The��Aqlan Lab��team, in the J.B. Speed School of Engineering Department of Industrial Engineering, recently wrapped up its second summer hosting an intensive internship program��aimed at engaging undergraduate and high school students in community-focused projects. Funded by the National Science Foundation, this dynamic program involved 21 interns working on six projects over an eight-week period. The initiative, led by, associate professor of industrial engineering,��focuses on improving educational environments to bolster the regional STEM workforce and effect positive changes in the Louisville Metro community.��

“The second summer of the program went exceedingly well this year,” Aqlan said. “Moving forward, we hope to continue to grow the program, connect with even more community members and make a profound impact on the Louisville Metro.”��

Notably, this program collaborates with the University of Notre Dame, creating a synergy that goes beyond football rivalries. Together, they’ve formed a, aimed at revitalizing Midwest cities by retaining local talent and encouraging research-driven community engagement. The ultimate goal of the project is to establish an interconnected network of STEM education initiatives to benefit the regional workforce.����

The impact of the 2023 projects was profound, addressing various local challenges such as food justice, walkability improvement in Downtown Louisville, waterway cleanup, virtual reality applications and the preservation of native species. Throughout the internship, students were exposed to professional development workshops, including design thinking, networking, diversity, and time management.����

The diverse group of interns, hailing from various institutions, collected and analyzed data to develop practical solutions for their respective projects, subsequently presenting these ideas to the community. This program not only equips the next generation of STEM professionals with valuable skills but also instills a strong sense of civic responsibility and community engagement.����

“The CEEEM Internship was the best experience, and I couldn’t be more grateful for all that I learned through the program,” shares Ella Swigler, a 2023 CEEEM intern. “This opportunity allowed me to design a research project, work with very supportive team mentors, and meet some incredible community members in my field of study. Thanks to the CEEEM Internship, I have discovered my research passion for urban waterways- and even greater, I have gained the skills needed to apply scientific study to community change.”��

As UofL and Notre Dame take the field, they also stand united in their commitment to creating a brighter future for their communities. The collaboration internship program not only equips the next generation of STEM professionals with valuable skills but also instills a strong sense of civic responsibility and community engagement. Together, they aim to foster an environment that encourages participants to remain engaged in the Louisville Metro and other Midwest cities, ultimately leaving a lasting positive impact on the regions they serve. Through this program, students are gaining hands-on experience and contributing to the betterment of their communities while preparing for future careers.��

By Danielle Henson

Future Healers, created in part by students at the UofL School of Medicine, builds relationships with children who have been impacted by gun violence.

Students in the UofL Student National Medical Association (SNMA) worked closely with UofL Health trauma surgeons and Christopher 2X Game Changers to create the Future Healers Program. It ultimately helps Louisville youth affected by violence to navigate the trauma and inspires them to build better futures for themselves and their communities by introducing them to opportunities in the medical field. ��

A ceremony on Tuesday, May 9 honored the medical students and showed appreciation for the time and effort they put into building the curriculum and stimulating a real impact on these kids and teenagers. Karen Udoh, who has served as a leader and voice of the Future Healers Program, was recognized with a special send off as she heads to Baltimore to start her residency with the Johns Hopkins Department of Medicine. Udoh will remain a part of Future Healers as an advisor.

Since October of 2020, the partnership has brought over 100 kids to the program.

Louisville has seen a significant increase in gun violence in the last decade, including two mass shootings in the last month. The health care response from the UofL Hospital – J. David Richardson Trauma Center, paired with the Future Healers Program aims to create a hope for the kids in this community.

“Whether it be a global pandemic or a young woman getting killed in your city, it felt like everywhere you turned there was something negative,” Dobbs said. “Because of that, I wanted to look within and see what I could do for people like me and people around me.”

With that idea in mind, Dobbs, a 2019����graduate, and his long-time friend Savon Gray, created��.

Black Business Boxes is a connection between consumers and Black-owned businesses. The focus of the business is to build and sustain wealth in Black communities. A 2018����showed that although African Americans are responsible for around $1.2 trillion in purchases annually.

Black Business Boxes aims to push that spending toward Black-owned businesses in multiple ways. They create “Black Business Boxes,” which is an ever-changing box based on some of the Black brands they are currently promoting. The current Black Business Box has a self-care theme and includes products like mud masks, wax melts and body butter.

“We saw a market that was having little success, and in the middle of a pandemic, some Black-owned businesses were closing or getting bought out,” Dobbs said. “We decided to create a niche, with the intention of getting people to spend their money with Black people, and to keep that money within the community.”

Black Business Boxes also have a complete marketplace, which is a landing page full of Black-owned businesses. The businesses on the marketplace offer a wide variety of products. Some of the businesses that are currently on the marketplace are Blak Watches, Ubeauty Essentials and Corey’s Kitchen Collection.

Dobbs and Gray have experienced early success with Black Business Boxes.

“Last year we did a sock drive for Clothe The West, and we were able to raise money as well as give them 1,000 pairs of socks,” Dobbs said. “We hadn’t been a business for very long, and people were giving us money for something good because they believed in us.”

Another special moment for Black Business Boxes came in July, when it was chosen by Louisville City FC as the team’s “Minority Business of the Month.” During that month, Black Business Boxes was marketed on Louisville City FC’s social media channels, as well as broadcasted during both home and away games.

For this new business, Dobbs knows they are not finished growing yet. Their goal is to help create a Black economy and Black Business Boxes is a steppingstone.

“We’ve noticed that a lot of people don’t have the time to promote their business,” Dobbs said. “People are excited about their businesses, but struggle with the support to start, so we get to provide that need by helping market their brands.”

Edison is a Louisville native, and currently lives in his childhood home. He has spent about 25 years away from Louisville but came back because of his love for the city. Before his jobs took him elsewhere, Edison went to UofL, receiving both his bachelor’s and master’s degree.

Now, Edison is an associate professor in the��, teaching a diverse group of classes, including Spanish.

“I love teaching, it’s exciting,” Edison said. “I’ve been fortunate to come here, and two of the professors I had when I was a graduate student are still here and are now my colleagues.”

Outside of teaching, Edison has a strong passion for gardening. After buying the available lot next to his home, he created different green spaces for different purposes.

“The backyard is flowers and vegetables,” Edison said. “I’ve put in a Koi pond this past spring, and I have a high tunnel, which is a type of greenhouse without heat.”

Though gardening is Edison’s passion, there is a purpose behind his gardening.

“I’m putting in this infrastructure because I want to create something in west Louisville that shows that people can do things to help the environment,” Edison said. “A garden can produce items that you don’t need to go to the grocery store to buy; you can be self-sufficient.”

With the idea of helping the environment in mind, Edison also created a certified monarch butterfly waystation, which is an area of land that provides resources necessary for monarchs to produce successive generations and sustain their migration.

“I decided to dedicate my front yard to make it a butterfly waystation, so monarch butterflies can get nourishment as they travel from the northern hemisphere back to Mexico,” Edison said.

A butterfly waystation has a different look than a normal front yard. The main plant that will be present in a waystation is the milkweed plant, which can grow to an average height of five feet tall. At first glance, Edison’s front yard might look like negligence, but there’s an environmental purpose.

“Right now, within the city, the regulation is that if your lawn is taller than 18 inches you can get cited,” Edison said. “If you have a monarch waystation, those flowers could be 10 feet tall. Regulations in the city have not caught up to environmental movements that we are doing.”

In addition to educating those who pass by his front yard, Edison hopes to encourage people to use their green space in an environmentally beneficial way, like creating butterfly waystations. He plans to help by providing the plants necessary for a waystation.

“If I buy two plants to propagate now, a couple years down the road I would have enough to give to anyone who wants to make a waystation,” Edison said. “That’s a way to create environmental stewardship within our community.”

Edison is an environmental steward himself, involved in multiple gardening groups. These groups, like the��, are all aimed at making an environmental impact in Louisville.

Though he has high hopes for the future of his home garden and waystation, Edison has already impacted UofL with his gardening passion. The tranquility garden, located on the northwest corner of Stevenson Hall, has been a steppingstone for students to get involved with gardening and has allowed Edison to combine two of his favorite things, UofL and gardening.

“There are organizations on campus for those who feel like gardening is their passion,” Edison said. “I encourage those who are interested to look around because there are always opportunities and a need for people who are interested.”

While Allen’s passion for history has not wavered since earning her BA in History from UofL in 2000 and MA in History in 2002, teaching was not always a part of the path she envisioned for herself.

“After earning a Master of Arts in History, I planned to pursue an occupation in museum work or another public history profession,” Allen explained.

It was clear she enjoyed her time on the Belknap campus when she began her professional career right at home working at the University of Louisville’s Ekstrom Library. Her time outside of the classroom, however, did not last long.

“I asked my mentor, Dr. Wayne Lee, who taught in the History Department at the time, if I could teach on a part-time basis in Fall 2002,” she said. “He agreed. Once I started teaching for the university, I desired to pursue a teaching career.”

In no time, Allen knew that her path would take a turn toward teaching. In fact, she’d return several years down the road to earn her MA in Teaching in 2009.

“[Teaching part-time at UofL is] what helped me to determine that I wanted to be a teacher and eventually go into high school teaching,” Allen told the .

Her involvement with the history department came with expansive content knowledge, her time working in the library allowed her to learn about new and exciting topics from other departments and her time with the ����ֱ�� Department taught her how to communicate her knowledge.

“The faculty of the ����ֱ�� Department helped open my mind to the variety of ways that teachers must communicate content to students in order to reach kids from diverse backgrounds,” Allen explained.

Equipped with deep knowledge of her area of study, Allen has found success in her career as a history teacher at Eastern High School, where she encourages her students to be inquisitive, active learners.

The three-time UofL Alumna has gone on to inspire countless students to pursue a higher education, many of whom have chosen UofL. With the help of then-History Department Chair Dr. Tracy K’Meyer, Allen facilitated a dual credit UofL course at her high school and often brings students to her alma mater for campus visits. ��

“My former students who currently attend UofL voluntarily take time out of their busy schedules to give [my current students] insight into college life,” Allen said. “The biggest compliment from my former students is their willingness to come back to my classes and talk to seniors about college life. I’ve always been grateful for my former students’ kindness and their willingness to share their knowledge.”

Allen, who credits some of her success as a teacher to her continued higher education, advises future educators to pursue a Master’s Degree in their content, which provides a broader understanding of relevant methods.

Whether she’s encouraging inquisitive minds or inspiring future educators, this UofL Alumna and local high school teacher is clearly making her mark on the community. ����

The celebration was in advance of National Farmers Market Week Aug. 4-10. Farmers markets act as vital resources for families to get locally sourced produce which increases healthy eating habits and boosts the local economy.

The Gray Street Farmers Market was co-founded in 2009 between UofL’s School of Public Health and Information Sciences (SPHIS) and the Louisville Metro Department of Public Health Wellness. Together, they work toward relieving the food desert that exists in downtown Louisville.

“We’re in the middle of an increased need to provide fresh produce within downtown Louisville, specifically to those on food assistance programs,” said Sara Frazier, Gray Street Farmers Market manager.

Locally-grown produce can often be viewed as a commodity for only those who can afford it, according to Frazier. The Gray Street Farmers Market addresses the issue with its Dollar for Dollar program, which matches SNAP recipients’ benefits up to $20. The service is provided through donations and numerous fundraising opportunities, including a available on the market’s website during August.�� There is also an for those wishing to donate directly to the Dollar for Dollar program.��

The market runs every Thursday from mid-May to Oct. 31, 2019 – rain or shine. It operates from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., with lunch options available through vendors and weekly food truck rotations. The market’s governance committee reviews all vendor applications to ensure the products are local and will be a good fit. They want there to be a variety of high quality options for our customers.��

Visitors can expect homegrown or homemade products including fruits and vegetables, canned goods, hand-crafted products, artisan coffee and more. Most vendors accept cash, card or tokens. Tokens are available at the information booth in order to help those who need currency exchanged onsite.

.

The free, public TEDxUofL 2017: Growth conference is organized by the Planning Student Organization, affiliated with UofL’s urban and public affairs department.

The 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. event at the Red Barn will feature discussions about community, creation and cultural competency through a series of “TED-style” brief talks; the format is modeled on conferences that began in 1984 with one that tied in technology, entertainment and design (TED).

“With creative ideas and a strong sense of community, we can cultivate a world where all cultures are embraced,” said graduate student Nia Holt, a TEDxUofL organizer. “We plan to explore how cultural competency, creation and community could help us improve our understanding of those around us and our surroundings.”

Although the event is free, session space is limited and participants must register by April 6 for each session (cultural competency, community and creation) they plan to attend .��

Scheduled speakers and sessions��are:��

• Cultural Competency (10-11:30 a.m.), with Aaron Rollins, UofL public administration; Tony Belak, International Center for Compassionate Organizations; Pradeep Deshpande, Six Sigma and Advanced Control; and Brandy Kelly Pryor, Center for Health Equity.
• Community (noon-1:30 p.m.), with John Hopkins, Center for Neighborhoods; Eric Blair, Kentucky Refugee Ministries; Jessica Pendergrass, Louisville Grows; and Lynn Rippy, YouthBuild.
• Creation (2-3:30 p.m.), with Mark Hogg, WaterStep; Josh Miller, IDEAS xLab; Nat Irvin, UofL business; and Ehren Reed, Louisville Visual Art.

“They transform from student actors to characters right before the children’s eyes,” said Bert Harris, retired theater professor, who started the program in 1975. “It opens children up to theater, often for the first time, and hopefully a lifelong interest is born.”

Throughout��the last four decades, the����has become one of the most visible aspects of the Theatre Arts Department, having performed for more than 150,000 people, mostly local school children.��

The department is celebrating the company’s more than 40 years of success��and raising funds to support the program with an event��from��6-8 p.m. June 18, at the Kentucky Center for African American Heritage, 1701 W. Muhammad Ali Blvd.��

The company hopes to raise enough money to purchase a van for transporting performers.

“Currently, the students use their own cars, which presents challenges. Sometimes there’s not enough room to transport all the actors and the costumes,” said Nefertiti Burton, department chair. “We want to make it easier for them. And, we want to recognize and appreciate the tremendous impact the company has had in our community.”

At the event, the Theatre Arts Department will honor Harris, the founding Chair of the Department of Theatre Arts at UofL, and director of the rep company for 30 years. The department will also bestow Zan Sawyer-Dailey, associate director at Actors Theatre, with the first ever Mitzi Friedlander award. Sawyer-Dailey has taught a masters class at UofL for more than a decade.

“Zan has been a real support to our program,” Burton said. “As graduate students, all the students in the Rep Company are required to take her class. She’s been instrumental in their training. We wanted to lift that up and celebrate her for her contributions to the department.”

Burton said the award was also an opportunity to recognize Friedlander, a well-known figure in Louisville’s theater world, who earned the first masters degree in Theatre Arts given by UofL.

As an undergraduate, Friedlander frequently performed at the Playhouse (in its original location where Ekstrom Library now stands) and was also in the original cast of “The Stephen Foster Story” in 1966.��She’s performed with Actors Theatre of Louisville, the Louisville Ballet, Kentucky Opera Association and Louisville Children’s Theatre. She’s taught Theatre Arts at UofL and developed a small endowment for the department.��Notably, Friedlander recorded more than 2,000 titles during her 50-year career at American Printing House for the Blind, and lent her voice to hundreds of other recordings.

“We’re very proud of her and the work she’s done,” Burton said.

The Repertory Company’s performances are offered at minimal cost for any non-profits but are most often performed at elementary schools. The plays focus on social justice, character-building, cultural diversity and inclusion and��have accompanying study guides that integrate into school curricula.

The company offers four paid assistantships for UofL students. There have been more than 115 members and many are now working throughout the nation as theater professionals.

The company only charges the cost of gas for travel. The service is supported by the university, College of Arts and Sciences and the Theatre Arts Department.

“This work is offered at such a discounted fee as a way for Theatre Arts to serve our community,” Burton said. “We believe in the art of theater and the power it can have to reach children and unlock their imaginations. We want to see the arts continue to grow in our community and we know that art is expensive to bring to schools where artistic funding is in jeopardy or has been eliminated.”

Tickets for the anniversary celebration on June 18 are $40 and include hors d’oeuvres and dinner by Ladyfingers Catering, music by Joe DeBow and a dance performance by Safiyyah Dance Company. There also will be a silent auction and sponsorship opportunities. The public is encouraged to register .