Author Archives: jjenn1947

Between Nov 29th and Jan 1st four people died while in the custody of Louisville Metro Department of Corrections. On Sunday, January 9th, LMDC announced a fifth death but has not yet named the person. Five deaths in Louisville Metro Department of Corrections cannot be excused or overlooked. Take action now and contact Matthew Golden,Continue reading “No More Deaths in LMDC”

He didn’t really have a childhood. When he was a young boy, Layfierre remembers his Dad being around some. He popped in and out of his life for a while. His father had multiple run-ins with the law and was in and out of the justice system. Layfierre hardly ever saw him. At one pointContinue reading “LFJA Stories: Layfierre Mitchell, Photographer”

By Judi Jennings, Special Project Director The Special Project Team is happy to provide this FREE resource for strengthening protective factors and resilience for children and youth with incarcerated loved ones! The artmaking leaders use these 12 activities, along with Sesame Street resources, every week in the Vistors Lobby of the Louisville Metro Jail, soContinue reading “Artmaking for Family Justice: A New Resource”

Kentucky has the second highest rate (15%) in the nation of children who have had an incarcerated parent. This rate is nearly double the national rate of 8%. Having an incarcerated parent is an Adverse Childhood Experience (ACE), a form of trauma. This trauma can lead to toxic stress, which can harm health. For example,Continue reading “How Having an Incarcerated Parent Harms Children’s Health and What You Can Do About It”

By Judi Jennings, Director of The Special Project Louisville Family Justice Advocates is a “new” coalition, yet it is more than two years in the making. And 10 years before that, The Special Project, a lead partner in the coalition, originated weekly artmaking sessions with families in the Visitors Lobby of the Metro Louisville JailContinue reading “Doing Family Justice in Louisville, KY”

Nikkia’s story Nikkia’s father was in and out of jail and prison from the time she was a baby. Yet she definitely had a relationship with him. She still recalls how her mother read letters to her from her Dad when she was growing up. Growing up—and even now in her 20s—Nikkia feels like sheContinue reading “What is Family Justice? Why Advocate?”