and CEO, of Nesterly. Nesterly, is a new-to Louisville start-up focused on connecting screened renters with those in the community that have extra rooms in their houses to rent. Nesterly was started in Boston and Louisville is their first expansion city. The company boasts a robust screening process and provides support services throughout the renting relationship, including collecting rent for the owners. Nesterly was selected by Access Ventures through their 2019 Reconstruct Challenge to receive a grant and chose Louisville as their expansion city because of the estimated inventory of 30,000 extra bedrooms in homes. You can view the entire presentation here.
Alicia Ariatti, facilitator of the LHAB, transitioned the conversation to Keith Talley, Mayor's Strategic Operations Officer, Louisville Metro Government. Keith briefed the audience on the use of $388 million that Louisville received as part of the American Rescue Plan. The first 100 day projects have started, and Phase II of the use of the funds will start in the next few months. Metro Council is in charge of how the funds are used and will be deciding on the priority areas later in the week. Once Metro Council decides on the priority areas, work groups will be formed to work through the details of the projects and oversee an RFP process for each project. The federal guidelines for the use of these funds are very stringent, therefore, Metro Government, with the support of Metro Council, have started a project management department to help support agencies and organizations with the reporting and compliance of the funds.
The meeting then turned to updates from the LHAB members, starting with advocacy efforts by one of the organizations from the Behavioral Health committee and one from the Respiratory Committee.
Whitney Austin, member of the Behavioral Health Committee, shared the work that her organization, Whitney/Strong, is introducing in the legislature focused on finding common ground to end gun violence through data-driven, responsible gun ownership solutions. Whitney started this non-profit, Whitney/Strong, just three weeks after she was shot twelve times in a mass shooting on Fountain Square in Cincinnati, Ohio. This work is the way she pays her gift of life forward.
To help reduce incidences of firearm suicide and mass violence in Kentucky, she has worked with Senators Paul Hornback and Morgan McGarvey on the bipartisan bill, Crisis Aversion and Rights Retention (CARR). SB 229 bill was filed in 2021. The bill is an opportunity to help gun owners in their time of greatest need, when they are intent upon harming themselves or others. If you would like to support this bill and Whitney/Strong, please go to the website to sign the petition.
Shannon Baker from American Lung Association and a member of the Respiratory Committee, shared the success of the ALA with the support of the community, to stop cigar bars from opening in Louisville. This is a big win in continuing the work of making Kentucky smoke-free. Congrats!
Joe Bargione, co-chair for the Behavioral Health committee, asked all LHAB members to help the committee reach their goal of training 2,021 people in suicide prevention. The committee received a grant to train people in Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR) and they need your help to reach the goal. All trainings are virtual. Sign-up today and please share this with your network!
TaLonda Holland and Tom Walton, co-chairs for the CCC committee, shared the focus on housing that this group is working on. Tom shared details on the Respite to Residence project that members of the committee, state leaders and he have been developing over the last couple of years. This project should launch later this year--look for continued updates on this exciting effort!
Before ending the meeting, we opened up the floor to community updates. Long standing LHAB member, Karl Schmitt, Louisville Sports Commission, gave an update on the Louisville Sports Fun(d) a grant program that will provide “more sports for more kids in more places.” The SportsFun(d) model is to partner with sports programming organizations and provide grants that help expand and create additional, affordable and sustainable recreational sports leagues and activities in the neighborhoods where kids live. Leagues have already started in West Louisville and the program looks to continue to grow to more neighborhoods. To find out more, go to http://sportsfundky.org
Lyndon Pryor, Louisville Urban League, provided an update on the West End Opportunity Partnership (WEOP), which is a significant economic investment initiative focused on the West End of Louisville. The partnership was championed by State Senators Gerald Neal, Julie Raque Adams, Morgan McGarvey, Robert Stivers and State Representatives Pamela Stevenson & Ken Fleming - and passed in the Kentucky legislature. WEOP is a tax increment financing effort and states that for the next twenty years, 80% of all new tax revenue collected in the development area will stay in the West End. The governing board will consists of representatives from each of the nine neighborhoods and community leaders who will guide efforts in a way that increases home and property values without gentrification and displacement of current residents. To learn more, visit https://westendpartners.org/about.
Ending the meeting, Alicia Ariatti, mentioned that they want the members of the LHAB to think about the next 5 years. A lot has changed since the start of the LHAB and in order to make sure that the work continues to be relevant, a survey will be sent to all members. What do they want the LHAB to focus on going forward? What is working? What needs to change? LHAB leadership will be having meetings with the co-chairs and the topic will be added to the agendas of the meetings. Further discussion will be had at the Town Hall coming up this fall.
Dr. Bryan Loy, co-chair of the LHAB, Medical Director – Clinical Strategy, Humana, adjourned the meeting off and encouraged everyone to return the LHAB end of year survey and join us in the fall for the Town Hall.