Hey, neighbors, hey! You may not be anywhere near the South End, I just consider all earthlings my neighbors. My name is Toni. I’m a Chicago native, but I’ve lived in a lot of cities. Louisville is the only one I consider home.
I rode my bicycle 300 miles from Lafayette, IN to my neighborhood in Jacobs. I would have never guessed I would still be in Louisville almost four years later! I tried to leave but internet scams, car trouble, and finding a career I loved all worked to keep me here. This whole time I’ve lived on the South End. I stayed in Jacobs, Wilder Park, Oakdale/ Wyandotte, Taylor-Berry, and Beechmont. I worked out on Southside Drive and in Fairdale. Being an adventurous person is the only reason I ever get an itchy urge to leave Louisville.
I must emphasize: I’m in love with this community!!! I decided to serve as a yoga teacher and activist to give back to my area for all the support they give me. One of the biggest ways I can continuously give back is by connecting neighbors with resources.
If I am one thing it is resourceful. I help connect neighbors with food sources, job placement, plus housing. I find out about the best restaurants, (Vietnam Kitchen), business loans (LHOME), and local events like South Louisville Buy Local fair. If I don’t know about it, I find out who does. In the meantime, I’ll take you to a butterfly farm, the most haunted location on Earth, and a nationally renowned mountain bike trail. I hope to introduce you to some wonderful people who also love to represent the South End as well.
For some, the things I mention will be introduction. For others it will be a reminder. Either way I hope everyone enjoys exploring the South End with me. Or not. It’s okay with me if you hate, haters. I still love you anyway. I know so much good can be done by getting to know your neighbors. You don’t have to live in the area to meet us. Most of the area’s neighborhood associations meet monthly. Shively meets at their local library. Southside meets at Americana Community Center. Fairdale and Okolana have monthly meetings, too, but I haven’t been to either yet. Below are some of the neighborhood meetings you might catch me at. If not there, we’ll meet elsewhere. Hope to see you soon!
Namaste!
South Louisville Neighborhood Meeting Schedules:
OAKDALE: General meeting is the 1st Tuesday of every even month at 6:30PM in the Salvation Army Building in Wyandotte Park at 1010 Beecher Street. For more information contact, President Kathleen Helm iheartpta@yahoo.com or Rick Blasi rickb384@yahoo.com The August meeting will be held at a later date due to National Night Out.
LUCKY HORSESHOE: General meeting is the 3rd Tuesday of every month at 6PM at 1017 Queen Avenue, unless otherwise arranged. For more information contact Dave Tate at kwirth69@twc.com.
CLOVERLEAF: General/Board meetings are the 2nd Monday on every odd month at 6:30PM at Gutermuth Elementary School at 1500 Sanders Lane. For more information contact President Rashad Kumar Kumar at Rashad@jcta.org or Vice President Gail Klotz at dgklotz@gmail.com.
WILDER PARK: General/Board meetings are the 1st Tuesday of each month at 7PM at the Wilder Park Community Center at 120 W. Fairmont Ave, unless otherwise noted. For more information contact Ron Geary at fastrg@bellsouth.net or Sean McNamara at smcnamara56@yahoo.com.
ST. JOSEPH: General meetings are every 2nd Monday, every other month starting in February, at 7PM unless other events are scheduled. This neighborhood meeting is held at Eastern Parkway Baptist Church at 601 Eastern Pkwy, unless otherwise noted. For more information contact Gail Linville at stjosaa@hotmail.com.
JACOBS: General meeting is every 3rd Thursday of each month at 6:30PM at Angilo’s Pizza at 1725 Berry Blvd. For more information contact ME, Toni Lynette Cristy at jacobsneighborhoodassociation@gmail.com.
TAYLOR-BERRY: General meeting is every 1st Tuesday of each month with exception of August due to National Night Out. An alternate date will be announced for August. This meeting is held at the South Louisville Community Center at 2911 Taylor Blvd. For more information contact Maria Utley maria.utley@yahoo.com or Christine Schneider pstlwldct@yahoo.com.