April 2017 - balancing the scales

balancing the

scales

Volume 36 Number 2

April 13, 2017

Standing For Kentucky: Members engaging in new strategies for organizing with vision and resistance

Executive Committee Corner: Butterflies, Seeds & Sanctuary..3 Members recognized as Cesar Chavez Day heroes ..................... 4 A new Western Ky. chapter! .... 5

Benham energy project............. 7

Bad solar bill stopped ............. 23

Standing Against White Supremacy .................................... 17

Elizabeth Sanders on building grassroots power ...................... 26

Stand For Kentucky action shows solidarity and resolve................. 21

New Organizing Academy ..... 27 ‌ and more!

2 | Balancing the Scales

is a statewide grassroots social justice orga­­ ni­zation working for a new balance of power and a just society. KFTC uses direct-action organizing to accomplish the following goals: • foster democratic values • change unjust institutions • empower individuals • overcome racism and other discrimination • communicate a message of what’s possible • build the organization • help people participate • win issues that affect the common welfare • have fun KFTC membership dues are $15 to $50 per year, based on ability to pay. No one is denied membership because of inability to pay. Membership is open to anyone who is committed to equality, democracy and nonviolent change.

KFTC Steering Committee Elizabeth Sanders, chairperson Meta Mendel-Reyes, vice chairperson Homer White, secretary-treasurer Ryan Fenwick, at-large member Dana Beasley Brown, immediate past chair Chapter Representatives Charly Sholty, Big Sandy Sarah Bowling, Central Kentucky Kimberly Shepherd, Harlan County Robby Olivam, Jefferson County Lillian Prosperino, Letcher County Jonah Cabiles, Madison County JoAnn Schwartz, Northern Kentucky Russell Oliver, Perry County Chris Merritt, Rowan County Leslie Bebensee, Scott County Shane Ashford, Shelby County Laura Harper, Southern Kentucky Leah Bayens, Wilderness Trace Alternates: Kim Walters, Big Sandy; Sharon Murphy, Central Kentucky; Roy Farley, Harlan County; Diane Guenthner, Jefferson County; Eric Dixon, Letcher County; Wendy Warren, Madison County; Serena Owen, Northern Kentucky; Randall Wilson, Perry County; Allie Secor, Rowan County; Clare White, Scott County; Nancy Reinhart, Shelby County; Jeanie Smith, Southern Kentucky; Barbara Farley, Wilderness Trace

www.kftc.org | April 13, 2017

Table of Contents Executive Committee Corner: Butterflies, Seeds and Sanctuary ........................................... 3 KFTC statement on immigrants, refugees and Muslims ........................................................... 3 KFTC News KFTC members recognized nationally as Cesar Chavez heroes............................................. 4 New Western Kentucky chapter welcomed into KFTC.............................................................. 5 Standing For Kentucky Spring Campaign ..................................................................................... 6 Elizabeth Sanders on Building Grassroots Power.......................................................................26 Steering Committee focuses on KFTC’s organizing strategy.................................................27 KFTC launches organizer apprentice and organizing academy programs.......................27 Ryeshia Reves joins KFTC staff and other personnel changes..............................................28 KFTC Calendar of Events......................................................................................................................28 New Energy and Transition Benham solar represents a much deeper transition plan........................................................... 7 KFTC members look to PSC for fair and affordable rates ........................................................ 8 RECLAIM campaign renewed with introduction of bills............................................................. 9 Coal and Water: Bevin weakens coal ash rules even as water contaminated.................... 9 Economic Justice KFTC members work to protect the benefits of health care.................................................. 10 Fair and adequate tax reform is focus of regional teams..........................................................11 Louisville panel see courageous solutions to economic issues..............................................12 Local Updates Moving along the Fairness Ordinance in Bowling Green...........................................................13 Madison County chapter hosts Berea State of the City Address.......................................... 14 Madison Pie Auction on Pi Day raises funds and fun................................................................. 14 Georgetown making progress on local Fairness Ordinance....................................................15 Scott County members pushing back on landfill expansion....................................................15 Big Sandy chapter hosts 8th Growing Appalachia conference..............................................16 Northern Kentucky chapter expands racial justice work...........................................................16 Racial Justice: members stand up against white supremacists.............................................17 We Are Kentuckians: Cassia Herron, Jefferson County............................................................18 Empower Kentucky: Opportunities to take action on climate justice.................................19 Voter Engagement: Rep. Jim Wayne profile .............................................................................. 20 2017 Kentucky General Assembly Stand For Kentucky shows solidarity during dismal session...................................................21 Voting rights legislation goes unnoticed by House leaders....................................................22 Perry County members let legislators hear from them.............................................................22 Organized opposition stops bill designed to end rooftop solar............................................23 Pro-corporate charter schools bill fails Kentucky children......................................................24 2017 General Assembly Outcomes.............25

Cover: Hundreds of KFTC members participated in the Stand For Kentucky action in Frankfort, to stand strong in a shared vision for Kentucky and show solidarity in resisting narrow self-interests.

Balancing the Scales is published by Kentuckians For The Commonwealth and mailed third class from Lexington, Ky. Reader contri­butions and letters to the editor should be sent to P.O. Box 864, Prestonsburg, KY 41653 or jhardt@ kftc.org. Subscriptions are $20/yr.

www.kftc.org | April 13, 2017

Balancing the Scales | 3

executive committee corner

Butterflies, Seeds and Sanctuary

By Meta Mendel-Reyes KFTC Vice-chairperson In late January, I traveled to Washington, D.C. to protest the inauguration of President Donald Trump, whose campaign positions and rhetoric contradict almost every element of KFTC's vision of a just society in which “all Kentuckians – and all people – enjoy a better quality of life.”

KFTC sent me, along with Jillean McCommons from the Madison County chapter and Molly Kaviar, KFTC’s Southern Kentucky staff member, to be part of “It Takes Roots,” a coalition of The Climate Justice Alliance, the Grassroots Global Justice Alliance, the National Domestic Workers Alliance, and other grassroots organizations that, like KFTC, work for a world in which “the lives of people and communities matter before profits.”

It Takes Roots stands for “It Takes Roots to Grow the Resistance,” referring to the need to build a movement to defend our rights.

The day after President Trump’s inauguration, we joined more than a million women and men of all races, ages and income levels in the Women's March, which inspired marches all over the world and the country, including Kentucky. As I marched along, singing and chanting, I was side by side with some of the bravest women I have ever met, undocumented house cleaners and caregivers from the Domestic Workers Alliance, who were risking their freedom to stand up for freedom for all. Together we held a banner that proclaimed, “They tried to bury us – they didn’t know we were seeds.”

After the march, members of It Takes Roots committed ourselves to continuing the resistance at home.

Three months after the marches, we are facing unprecedented attacks on our “lives and communities,” both at the state and national levels. One that touches me deeply is the threat to the undocumented members of our Kentucky communities who contribute so much to the commonwealth.

The immigration issue is personal to me, because I know people who have been affected, including Lucia (not her real name), a college student who came to this country with her parents when she was 2 years old. Although too young to make the decision to immigrate, she lives every day with the possibility that she could be deported to a country that she has never known.

Lucia is a DACA (Deferred Action Childhood Arrival), who was allowed to go to school or work for

two years under an Executive Order issued by former President Barack Obama. Although the new president has not yet rescinded the order, two DACAs already have been arrested and detained in the United States for possible deportation.

Many colleges, towns and cities have declared themselves sanctuaries for DACAs and other undocumented people, or have pledged not to cooperate with federal agents seeking to arrest members of their communities. Berea College, where I teach, has made a similar commitment. I have personally offered my house as a sanctuary for Lucia, should it be necessary.

KFTC recently issued a statement of solidarity with immigrants, refugees and religious minorities, especially Muslims, who are coming under increased attack in the current political climate. We recognize that Kentucky, like the nation as a whole, was built by immigrants, refugees and people who were brought here as slaves. In fact, everyone who lives here, except

for Native Americans and the people who came as slaves, arrived as an immigrant or is the descendant of immigrants.

Today, refugees and immigrants, some of them undocumented, continue to contribute to our state and country through work, paying taxes, helping to grow the economy and contributing to the diversity of our culture. Without immigrants, refugees and Muslims, the United States couldn’t be the United States, and Kentucky could not be Kentucky.

Like other members of the Madison County chapter, I’m wearing a paper butterfly pin as a symbol of solidarity with undocumented immigrants. It’s a monarch butterfly, and it symbolizes freedom beyond borders, because monarchs migrate across the ocean and land from Mexico to the United States and back again. I believe that, like monarchs, human beings should be able to flee persecution and war, and to seek a better life, just as nearly all Kentuckians or their ancestors have done.

We are All Kentuckians.

KFTC statement on immigrants, refugees and Muslims KFTC has a vision of a Kentucky where “discrimination is wiped out of our laws, habits and hearts.”

While discrimination already hurts many members of our communities, the current state legislature and our national government are taking aim at some of our most vulnerable neighbors: immigrants, refugees and religious minorities, especially Muslims. As we always have, KFTC is standing up for the targets of discrimination and working hard toward wiping discrimination out of our laws, habits and hearts.

We voice our solidarity with immigrants, refugees and religious minorities who are coming under increased attack in this current political climate.

Kentucky, like the nation as a whole, was built by immigrants, refugees and people who were brought here as slaves. Everyone who lives here, with the exception of Native Americans and people who came as slaves, arrived as an immigrant or is the descendent of immigrants. Today, refugees and immigrants, some of them undocumented, continue to contribute to our great state through work, paying taxes, helping grow the economy, contributing to the diversity of our culture, and revitalizing our communities.

Yet, today, the human rights of many immigrants are threatened, especially the undocumented, refugees and religious minorities, particularly Muslims. These actions are justified by racial prejudice and fly in the face of the many contributions to society and to the economy made by all of these groups. In fact, without immigrants, refugees and Muslims, the United States couldn’t be the United States, and Kentucky could not be Kentucky.

KFTC is showing up for immigrants, refugees and Muslims by supporting efforts to respect their human rights and dignity. We are committed to opposing bills in the Kentucky legislature and actions by our federal government that target immigrants and refugees in unfair, inhumane ways or that seek to turn ordinary police officers into border patrol agents.

We call upon our members – and all Kentuckians – to resist such policies and practices. We encourage our members – and everyone – to get to know our neighbors and work to make Kentucky a state where “discrimination is wiped out of our laws, habits and hearts.”

We are proud to stand with our sisters and brothers, whether they are immigrants, refugees or Muslims. WE ARE ALL KENTUCKIANS.

www.kftc.org | April 13, 2017

4 | Balancing the Scales

KFTC News

KFTC members recognized nationally as Cesar Chavez heroes Three KFTC members have been honored with national recognition for their efforts to improve life in their communities, Kentucky and beyond.

Serena Owen of the Northern Kentucky chapter, and Homer and Mary Lou White of the Scott County chapter, were named Cesar Chavez Day Heroes by the Marguerite Casey Foundation. Only about 30 people around the country received similar recognition.

Serena Owen Owen is an active leader in the Northern Kentucky KFTC Chapter as well as statewide committees including the Steering Committee.

“Trained as an educator, she is passionate about making sure that her community understands the importance of local elections and details about issues,” the foundation reported about Owen. “She has been a spokesperson for KFTC around the need for more people of color and women to run for public office.

“She also has spearheaded an individual effort to bring better public transportation to her community in Elsmere, Serena Owen been a spokesperson for

Letters to the Editor Dear editor, I appreciated the last issue of The Scales, especially the commentary on “right to work” laws. Of course this political slogan is highly misleading and a farce.

The racist roots of right-to-work laws article is the clearest, succinct statement I’ve read on the subject. Its merit is exposure of the bias against the FDR New Deal and the stipulation of government regulation of free enterprise and business.

White supremacy, still in vogue, would like to cater to the rich.

Don Cassidy Lexington, Kentucky Read that issue at: http://bit.ly/2o6B3TN

the need for progressive tax reform in Kentucky and worked to promote expanded health care, especially for students with disabilities.

“She has served in various leadership positions with KFTC around economic justice, voter empowerment and racial justice.

“She envisions an inclusive community that celebrates differences, promotes frank discussions about issues important to maligned communities, and elevates equal opportunities for all, regardless of background.”

In addition to KFTC, Owen is the community liaison for the Greater Cincinnati Central Labor Council and the Greater Cincinnati United Way. She is known as “a tireless advocate for her community through involvement with the First Baptist Church of Elsmere and the Northern Kentucky unit of the NAACP.” Mary Lou and Homer White “Mary Lou and Homer White have been members of KFTC since the mid-1990s. While living in eastern Kentucky, they were active in the then Pike County chapter around protecting the social safety net that safeguards the most vulnerable among us.

“In fact, Homer’s rendition of Good King Wenceslas, which is about welfare reform in the 1990s, is a favorite of their current chapter in Scott County,” the award recognition for the Whites read.

“The couple helped start the Scott County chapter in 2009, working closely with the local NAACP

around the issue of voting rights for former felons. As the chapter has grown over the years, they have spearheaded ongoing efforts around curbside recycling, engaging with elected officials.

“They also support a push to get a non-discrimination ordinance (a family effort that includes great work Mary Lou & Homer White from their daughters, Clare and Catherine) that would include protections for LGBTQ+ individuals in Georgetown.

“A librarian and math professor by trade in Georgetown, they both emphasize the need for discussion and learning around important issues. They envision a community where people come together to try to understand what others experience.

“They believe that approach will break down false differences and real barriers around race and class and create a compassionate society that offers basic protections and a hand up for those who need it.”

More information about the Cesar Chavez award winners can be found at http://bit.ly/2nErMn5.

The Marguerite Casey Foundation is an important KFTC foundation supporter.

More thoughts on the racist roots of right-to-work laws Dear editor, Your recent reprint of that insightful story from Facing South about the “Racist Roots of Right-to-Work” tells the first half of a troublesome story. Many of us wish it were only history, but our practical experiences indicate that the racist aspects of those intentionally misnamed laws are continuing today.

Remember that laws of this kind are just copies of an old Jim Crow law. In the famous words of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., “It is a law to rob us of our civil rights and job rights.” Some will say that doesn’t matter anymore because we’ve made great strides in civil rights. They are referring to overt individual racism while ignoring institutional racism and structural racism. The problem with the so-called Right-to-Work laws today is institutional racism.

Unorganized workers have no rights under the At Will Employment Doctrine in our state law. By contrast, union workers have the right to file grievances. This process is an accessible means of addressing concerns about discrimination and other problems at work. All workers ought to have this right; however, the so-called Right-to-Work laws deny those rights by making it harder for workers to organize.

The outcome is that few workers can raise concerns about discrimination except for resorting to public hearings and the courts. Those processes are expensive, intimidating and slow. The bottom line is these laws enable institutional racism.

Tom Louderback, Union Steward and Trustee Louisville, Kentucky

www.kftc.org | April 13, 2017

Balancing the Scales | 5

KFTC News

New Western Kentucky chapter welcomed into KFTC Steering Committee members enthusiastically welcomed representatives from western Kentucky to their March 25 meeting and approved a petition to form a new Western Kentucky KFTC chapter.

Stephen Montgomery (left) and Andy Wiggins represented western Kentucky members at the Steering Committee meeting.

Andy Wiggins of Paducah and Stephen Montgomery of Murray were in attendance to submit the petition on behalf of dozens of residents in those areas who have begun regular meetings and actions.

While responding to questions from Steering Committee members, Wiggins discussed the emerging political energy in western Kentucky. He noted that in response to recent developments locally, statewide and nationally, there are numerous folks in the area energized to work for change. Montgomery was instrumental in mobilizing local energy to form the new KFTC chapter.

Members in several far western Kentucky counties have been participating, with activities so far centered in Paducah and Murray.

Western Kentucky community members worked in February to hold a sister rally in solidarity with KFTC’s Stand 4 Kentucky Rally at the state capitol

(see related story below). Local organizers wanted to build on the momentum displayed by Stand 4 Kentucky and demonstrate that there are people in the region who have a vision for a path forward for their local community and state.

As Wiggins submitted the group’s chapter petition, he highlighted that the western Kentucky group had met all of the requirements for forming a new chapter, including membership and fundraising goals. He also noted that the group has appointed a regionally representative subcommittee of members to their structure.

Meta Mendel-Reyes of Madison County moved to accept the Western Kentucky chapter petition. The motion passed unanimously to cheers from those in attendance.

Wiggins thanked committee members for accepting the Western Kentucky chapter petition and reiterated the chapter’s commitment to KFTC’s vision.

Murray, Paducah actions connect western Kentucky activists

By Berry Craig Close to 100 people showed up on February 7 for a “Paducah Stands for Kentucky” rally.

Paducah, population 25,000, is the seat of McCracken County in the deeply conservative, eightcounty Jackson Purchase region, which is as far west as Kentucky goes. A huge and controversial Confederate battle flag flies just east of town along Interstate 24.

While Donald Trump piled up 62.5 percent of Kentucky’s vote, the Republican collected more than 66 percent of McCracken County ballots and 72.5 percent Purchase-wide.

By showing up, rally goers hoped they at least offered more proof that there’s another side to this rural, tobacco-farming section of “Trump’s America.”

On January 21, a “March for Equality and Social Justice” in Murray, also in the Purchase, attracted 800 people. The procession was a sister to the “Women’s March on Washington.”

Some in the Paducah crowd marched in Murray.

“It’s important to get involved in small towns and promote acceptance and progress,” said Alivia Boulton.

Andy Wiggins agreed. “It is important to show Paducah there are individuals and groups here that are opposed to the actions that are happening in our state and federal governments.”

The rally began at dusk in the city’s Dolly McNutt Plaza, named for Paducah’s first woman mayor.

Several people carried homemade signs which proclaimed multiple messages: “Love Trumps Hate,” “Injustice Anywhere is a Threat to Justice Everywhere,” “Equal Rights for All,” “My Mother Was a Refugee,” “Health Care for All” and more.

“We are here because we all stand for humanity,” said Jennifer DuBerry.

The crowd listened to impromptu speeches and testimonials from DuBerry and others. About an hour into the rally, a fast-moving thunderstorm scattered the gathering.

Speakers included Jennifer Smith, two-time cancer survivor. Smith is worried that Trump and the Republicans will abolish ACA or replace it with an inadequate plan.

“What if they impose lifetime limits?” Smith asked. “My life depends on access to medical care.”

Smith, one of a handful of women present who marched in Washington, said she also came to protest Trump’s policies on immigration and his Muslim ban. “The majority of my oncology team at Vanderbilt [University Hospital] are

immigrants. My life depends on immigrants, too.”

Eliza Purcell said she got up the rally after hearing that Kentuckians For The Commonwealth was holding a “Stand for Kentucky Day of Action” in Frankfort when the legislature reconvened on February 7.

Several in the crowd attended a recent KFTC meeting at the library. The meeting was held to gauge interest in starting a chapter in westernmost Kentucky.

About 80 people came.

“I felt like I had to do something to stand up,” Purcell said of the rally. “I just winged it on Facebook.

I didn’t think there’d be this many people.”

The crowd ranged in age from grade school kids to seniors like Curtis Grace.

“I’m here to stand up for what I believe is right,” he said. “I’m gay, but honestly all our rights are being trampled on, including children’s rights.”

Ricardo Harding came to support minority and LGBT rights and to protest the Confederate flag in Paducah’s November Veterans’ Day parades. “That’s offensive to our African American veterans.”

He brought his son, Thomas, age 8, “to see how democracy works.”

www.kftc.org | April 13, 2017

6 | Balancing the Scales

STandinG For KenTuCKy KFTC members are standing for Kentucky. In the halls of Frankfort and in our communities, we’re resisting with a vision for affordable healthcare, clean energy solutions, fairness and equality, and a healthy democracy. We believe in the power of community organizing. This year we launch the Organizing Academy and Organizer Apprentice programs to put more organizers on the ground in our communities and build grassroots power. Your donations to KFTC this spring will support the Organizing Academy and Apprentices.

Will you invest in this work to build grassroots power?

Join KFTC, renew your membership or become a Sustaining Giver today.

Join KFTC, renew your membership or become a Sustaining Giver today.

NAME:

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ADDRESS: _____________________________________________ CITY:

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STATE & ZIP: ____________________________

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HOME PHONE: ________________ CELL PHONE: ________________ EMAIL:

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Select what organization you would like to donate to: □ KFTC: Membership dues and donations are not tax-deductible. □ Kentucky Coalition: Membership dues and donations are tax-deductible.

Join or renew online: www.KFTC.org/donate

Become A Sustaining Giver: Your automatic, recurring gift provides steady

income to support KFTC’s work throughout the year. Become a Sustaining Giver or update an existing Sustaining Gift today, and help build power to achieve our vision for Kentucky.

Make me a Sustaining Giver!

I will contribute $ _____ every: □ Month □ Quarter □ Year

To update an existing Sustaining Gift, contact Ashley at ashley@kftc.org or (606) 878-2161.

I would rather make a one-time gift of: □$250 □$100 □$50 □$25 □$15 □$5 Other Amount: $_______ Suggested membership dues are $15-$50 annually, based on ability to pay. We welcome you to give whatever amount you are able.

www.kftc.org | April 13, 2017

Balancing the Scales | 7

new energy and transition update

Benham solar represents a much deeper transition plan

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The mountain Benham's utility, A powerful new video created as part of community of Benham, the Empower Kentucky Plan tells another which serves around 275 where KFTC members customers, was the first piece of Benham's clean energy story: have been working for years How the town helps residents save money municipally-owned utility on energy issues, received in Kentucky to offer paythrough energy efficiency. That can be a healthy dose of national viewed at: https://vimeo.com/212261080 as-you-save financing for attention recently when the residential energy upgrades.

Kentucky Coal Mining Museum there announced it The utility pays the upfront costs of home energy has installed solar panels to save thousands of dollars retrofits for qualifying customers. Residents pay back that annually on its power bill. investment over time, using a portion of the monthly The “solar-keeps-the-lights-on” story was first savings on their energy bill. carried by regional TV station WYMT in Hazard. It This Benham$aves program is the result of a was quickly picked up in the Washington Post, Grist, long-term partnership between the city of Benham, Lexington Herald Leader, CNN, Fox News and other the Benham Power Board, Kentuckians For The sites. Former Vice-President Al Gore even took notice, Commonwealth, Mountain Association for Community giving the community a shout-out on social media.

Economic Development, COAP, Inc, the Harlan This good news story is the result of a deep Community Foundation and Appalshop. partnership between the Coal Mining Museum, the Figuring out ways to help its residents cut energy local community college and forward-thinking local costs is a priority for the community where so many leaders. It’s one part of a larger story about how the homes were built back in the 1920s and don't have Harlan County community, built as a coal camp by good insulation. In fact, Benham’s residential electricity International Harvester, is now leading the way towards consumption is the highest of any utility in the state. a Just Transition to a clean energy economy in Kentucky. High energy bills put a big strain on residents and “I like to think that this little community in the local utility alike. Programs like Benham$aves help Harlan County, Kentucky, can be a light shining in customers cut their energy bills significantly, and deliver the mountains, showing the rest of Kentucky and the other important benefits, like improving comfort, world what is possible,” said retired miner, Benham increasing home values, creating local jobs and keeping resident and KFTC member Carl Shoupe. money circulating in the local community.

Read more about what’s happening with the Empower Kentucky Plan on page 19.

Power to the People radio shows produced by KFTC Central Kentucky chapter members are archived on iTunes (search for “KFTC”) and on SoundCloud at: https://soundcloud.com/beth-howard-182830031.

Recent podcasts: March: On The Table (coming) February: To Be Fair January: This New House December: Post Election – What Now? or listen live Tuesdays at 3 p.m.

WLXU - 93.9 FM

www.kftc.org | April 13, 2017

8 | Balancing the Scales

new energy and transition update

KFTC members look to PSC for fair and affordable rates The Kentucky Public Service Commission (PSC) is considering three important cases this spring that will determine the rates charged for electricity and natural gas service by three major utilities in Kentucky.

The outcomes will either boost or harm efforts to help customers save money by saving energy.

The cases affect customers served by Louisville Gas & Electric, Kentucky Utilities and Kentucky Power, but they have important implications for all Kentuckians.

LG&E and KU case LG&E and KU, which are owned by the same parent company, want to double their flat monthly service charge, the fee that people pay no matter how much energy they use.

The base rate for KU’s electric service would climb from $10.75 to $22 per month. The monthly fee for LG&E’s electric service would also jump from $10.75 to $22, and the charge for natural gas service would climb from $13.50 to $24.

That means most of LG&E’s residential customers will owe a minimum of $46 a month – even if they use no gas or electricity whatsoever.

“Raising fixed customer charges hits cash-strapped households the hardest while destroying the benefits of our investing in energy efficiency and rooftop solar,” KFTC member Steve Wilkins explained.

These proposals will hurt many customers, especially low- and fixed-income people, apartment dwellers and people who attempt to conserve energy. They will limit people’s ability to save money by reducing their energy use. And they will discourage many from installing rooftop solar or energy efficient systems, steps which are needed to lower harmful pollution and protect our health and climate.

KFTC members in Louisville and Lexington and other regions served by Louisville Gas and Electric (LG&E) and Kentucky Utilities (KU) are encouraging people to send written comments to the PSC and attend public hearings in mid-April about the proposed fee increase.

The most effective public comments are handwritten and personal. Messages can also be submitted by email. All comments should be submitted by May 2.

Mail comments to Kentucky Public Service Commission, Public Information Officer, P.O. Box 615, Frankfort, KY 40602 or email to Public Information Officer, psc.info@ky.gov.

You must include the rate case in the subject line of your email and early in your letter, along with your full name and address.

For LG&E, the rate case is Case #2016-00371.

For KU, the rate case is Case #2016-00370.

Members shared their views at three public hearings on these cases in mid April in Louisville, Madisonville and Lexington.

Find out more at: http://bit.ly/2o5RW0N Kentucky Power (AEP) case The third case before the Kentucky Public Service Commission this spring affects customers of Kentucky Power, a subsidiary of American Electric Power. AEP serves 180,000 customers across 20 eastern Kentucky counties.

In late February the PSC opened a case to investigate, and possibly roll back, the energy efficiency programs offered by Kentucky Power to its customers. This involves

utility-sponsored programs to incentivize customers to take energy saving measures, called “demand-side management” or DSM programs.

KFTC and other groups, including the Sierra Club, Office of the Attorney General, Walmart and the Kentucky Industrial Utilities Customers, have filed to intervene in this case. If accepted by the PSC, these groups would have the opportunity to ask questions and provide expert testimony in the case.

KFTC seeks to offer testimony about the value and importance of energy efficiency programs as a no-regrets, low-cost strategy to help customers lower their bills, save money for the utility and all customers, and create good local jobs.

KFTC also intends to suggest ways to strengthen Kentucky Power’s DSM programs to protect ratepayers and achieve strong results.

Public comments can be sent to Kentucky Public Service Commission, Public Information Officer, P.O. Box 615, Frankfort KY 40602 or emailed to Public Information Officer, psc.info@ky.gov. Comments must refer to case number 2017-00097. Comments should be submitted by the end of April.

The Wilderness Trace KFTC Chapter invites you!

www.kftc.org | April 13, 2017

Balancing the Scales | 9

Just Transition Update

RECLAIM campaign renewed with introduction of bills Amended versions of the RECLAIM Act were introduced in both the U.S. House and Senate in late March, giving hope that the bills will win passage this year.

In the House, Rep. Hal Rogers reintroduced a version of the bill he sponsored in the past session of Congress.

His bill (H.R. 1731) is weaker than last year’s version, however, in that it de-prioritizes economic development and community engagement.

In the Senate, Sen. Mitch McConnell introduced companion legislation (S. 738). That act in itself is a victory, coming after KFTC and allies late last year delivered 10,000 signatures to McConnell’s offices and focused much public attention on his failure to support the RECLAIM Act (as well as health care and pension fixes for coal miners).

“While the new version of the RECLAIM Act introduced by Rogers and McConnell would still distribute $1 billion for mine reclamation, the bill’s potential to promote economic diversification in struggling local economies has been significantly weakened,” explained Eric Dixon in a blog post for the Appalachian Citizens Law Center. “Under last year’s RECLAIM Act, a funded project would be designed both to clean up an abandoned mine and to create long-term

economic opportunities on the site once it’s reclaimed.

“This could be a solar farm on a reclaimed surface mine. Canoeing and fishing businesses that can now make use of a river once threatened by acid mine drainage. Or apple orchards on a reclaimed strip mine. These are all projects that both clean up the land or water and re-use it in a way that creates a long-term economic benefit.”

RECLAIM stands for “Revitalizing the Economy of Coal Communities by Leveraging Local Activities and Investing More.” It would accelerate the release of funds in the Abandoned Mine Lands Fund that is released incrementally to states and contractors to reclaim mining damage.

Last year’s bill would have applied economic development requirements to 100 percent of reclamation projects funded with the $1 billion, distributed over five years through the Abandoned Mine Lands Fund.

Under the current legislation, economic development criteria would apply in only about a quarter of the cases, according to Dixon.

“The beauty of the 2016 version of the RECLAIM Act was that it was a forward-looking proposal that incentivized mine reclamation projects to have a vision in mind for a longer-term economic opportunity, at a time when many communities with abandoned mines

are struggling with a sharp drop in coal jobs,” Dixon wrote.

Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia also introduced a RECLAIM Act bill that mirrors the 2016 legislation, keeping the economic development focus, though without some agreed-upon amendments providing for public notice and community engagement.

Quickly after the new bill’s introduction, a hearing took place before the House Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources on April 5. Dixon and KFTC member Sarah Bowling attended.

Testifying about the bill were Rep. Rogers and Robert Scott, director of the Kentucky Abandoned Mine Lands program.

Dixon’s recounting of the hearing can be found at www.powerplusplan.org/blog/2017/4/7/reclaim-acthearing.

The hearing was for informational purposes only.

Committee members, especially from western states, had questions and there was no consensus on the specifics in the language of the bill.

KFTC members will be working to strengthen the bills to restore the economic development priority for all projects and to include provisions for public notice and community engagement.

Bevin weakens coal ash rules as water supplies contaminated In early March, the legislature’s Administrative Regulation Review Subcommittee approved weakened coal ash rules designed to allow self-permitting by utilities and the coal waste industry.

If the Interim Joint Committee on Natural Resources and Environment approves those rules at its next meeting, then they will take effect in Kentucky.

Erica Peterson, the environmental reporter for WFPL-FM in Louisville, through a series of stories has tracked moves by the Bevin administration to weaken the rules at the same time that serious contamination from coal ash waste has been exposed.

In a March 6 story, Peterson reported: The new proposal would change the way landfills are permitted. At present, the regulations stipulate a number of factors that go into permitting the sites – everything from where the landfills can be located to how and where the utility is required to monitor groundwater.

The new regulations would change that to a simple

registered permit-by-rule, where state regulators wouldn’t sign off on a landfill before it’s permitted.

The state or citizens could cite or sue after the fact if problems are discovered.

The cabinet released the proposed regulations last year. In January, WFPL News broke the story that the state had drafted the regulations after more than a year’s worth of meetings exclusively with representatives of electric utilities.

This means there would be no public review or input into the permitting of coal ash dumps.

With the help of Wilderness Trace chapter member Jim Porter, Peterson broke this story: As Kentucky regulators and utilities are pushing to loosen regulations on the state’s coal ash ponds and landfills, more pollution problems are emerging at one of the sites in central Kentucky.

Over the past six years, documents show

contaminated water including arsenic and selenium leached from the ash pond at the E.W. Brown Power Station into groundwater and directly into Herrington Lake, near Danville. Despite remedial measures taken by Louisville Gas & Electric and Kentucky Utilities, the pollution persists.

Now, fish tissue sampling has revealed the coal ash pond’s selenium runoff has poisoned aquatic life in the lake.

Meanwhile, the same regulators who monitor the runoff from that plant have been working extensively with the utility industry – including a group that represents LG&E and KU – to weaken state regulations governing coal ash.

Similarly, Peterson reported on coal ash pollution laced with arsenic “that exceeds the federal standard by nearly a thousand times” is coming from the D.B. Wilson Power Plant in western Kentucky, about 40 minutes south of Owensboro.

www.kftc.org | April 13, 2017

10 | Balancing the Scales

Economic Justice

KFTC members work to protect the benefits of health care The Affordable Care Act was pivotal for the family of Dana Beasley Brown, KFTC’s immediate past chair.

So on a recent Friday when she got home from work and heard the news that Republicans were giving up, for the time being, on repealing the ACA, she laughed in disbelief, wept with relief and squealed with joy – all in the same instant: “I just can’t believe it!”

Kentuckians have stood up strong for health care for all and preserving the benefits of the ACA in Kentucky, and for good reason.

Nearly one in three Kentuckians have health insurance through Medicaid or the ACA marketplace.

Kentucky has seen more than a 700 percent increase in treatment for drug addiction, among many other health care benefits. Add the impact of both the federal dollars coming into Kentucky’s state budget and rural hospitals, and the increase of health care jobs on communities and families, it’s clear that the ACA has been transformative for Kentucky.

“I got to see firsthand what happens when people don’t have health insurance,” said KFTC member Bev May, a nurse who worked seven years at a free clinic in Hazard. The ACA “was such a sea change for health care and Kentuckians.

“It’s now been active long enough that we have some good data that shows the improvement in people’s health care access and health care and in the economy that was due to Obamacare,” May added during a health care webinar in March.

Those improvements include access to basic primary care, increased regular care for chronic illnesses, a big decline in folks skipping taking their medicine, significant increases in dental care and preventative screenings and more.

“All of these things have moved us toward having a healthier population,” May shared.

So Kentuckians took action when Congressional Republicans Speaker Paul Ryan, Senator Mitch

McConnell and Representative Andy Barr targeted the ACA for total repeal or “replacement.” Through town hall events, story telling, calls, demonstrations, media interviews, podcasts, webinars and more, it all made a national impact.

The ACA battle has a history longer than the Republican effort since taking the White House in January. Dozens of times in recent years the U.S. House voted for total repeal the Affordable Care Act. But because of the millions who are benefiting from the ACA and speaking out in support of quality health care for all, total repeal was no longer even the starting place in January. The White House and Congressional Republicans worked to craft a “replacement” health care bill.

That effort failed, at least for now. The most conservative of Republicans, such as Kentucky Rep. Thomas Massie, held out for total repeal, while Democrats were mostly united behind improving the ACA rather than doing away with it through repeal or replacement.

The replacement effort was halted when Republican leaders acknowledged they did not have the votes to pass the legislation.

Their push was undermined when the Congressional Budget Office revealed that 24 million people would lose health care coverage and costs would go up under the Republican replacement plan, violating President Donald Trump’s promises to provide affordable coverage for all.

The victory, while significant, does not signal the end of the struggle to cement health care for all into the nation’s core values and rights. Already the White House and Congressional Republicans are crafting

Members challenge Guthrie aide at Danville meeting Mark Lord, Rep. Brett Guthrie’s district director, was challenged on health care and a wide variety of other issues during a 90-minute community conversation in Danville on March 2.

Jane Brantley, a member of the Wilderness Trace chapter, made the connection with Rep. Guthrie’s office earlier this year, which resulted in the meeting.

The meeting was well attended by members of the many groups Brantley had reached out to, including KFTC, The Women’s Network, ACLU, Citizens Concerned for Human Relations (a local citizen group), the Boyle County Democratic Women’s Club and the Boyle County Democratic Party.

Community members saw the gathering as a great opportunity to have their voices heard in Congress and were grateful to Brantley for spearheading the event when so many representatives are forgoing traditional town halls.

their next strategy, and that includes negotiations with the extreme conservative members of their party who are holding out for total repeal.

In Kentucky, it’s likely that Governor Matt Bevin will renew his efforts to take away expanded Medicaid health care from tens of thousands of Kentuckians, an effort he started before the November election. That move needs approval by the federal government.

KFTC members are pushing for meetings with the Kentucky congressional delegation during their mid-April recess. They want to shift the conversation to one about making real improvements in access to health care, including single-payer care and expanding Medicare.

Health care success helps shift political momentum The impact of the failure of the ACA repeal effort is significant. Aside from not stripping health care from 24 million people, the failure has shifted momentum, at least temporarily, in the political landscape.

An active grassroots base of folks are ready to take more action to protect important federal programs and services, close tax breaks for the wealthy and expose the Trump administration’s intention to redistribute even more power and wealth to those who already have the most of it.

Trump has announced that his tax plan will be the next major legislation he tries to get through Congress. The core of that plan is cutting corporate taxes.

His proposed budget also shifts power and wealth. Some members of Congress, often after being reminded by their constituents, are realizing that their districts actually benefit from and rely on many federal programs.

Public resistance continues to work.

Kentucky’s U.S. Rep. Hal Rogers is among Republican members of Congress who’ve already spoken out against the Trump budget proposal.

www.kftc.org | April 13, 2017

Balancing the Scales | 11

Economic Justice

Fair and adequate tax reform is focus of regional teams

KFTC members are approaching an anticipated special legislative session by forming regional teams to make sure the impacts of proposed legislation are understood and addressed locally.

Gov. Matt Bevin has stated he plans to call a special session later this year to deal with changes he wants to make to the state’s tax code.

KFTC members want to make sure changes in the tax code represent real reform and not just changes that reinforce the unfairness of the current system and favoritism for special interests. Kentucky’s tax system is still riddled with big breaks for industries and corporations, asks less of the wealthy than it does of everyone else and doesn’t raise enough money to fund the things Kentuckians deserve or have been promised.

Jeanie Smith of the Southern Kentucky chapter strongly supports approaching statewide tax reform through local organizing strategies. Smith said she is “excited to get into the details of tax justice and organize with my other chapter members.

“The regional work teams are important because while we are connected through large themes and broad goals, our local areas are very diverse with unique challenges,” Smith said. “I think this strategy will make our chapters stronger and our state goals more attainable.”

The Southern Kentucky Team wants to make sure the business communities in their area know the negative impacts a consumption-based tax shift will have on private-sector job growth and critical services like work force training and adequate infrastructure funding for things like roads and bridges. They believe this will be a winning argument in an area with many libertarian-leaning state legislators.

Bevin has indicated support for increasing consumption taxes (i.e. the sales tax) in order to pay for cuts to income tax rates, and the possible elimination of the corporate income tax.

Tax Justice teams have formed so far in the Northern Kentucky, Central Kentucky, Letcher County, Jefferson County, Scott County, Madison County and the Southern Kentucky chapters, as well as the new Western Kentucky chapter.

The main strategy of these teams is to build an empowered community to engage with local elected officials and community leaders to build opposition to bad tax reform and in support of good tax reform in advance of a special session. When the governor finally releases his plan, they plan to already be several steps ahead of him so he has to respond to principles of good tax reform instead of members reacting to him.

Though Kentucky’s revenue communities.”

“This strategy will make

In Letcher County, members are needs are great, it would be better to working to tie the tax justice work to have no special session than one that our chapters stronger makes the system more unfair, memand our state goals more the nearly $1.5 million county budget shortfall, in no small part because of bers say. Bevin has correctly cited the attainable.” dwindling coal severance and unmined need for more revenue, but giving minerals tax revenue. more breaks to the wealthy and cor– Jeanie Smith

In Jefferson County, members are porations is not what’s needed. connecting tax justice to the work they Such plans, based on greater consumption taxes, are part of a broader scheme to con- have been doing around the People’s Budget and making the tinue the transfer of wealth from the poor and working budget process more transparent and democratic.

KFTC’s Tax Justice Campaign is supporting these families to the wealthy.

In northern Kentucky, folks want to tie their tax teams to find the right mix of targets and tactics to create justice strategies into work their chapter is already doing new economic power, with new grassroots leaders workaround fighting poverty and ensuring everyone has ac- ing on tax reform and economic justice in their communities. cess to a good public education.

Long-time member Virginia Johnson said she Community members in areas where a team already “joined the NKY tax justice committee because we need has formed should reach out to the local chapter organizer a fair and equitable tax structure in which everyone pays to get involved. If in a non-chapter area or just aren’t sure their fair share. We need additional revenue so we can how to get started, contact Tyler Offerman, KFTC’s tax have good schools, infrastructure, and safe and healthy justice organizer, at tyler@kftc.org or 859-276-0563.

On March 21, the Jefferson County chapter released “The People's Guide to the Budget.” The report looked at key areas where Metro Louisville’s $822 million annual budget is – and in some cases is not – spent, and how local residents can influence the budget decision-making process. Later in the month, three chapter members spoke at a Metro Council meeting about city budget priorities. The People’s Guide report can be downloaded at: kftc.org/peoplesguidetothebudget.

www.kftc.org | April 13, 2017

12 | Balancing the Scales

Economic Justice

Louisville panel see courageous solutions to economic issues

By Ryan Fenwick A recent University of Louisville Brandeis School of Law lunchtime panel discussion focused on the possibilities for building a better economy with cooperatives.

The featured speakers were: •

Dr. Jessica Gordon Nembhard, an expert on the history of black-owned cooperatives. Her book, Collective Courage, is a ground-breaking study of the history of African American owned cooperatives.

•

Professor Ariana R. Levinson, an internationally recognized labor and employment law scholar with a background as a labor lawyer. She has recently published articles on worker and union cooperatives.

•

Sadiqa Reynolds, the first female CEO of the Louisville Urban League. She was previously the Chief for Community Building for Louisville Mayor Greg Fisher.

Dr. Nembhard’s book explores the relationship between the fight for African American civil rights and movements for African American ownership of cooperatives. African American cooperatives can trace their origins to before cooperatives were even an organizational concept. They grew out of mutual aid societies that paid funeral or medical expenses out of members’ pooled money.

The first step, she said, to starting a cooperative is for a group of people interested to sit down together and form a study group. After a period of self-education, history has proven it is possible to create lasting and meaningful institutions.

The movement continues today across the nation in urban and rural places, and advocates such as herself continue to work for recognition by institutions that might incubate, or even encourage, cooperatives as a vehicle for organizing members to solve their mutual problems.

Cooperatives, she explained, fail at a lower rate

than other business entities because of community buy-in and the financing structure. Cooperatives can build wealth for a community and function at a profit that would not be attractive to a large corporation, but that produce good returns for community investors.

Professor Levinson pointed out that whether the cooperative stays in business for one year or five, the benefits to the community are real and will continue into the future.

A worker cooperative, for example, that hires immigrants or previously incarcerated people will educate workers on how to start and manage a business. Workers, even if they are not able to stay with the cooperative until retirement, leave with job skills.

Cooperatives, though not as widely recognized as corporations or nonprofits, exist in Kentucky and surrounding states. They exist in the technology, agriculture, food and other industries. A community that supports a cooperative even for a brief period of time will be improved because of the experience of working together.

She pointed out that people from all backgrounds are useful for creating modern cooperatives, whether they are knowledgeable of finance or have creative skills.

Reynolds reacted to the conversation by imagining the uses of cooperatives as a remedy for problems in the city. She imagines not only solving food access disparities in west Louisville, but creating a coopera-

tive to train workers for the jobs available in the city.

She encouraged folks not to let the people off the hook who are responsible, pointing out a history of redlining and other overtly racist social institutions that have resulted in the economic disadvantages cooperatives might be formed to address.

The event was an important step toward Louisville considering what local ownership would accomplish. At a time when the investment and opportunity disparity between east and west Louisville has been made obvious, where urban grocery stores are becoming steadily more rare, when the rest of the 99 percent is increasingly confident mega-corporations are not here to serve us, it is a good time for Louisville to imagine what an economy that shares our values would really look like.

The discussion was hosted by Anne Braden Institute for Social Justice Research, Louisville Food Co-op, Louisville Independent Business Alliance, Louisville Urban League, Muhammad Ali Institute for Peace and Justice, New Roots and Fresh Stop Markets, Sowers of Justice, and UofL Office of the Vice Provost for Diversity and International Affairs.

This piece was originally published on the Law Office of Ryan Fenwick website. Fenwick, KFTC’s at-large representative on the Executive Committee, regularly hosts workshops for people interested in starting cooperatives.

You can reach him at ryan@ryanfenwicklaw.com or 502-536-8687.

KFTC Social media corner Facebook www.KFTC.org/facebook For chapter Facebook pages, visit: www.kftc.org/links

Instagram

@kentuckiansforthecommonwealth To find our photos on Flickr:

@KFTC @NKY_KFTC @ScottCoKFTC @MadCo_KFTC @EKY_KFTC

@JCKFTC @WT_KFTC @SoKyKFTC @VotingRightsKY @CanaryProject

www.flickr.com/ photos/KFTCphotos

www.kftc.org | April 13, 2017

Balancing the Scales | 13

local Updates

Moving along the Fairness Ordinance in Bowling Green In Bowling Green – and in many places across the commonwealth – it is legal to discriminate against people who are (or who are perceived to be) LGBTQ. This means that trans people can be turned away from businesses, that a lesbian couple can be refused housing, and that a gay person can be removed from a public park – all without legal recourse.

The movement to adopt a Fairness Ordinance in Bowling Green began in 1999 when the Bowling Green Human Rights Commission took it up for discussion. Upon lobbying the city commission of that time, we were given our first rejection.

The movement sprang up again in 2011, and since then we have collected more than 1,000 signatures on a petition in support of a Fairness Ordinance. We have also organized more than one hundred businesses that agree that a Fairness Ordinance would be good for business and good for Bowling Green.

Despite all of this, we had not managed to get our city commissioners to say a word about Fairness.

More than a year ago we decided that it was time to ramp up our lobbying efforts. We have been regularly attending city commission meetings for 11 months now, usually with 15 or so Fairness supporters in our group. We have given an individual argument, testimony, or experience every single meeting since we started showing up – and nearly all of them have been met with silence.

Recently, however, this silence was broken. On February 21, Commissioner Slim Nash put the Fairness Ordinance on the agenda for the first time.

When his proposed discussion did not get a second, Nash put it into a working session for discussion at the end of the next commission meeting.

The meeting on March 7 felt like a culmination of a million things Bowling Green Fairness has been working towards. With a huge turnout of more than 100 people in blue Fairness shirts filling up city hall, 52 people spoke in favor of a Fairness Ordinance.

Fifty-two!

Among them were faith leaders, people who work closely with human rights, people who have not spoken out before, people coming out for the first time, people who spoke of lost loved ones, people who were putting their safety, jobs and relationships at risk by speaking out and standing up for

what’s right.

There were also 12 speakers against Fairness, but that felt almost like a success in itself.

We had a few antiFairness letters to the editor under our belt, but we had not had people speak against us at city hall before – if they were here now, it felt like that meant it was real and going somewhere and they felt that they had to speak out.

Members of the Southern Kentucky KFTC Chapter and Bowling Green Fairness met with Rep. Jody Richards (with tie) during the recent legislative session.

Dealing with the realities of being gay

By Aeryn Darst I know I’m not alone in regretting that fear of antagonists prevented me from speaking, which gives me even more respect for the 52 who looked that fear in the eye.

Through these past few weeks, I’ve been reminded of how fortunate and privileged I am.

Some of the pro-Fairness attendees of the past two commission meetings include my mother, her friends, my coworkers, bosses from both of my jobs, and people I see throughout Bowling Green. I felt loved, supported, and safe.

I am so grateful to have these levels of support, even if I am denied legal protection.

Seeing all of these familiar faces while hearing my fellow LGBTQ community members’ stories of discrimination and abandonment really struck a chord with me.

The sense of security that I felt should be a right. I shouldn’t have to look out at the crowd of Fairness supporters and see my mother to know I won’t be rejected from my family; see my coworkers to know I won’t be harassed at my job; see my bosses to know I won’t be fired; see familiar everyday faces to know I won’t be kicked out of coffee shops, res-

taurants, bars, libraries, on and on – just for being gay.

Adopting a Fairness Ordinance would not be the end of the line, but it would be a huge step in the right direction. Not only would it offer legal protections for LGBTQ community members, but it would signify that Bowling Green is a city that values its citizens and that wants them to stay.

I hope to raise a family in Bowling Green one day – but I will not feel safe to do so until we have this ordinance in place. There is still so much work to be done, but going forward, I know that I am not alone. It will be a struggle, but every time I think of the future, I hear allies and fellow community members shouting, “We’re still here.”

Photo by Ann Disalvo.

By Aeryn Darst

www.kftc.org | April 13, 2017

14 | Balancing the Scales

Local Updates

Madison County chapter hosts Berea State of the City Address For the first time ever, the Madison County KFTC Chapter hosted the Berea State of the City Address on February 10.

Toward the end of 2016, members had conversations with Berea Mayor Steve Connelly about what it might look like for the chapter to host the State of the City Address in 2017. In previous years, this event had been difficult for community members to attend, and was partnered with a fundraising event.

After some discussion, where members expressed interest in approaching the address from a community perspective, it was decided to bring something a little different to the city this year.

The event, which was planned and hosted by chapter members, was a big success. “ Un l i k e prior Berea State of the City (BSOC) addresses, Adam Funck (KFTC student worker/ this one was organizer through the CELTS profree, the pubgram at Berea College) and Jonah Calic was inbiles (emcee for the event,member, vited, it was steering committee rep for Madison scheduled in County chapter). the evening when the community could attend, and questions were invited from ordinary citizens,” said chapter member Steve Wilkins. “Previously, the venue and structure of the BSOC sent the message that interests of Berea’s business community took priority over those of other citizens.

“By choosing this route (instead of addressing the Chamber of Commerce) the mayor sent the mes-

sage that all Berea citizens, and their opinions and concerns, were valued equally,” Wilkins added. “I’m pleased and proud that our KFTC chapter could make this a reality and hope it continues in future years.”

Chapter member Becca Parrish concurred, after attending the event, that this year’s BSOC was different.

“Having attended State of the City meetings in the past, I can honestly say that this one felt much more inclusive and interesting,” KFTC members and friends after the event (left to right): Amanda Peach, Parrish noted. “It served Terri Hall, Emily Ladouceur, Krystal Williams and Jenny Hobson. its purpose in educating us nity. KFTC did an excellent job of bringing together about ongoing issues and concerns.

“But, more than that, I left the meeting feeling various constituencies, and helping us learn more much more connected to, and proud of, my commu- about our city government,” Parrish added.

Madison Pie Auction on Pi Day raises funds and fun This year marked the 7th annual Pi(e) Auction, hosted on “Pi Day” (3.14.17) by the Madison County Chapter of KFTC. The event, which was held at Union Church in Berea, raised more than $1,800 in grassroots fundraising and sold 49 pies.

This community event is always a well-anticipated, family-friendly event that folks all over the area attend. Lots of pies to purchase (both during a live auction and by the slice), stunning music from local talent and a great time to share with each other the work chapter members have been doing both locally

and at the state level.

Join the Madison County chapter for the 8th annual Pi(e) Auction next year on 3.14.18.

Syringe Exchange Program passes in Madison County Madison County chapter members had another recent win, resulting from many members of the community contacting their fiscal court representatives.

The county health department had proposed a new Syringe Exchange Program (SEP) with the goal to reduce the transmission of blood-borne pathogens in the community. This is a proven harm reduction program utilized to reduce the risk of accidental needle sticks caused by improper disposal of used needles.

The program needed approval of the Madison County Fiscal Court. While initially hesitant to vote yes to this program, fiscal court members eventually voted unanimously in favor of a countywide SEP. Several members of the fiscal court shared that they were casting their vote in response to the number of informed citizens that contacted them on this issue. One member of the fiscal court went so far as to share that it was the most contacts from constituents in his more than 30 years as a magistrate.

Rebecca Tucker shared her membership story at the Pie Auction. A member since she was a little girl, she attended her first protest when she was 4 years old. Jeremy McQueen was the emcee for the event.

www.kftc.org | April 13, 2017

Balancing the Scales | 15

Local Updates

Georgetown making progress on local Fairness Ordinance Scott County KFTC members the city council had an extended churches in the community.

During the meeting, one of the council members and allies began working to procomment period to allow mem- mote a local non-discrimination bers of the public to speak. Pro- most interested in a fairness ordinance had to leave ordinance that is inclusive of sexual ponents dropped off signatures for personal reasons. Unfortunately, after he had left, orientation and gender identity last of clergy and residents who sup- instead of learning more from the city attorney about year, and since that time have made ported fairness, shared additional how a Fairness Ordinance would work, which would great progress. stories of people being marginal- have answered much of the opposition’s concerns, Hosting Scott County’s first ized as members of the LGBTQ opponents on council moved to table the discussion. ever Pride event last October, they community, and implored the The motion passed 4-3, postponing more discussion on the topic. saw more than 300 people come council to move forward. out to support the LGBTQ com- Rebecca Parker spoke in favor of One attendee, Howard While members were disappointed in the tempomunity. They began circulating a the Fairness Ordinance.

Dean Jessie, said, “Georgetown is rary setback, they are convinced that with a full counpetition encouraging the Georgea wonderful place. Don’t use that cil present, the votes to move forward are there. Not only are they not giving up, but they will continue to town City Council to pass a Fairness Ordinance. as an excuse to marginalize people.”

Allies like Georgetown Fairness have taken the Fairness had opponents in the room as well. Many educate the public about this need.

To follow the work, keep up with the Scott lead in the work, and with KFTC and the Fairness of the people against a possible ordinance spoke of Campaign’s help, were able to get more than 1,000 sig- how they felt the city was welcoming and accepting County chapter or Georgetown Fairness on Facenatures in time for a January meeting of the George- as is, that they had never witnessed discrimination. book: www.facebook.com/GeorgetownFairness and town City Council. They delivered their petition, and Some felt that an ordinance might put restrictions on www.facebook.com/scottcounty.kftc. a few community members shared why they hoped the council would move forward with an ordinance.

Over the next few months, citizens came out to testify about why they felt Georgetown needed such an ordinance. One mother shared the story of how her late daughter was denied housing by a landlord in town, once the landlord found out that her daughter was gay.

Some shared how their faith encouraged them to take care of one another and to ensure that all were offered public accommodation regardless of who or how they loved. Others shared stories of bigoted taunts, or painful decisions to move away, and the feeling that they were not as welcome in their hometown as they Members of the Scott County chapter of KFTC joined Georgetown Fairness to deliver petitions in support wished to be.

The issue came to a head on March 27, when of a fairness ordinance for Scott County. Photos courtesy of Georgetown Fairness.

Scott County members pushing back on landfill expansion

The Scott County KFTC Chapter recently learned about a planned expansion of the existing landfill near Sadieville, and many members were concerned. After reaching out to others in the community and learning about existing opposition, the chapter decided to step into the fight to prevent the landfill expansion.

Since that decision in January, members have attended several hearings on the issue. The first was a Board of Adjustment hearing where the company seeking the expansion of the Central Kentucky Landfill was challenged on whether or not the county planning and zoning commission director for the area was

within his authority to require zoning board approval before the expansion could proceed.

Over several hours, lawyers from both sides testified, as did members of the community, about whether a zoning change was required and why it should or shouldn’t be. Members spoke of concerns about nearby farming land, the need to move clay on the proposed expansion of the property, and the nature of the materials being moved in.

The Board of Adjustment ruled in favor of the commissioner, a victory for local residents. Community members now are preparing to present their con-

cerns to the full zoning board. These concerns include a series of accidents involving dump trucks (including one that took the life of a woman and another that forced a school bus off the road), increased traffic, weight on local roads, water violations from the existing landfill, and more.

In the meantime, allies are sharing stories of concern with elected officials, the Division of Waste Management, and others. Members are hopeful that this discussion will also create more support for curbside recycling being more readily available throughout the county.

16 | Balancing the Scales

www.kftc.org | April 13, 2017 16

Local updates

Big Sandy chapter hosts 8th Growing Appalachia conference

Folks from all across eastern Kentucky gathered at the Hindman Settlement School in late February as the KFTC Big Sandy Chapter hosted the 8th annual Growing Appalachia conference.

The gathering included workshops on Kentucky wild edibles and medicinals, edible landscapes, saving money and energy through home energy efficiency, better gardening for beginner gardeners, and grafting apple trees.

Participants also got to enjoy a locally sourced meal from the talented cooks at the Hindman Settlement School.

The day was made possible by chapter members who helped plan the day, as well as our sponsors MACED (Mountain Association for Community Economic Development), Community Farm Alliance, Appalachian Roots and St. Vincent Mission.

Rachel Norton of MACED showed how a blower door test reveals how energy efficient one’s home is at the Growing Appalachia conference.

Northern Kentucky chapter expands racial justice work

Northern Kentucky came out to protest the second attempted travel ban by the Trump administration and affirm the welcome of immigrants and refugees to their community.

Members of the Northern Ken- were previously undocumented, and tucky KFTC Chapter decided in De- those concerned about the impact cember to begin exploring a local racial Trump’s travel and immigration policies justice committee to develop a sharper could have on friends and neighbors. lens when it comes to racial justice is- Members sang songs, shared sues, and to become more in tune with chants, and celebrated the positive how to support existing work being led impact immigrants and refugees have by people of color and immigrants in had in northern Kentucky and Greater northern Kentucky.

Cincinnati.

Since then, members have dis- The chapter is excited to plug in cussed next steps, begun reaching out more, hoping to work with allies such to allies across the region, and helped as Women Interfaith of Northern Kenlead a rally to support immigrants tucky, the NAACP, Supporting Latino and refugees in the wake of President Family Network, and others.

Donald Trump’s second attempted travel ban.

Follow the Northern Kentucky chapter's The rally featured ongoing work on social media – Instagram several speakers, includat northernky_KFTC, Twitter: @NKY_KFTC, ing those who work with Facebook.com/nky.kftc. undocumented folks,

www.kftc.org | April 13, 2017

Balancing the Scales | 17

Racial Justice

KFTC members stand up against white supremacist groups targeting Kentucky

KFTC members learned in February that three white supremacist groups are coming to Kentucky in April for a series of events in the Prestonsburg and Pikeville areas. Already these groups are in those areas recruiting for their hate-filled agenda.

The lead group, the Traditionalist Worker Party, is described by the Southern Poverty Law Center as “a white nationalist group that advocates for racially pure nations and communities and blames Jews for many of the world’s problems.”

The TWP is coming to Kentucky, according to its literature, because of the high percentage of people who voted for Donald Trump for president. Its leaders feel that moving from a Trump vote to supporting their agenda is not that much of a leap.

The response in the targeted communities was immediate and strongly in opposition to the white supremacists’ presence and message. Several counter events are planned, including the Rally for Equality and American Values on April 29 in Pikeville (go to the Facebook event at: http://bit.ly/2o6SHaJ).

KFTC is supporting these and other actions that build on decades of anti-racism efforts by KFTC. Members are working on a series of actions that started in April and lead up to the rallies and continue in May and afterward. That information is available at: http:// kftc.org/no-hate.

Plans are to continue this work until – as KFTC’s Vision Statement reads – “discrimination is wiped out of our laws, habits and hearts.”

www.kftc.org | April 13, 2017

18 | Balancing the Scales

We are Kentuckians

Cassia Herron, Jefferson County Chapter

Jefferson County member Cassia Herron represented KFTC at the January 21 Rally to Move Forward in Louisville, one of several local marches that took place across the state in solidarity with the Women’s March in Washington, DC. Here are some of her thoughts on leadership development and how she approached the opportunity to speak to a large audience at a historically significant moment.

Why do you identify as a community organizer?

From a grade school student who rallied my peers to challenge our prejudiced teacher to a student at the University of Louisville who worked on improving the conditions on campus for students of color, I have always been a community organizer. It has been a natural position for me, as my peers and colleagues have looked to me to represent a particular position or idea, to rally others in support of it and move us collectively toward action to remedy it.

I have had the opportunity to receive professional organizing training from union organizers and Highlander Center trainers as well as working with Community Farm Alliance and now KFTC. Of course, I’m biased, but I feel these are the best organizers in the south and certainly in Kentucky, and I’m proud to be a product of their great work.

How did you approach this public speaking opportunity, and how was it different from other public speaking opportunities you've had in the past?

I was certainly apprehensive. The invitation came exactly one week in advance. [That] there were no groups representing a predominately Black constituency who’d signed on to the rally was problematic for me. However, I saw it as an opportunity to improve my public speaking skills and express my support and involvement in work in which I champion progress.

I am becoming more and more aware of the importance of my role as a community leader – versus my role as a community organizer – and I viewed this speaking engagement as a way to market my personal brand as a leader “for” great things versus a community activist who is often “against” bad public policy.

What inspired you to share the poem you read?

I am a writer who is re-teaching myself how to write – to have my political voice heard. As an adolescent, poetry was the genre that helped me find my voice as a writer. After hearing Gil Scott-Heron’s “Whitey on the Moon” poem for the first time a few years ago, I was inspired to write “Omni on Third” as

a critique on local economic development policy.

I struggled to write a prepared speech and decided after several attempts to just rely on being in the moment and thought the poem was a provocative way to catch the audience’s attention and communicate a complex issue – economic development policy.

Why did you decide to focus on economic development, the Louisville Food Co-op, and upcoming elections, and how do those things connect to KFTC's work across the commonwealth?

I live this work every day, so in some respects it was easy because it is the work in which I’m most familiar. One of my mantras is that I believe “food can be a catalyst for redevelopment for both urban and rural communities.”

While Kentuckians continue to allow ourselves to be separated by geography, race and economics, I believe food – the growing, harvesting, distribution, selling and consumption of food – can become part of the solution to bringing people together and improving our democracy. We are using principles of cooperation and equity to create a democratically controlled social enterprise – a cooperatively-owned grocery store – to answer community issues of access to food and improving our local food system.

Similarly, central to KFTC’s work is the idea that ordinary people have the knowledge and skills to develop creative solutions to challenging community issues.

Whether it’s food, energy policy, education or election reform, we must have ordinary people with great ideas to actively participate in democratic processes to fix these problems.

It is only through this that our democracy improves and I know no other way except through community organizing to give people the opportunity to participate. Having an audience of thousands is the perfect opportunity to invite others to join our efforts!

How were you feeling right before you took the mic?

How did you feel after you left the stage?

I felt pressure and the need to connect, and I was relieved that the rally audience made the job palatable.

I could tell they wanted something to cheer, and so I tried to use words and phrases that feed that desire.

Afterwards, I was happy it was over and was even more anxious to know if my words resonated with the audience.

I wish I would have actually read part of KFTC’s vision because the words are so powerful and the audience would have hung on every one of them. It felt

good to hear the crowd roar when I said “I’m a member of KFTC.” Immediately, I felt supported and in community with comrades.

I knew most in the crowd were not KFTC members, but that our name, our vision and my ability to articulate some of our work drew them in made me feel proud to represent the organization.

You did a great membership pitch for KFTC. Why do you think it’s important for us to consistently invite people to join KFTC? People equals power! When people join KFTC, the organization raises resources to support our work, but more importantly it increases the opportunity for us to improve our democracy by giving ordinary people tools to create solutions to our everyday problems.

What’s some advice you would share with other members who are invited to speak about KFTC at rallies, forums, etc.?

Read directly from KFTC’s vision statement and other framing language on our issues.

Prepare notes or a written statement when possible.

Be vulnerable and find a way to connect with the audience. Storytelling is a great way to personalize and clarify complex issues.

Know your role and understand its importance to the moment. In this instance, I knew the other speakers probably wouldn’t focus on economic development policy and that there wouldn’t be another person who could speak to food access like I could.

Ask the audience to join KFTC! People equals power!

You can listen to Herron’s speech at https://vimeo. com/205078800.

www.kftc.org | April 13, 2017

Balancing the Scales | 19

Opportunities this spring to take action on climate justice

This spring is a critical moment in the history of the U.S. movement for climate justice and a Just Transition for affected workers and communities.

KFTC members and allies around the country have an opportunity right now to advance a vision for just, thriving and sustainable local economies while putting up powerful resistance to actions that threaten health and climate. That’s an important part of KFTC’s “imperatives” – to lead with vision while resisting the bad.

This means working in ways that build relationships and strengthen solidarity among many groups whose rights, security and well-being are at risk, including indigenous groups, communities of color, immigrants and refugees, workers and union members, white working class communities, LGBTQ individuals, Muslims and others.

As part of that broad, inclusive movement, KFTC members are gearing up for a range of important actions in April and beyond. Planned actions include: •

•

•

groups are gathering in eastern Kentucky.

A powerful U.S. movement for climate justice has never been more needed. The Trump administration and Republicans in Congress are taking steps to wipe out a wide range of climate policies and commitments.

On March 28, President Trump issued an executive order directing EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt to begin the process of undoing the Clean Power Plan and end a federal moratorium on new coal mining on federal lands.

In addition, Trump’s budget proposal cuts the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency by 31 percent and eliminates U.S. contributions to a global climate fund.

Trump recently announced steps to move forward with the Dakota Access and Keystone XL pipelines and roll back fuel efficiency standards for cars and trucks.

And the first bill passed by the new Congress struck down a rule to protect headwater streams from coal mining. Congress may act again to strike another rule preventing the release of methane gas on federal lands.

In mid-April KFTC will release the Empower Trump’s budget director Mick Mulvaney said, Kentucky Plan, a people’s energy plan for when announcing the budget proposals, “Regarding Kentucky that will be better for jobs, health the question as to climate change, the president was and pollution levels than the business-as-usual fairly straightforward. We’re not spending money on approach, prioritize clean energy investments in that anymore.” low-income communities, and invest hundreds of That policy directive runs counter to scientific millions of dollars in a just transition for affected and economic reality and shirks a moral obligation to workers and communities. provide a stable and life-sustaining climate for future KFTC, the Kentucky Student Environmental generations.

Coalition, and other groups around the state It also is against the recommendations of major are organizing strong turnout for the People’s associations of banks, insurance companies, international Climate March in Washington D.C. on climate panels and health agencies, as well as the U.S. Saturday, April 29. Buses are traveling from military, all who have argued that climate change is Paducah-Louisville-Morehead (see http://bit. already causing harm to the U.S. and world economy. ly/2oXIdOW) and Bowling Green-Lexington Public health and global stability are at risk and (see: http://bit.ly/2ot1qGX). Check the links will greatly accelerate over the next 50-100 years. to see if tickets are still Sustained investments are available. needed, starting now, to avoid KFTC also is helping to disasters and prevent much organize turnout for a more expensive remedies Rally for Equality and later.

American Values in Meanwhile, 2016 Pikeville, which is taking was the warmest year in place on the same day recorded history, according http://kftc.org/empowerky as the People’s Climate to the National Oceanic and March in Washington.

Atmospheric Administration, This rally is a show of the third consecutive recordwww.facebook.com/empower. anti-racist unity at a time breaking year. kentucky when white supremacist The American Public

Stay up to date with the Empower Kentucky Project at:

Health Association declared 2017 the “Year of Climate Change and Health” in an effort to highlight the many harmful consequences of rising global temperatures, including food and water shortages, the spread of insect diseases, and increased deaths and illness from heat, pollution and severe weather events.

Kentuckians have a lot at stake as decisions are made about the country’s energy future and measures to reduce climate pollution. Until 2015, more than 90 percent of Kentucky’s electric generation came from coal-burning power plants.

The state’s aging power plants emit large amounts of health-harming pollution (including mercury, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides and particulate matter), in addition to millions of tons of greenhouse gases each year.

Yet Kentucky’s dependence on coal means its transition to a clean energy economy is complex and special attention must be paid to the impacts of any changes on consumers, workers, industries and vulnerable communities.

KFTC’s Empower Kentucky Plan, which will be released publicly in mid-April, is the result of an 18-month project. During that time, KFTC members gathered diverse public input to develop an energy plan for Kentucky that exceeds the EPA’s Clean Power Plan requirements while producing better results – in terms of jobs, health and average bills – than a business as usual scenario.

“We have a new model. It looks different than any of us could have predicted,” KFTC member Steve Wilkins noted. “Kentucky could dramatically increase jobs and keep bills lower while dramatically reducing the carbon footprint of the commonwealth.

“Solar and wind would play a larger part in energy production,” he continued. “Coal plants would still operate with far fewer closures than some expected, but those plants would operate at lower levels than they do now.”

“Just a photograph of Beijing or Los Angeles in the 1960s vividly illustrates the need for EPA,” Shelby County KFTC member Gail Chandler said, reflecting on why those kinds of meaningful actions are needed to protect our health and environment. “The weather news, showing a difference of temperature between cities and countryside, should be enough to demonstrate the impact of humans on the environment. Or a flip through a National Geographic article on [melting ice in] Greenland should scare the administration to forward thinking on climate change.

www.kftc.org | April 13, 2017

20 | Balancing the Scales

Voter engagement with elected officials Jim Wayne: called to be active

By Colin Lauderdale

teachings on social justice,” he said. “You cannot say you love God if you’re not taking care of the most vulnerable In January 1989, Jim Wayne walked through people in your community.” State government, he the long, thin 35th legislative district in Louisville, says, should have a bias toward protection of the most knocking on doors. To anyone who answered, he said, vulnerable over the interests of the wealthy. Too often “I’m Jim Wayne, no relation to John Wayne, but you in Frankfort, that isn’t the case. can remember my name that way.” He was challenging It especially wasn’t the case in the first week of the an incumbent in the Democratic Primary to represent 2017 General Assembly, when Republicans ramrodded the 35th district in Kentucky’s General Assembly. two anti-worker bills into law. One limits labor The trick worked. Voters remembered Jim Wayne unions’ ability to collect dues; the other eliminated a on Election Day and sent him to Frankfort in 1990. requirement that contractors doing work for the state Every two years since then, they’ve sent him back. pay their workers a competitive wage.

Jim Wayne is a tall, lean, soft-spoken man, careful It’s tempting to see Wayne’s opposition to these and confident in his words. He speaks with the easy bills as a moral objection based in his faith, and maybe candor of a man who knows himself, is grounded in it is. But it’s also grounded in his sharp economic his beliefs, and has nothing to hide. analysis. Though a social worker and therapist by Wayne was first drawn to politics long before he training, Wayne is also the founder and president of started campaigning for the state house. He first worked Wayne Corporation, a successful private practice, and in Washington in 1974 as an aide to Southern Indiana his business experience should not be underestimated.

Congressman Phil Hayes, a “Watergate Baby” voted “Business leaders and corporate interests seem to into office in the wake of President Nixon’s resignation. think that if business is going well, then we’re all going

“That whet my appetite a bit,” said Wayne, “but it to do well. And that’s not true,” said Wayne. “You saw also let me know I didn’t want to work in Washington.” that with passage of the two anti-labor bills.” It doesn’t According to Wayne, for someone who wants to help workers when you pass legislation that “destroys serve their community, “change can be made more unions and lowers the wages of struggling craftspeople. effectively here than in

“Corporate people Washington.” don’t experience the same

In his day job, Wayne world that I see,” said serves as president of Wayne. In the 35th district, Wayne Corporation, there are people who work which provides mental three jobs and raise three health programs and kids by themselves and employee assistance to fix a broken car and pay more than 85 different the gas and light bills and organizations, from buy discount groceries unions to hospitals, that have been dented in agencies to corporations. shipment and only buy His professional clothes and toys for their background – both as a kids secondhand. social worker and as the

“These are vulnerable founder and president of a people. Their lives are in successful private practice jeopardy at all times,” said – informs his work as a Wayne. These are the people politician. he thinks of first when he Wayne’s political considers the value of any style incorporates these state policy. experiences with his deep

Many Balancing the Scales readers are aware of Catholic faith, which he the regressive anti-worker applies very practically to legislation passed in the first state policy.

Rep. Jim Wayne (second from left) welcomes and

“I’m blessed to come encourages grassroots lobbyists to share their views week of the 2017 General from a Catholic tradition with him and other legislators, as he did in 2016 with A s s e m b l y. So m e h ow, the story is worse from that has strong, clear Ryan Fenwick, Amelia Cloud and Rosanne Klarer.

the inside. “What you saw [in the first week] was very irresponsible leadership,” said Wayne, before rattling off a list of grievances against the majority’s abuses of power: •

•

• •

Members were forced to vote on rules they weren’t allowed to read beforehand.

Leadership rushed through a vote limiting floor debate to one hour, and tacked an extra legislative day onto the first week to pass the bills without risking public exposure over the weekend.

Committee hearings weren’t announced beforehand, so opponents couldn’t travel to the capitol or schedule time off work to testify.

Labor union members “in their work clothes and boots” weren’t allowed into the committee hearing on the bills because “the power elite in their suits and ties” had filled the room.

In response to the House floor leader’s mumbled motions and rushed votes, Wayne and several other legislators developed a method of immediately objecting to motions in order to slow down the majority, at least long enough to know what they were voting on.

“I know he got irritated with me after a while,” Wayne admitted. “But that irritation was mutual.”

Wayne works hard to avoid personal attacks on fellow politicians, but he has no problem letting his opinion be heard. The day after the anti-worker bills passed, Wayne was quoted in the Louisville CourierJournal saying, “God must be creating a huge addition to hell to accommodate the forces behind this kind of legislation.”

Given the outcome of the 2016 general election in our state, irritating the floor leader to buy time is one of few legislative tools available to progressives in the General Assembly. Wayne is as aware of this situation as every other progressive in Kentucky politics. And after 26 years in the legislature, it’s easy to assume that Wayne is disheartened by the current state of our politics. But the opposite is true.

“We may go through some dark times,” he said, but “I belong to a group of people that are a people of hope. Right now, I’m motivated by the strength of the opposition. For me to be passive at this time is not what I am called to do. At this time, I’m called to be active.”

www.kftc.org | April 13, 2017

Balancing the Scales | 21

2017 General Assembly

Stand For Kentucky shows solidarity during dismal session KFTC members knew coming into the 2017 General Assembly that it would be a session like no other. Republicans did not disappoint.

Republican leaders pushed through bills that were harmful and insulting to workers, women, teachers, African Americans, officials in Kentucky’s larger cities, the elderly and others.

They were set on what their agenda and priorities were, prodded by the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce and the American Legislative Exchange Council. That agenda focused, as a Lexington Herald-Leader article pointed out, on shifting more power and wealth to those who already have a lot of it.

“This year has been full of surprises,” said Laura Harper, a Southern Kentucky chapter leader. “We have a general frustration as we witness our democratic legislators act undemocratically. They’re acting like wet noodles instead of the bold leaders we expect them to be.

“The new landscape makes standard government processes feel foreign, but it has also inspired a fresh

crowd to help offer innovative ideas on how to address the challenges we’re facing,” Harper added. “We also witnessed our collective power as we stand together in resistance.”

KFTC members had a steady grassroots lobbying presence at the capitol and with at-home activities. That presence was most noticed on February 7 at the Stand For Kentucky action.

Several hundred members of KFTC and ally groups such as the United Food and Commercial Workers spent the day in trainings and smaller actions. Then, for nearly an hour, they lined the hallways and stairs to the House and Senate chambers in silence as legislators made their way to their afternoon sessions.

That silent presence provoked more notice and discomfort than spoken challenges.

Each participant wore a large sticker that read, “I Stand For ______” and each person wrote in what they were standing for – black lives, renters’ rights, clean air, full funding for public education and many other issues and passions.

Everyone also was given a yellow bandana to wear somewhere on their body in a further show of solidarity.

After standing, participants walked together in a long line and sang to let their voices be heard in front of the Senate and House chambers.

Solid as a rock … solid as a rock Rooted like a tree … rooted like a tree We are here … we are here Standing strong … standing strong In our rightful place.

Action tables set up in the capitol annex cafeteria gave participants information for writing, calling, emailing and texting legislators and the governor, a chance to fill out their personal “I Stand For _____” sticker, and take other actions.

The action was unique and powerful, members reflected afterwards, and gave them a sense of solidarity and strength – even in the bowels of a hostile legislature.

Video of that action is found on KFTC’s Facebook page at: https://www.facebook. com/81185680159/videos/10158336824265160/.

Members also have been engaging elected officials on the local level, such as in Bowling Green, where they are pushing for a local fairness ordinance since it seems unlikely there will be a statewide fairness law soon.

Their effort has put pressure on city commissioners to the extent that “the commission made a direct move to silence us by moving the public comment section to the end of the meeting,” Harper explained.

Everyone was given a bandana to wear or hold as a further show of solidarity.

“We have the momentum, we have the people, we have the attention,” Harper reflected. “We are a driving force for change at the local, state and national levels. We will support each other in order to create the Kentucky we want to see.

“In such a frightening and overwhelming time in history, we will stand together for our vision.”

There was a companion Stand For Kentucky event in Paducah on February 7, organized by folks who are now part of KFTC’s new Western Kentucky chapter.

www.kftc.org | April 13, 2017

22 | Balancing the Scales

2017 General Assembly

Voting rights legislation goes unnoticed by House leaders For the first time in 11 sessions of the General Assembly, voting rights legislation failed to pass the Kentucky House.

Introduced as House Bill 170 and in the Senate as Senate Bill 69 in the just concluded session, neither bill received a hearing or vote.

Since 2007, similar legislation has been passed by the House by large, bipartisan margins each time.

“Legislators have failed the quarter of a million voters who have no voice,” said KFTC member Tayna Fogle, who has been instrumental in raising awareness of this injustice and getting the bill through the House in the past. “Are they trying to axe people out of the American dream?”

HB 170 had 27 Democratic cosponsors and no Republican cosponsors, although bills in past sessions had plenty of support from House Republicans.

Over the last 10 sessions, voting rights legislation

has passed the House 11 times, receiving 83 percent of the votes cast. Each year the legislation was stopped by Senate Republican leaders.

“This is a civil rights issue. We know what the country is leaning toward is segregation again,” Fogle pointed out.

“We can’t give up hope – that’s what they want us to do. We’ll work harder now, even harder than before.

There’s an election in 2018, and we have some work to do.”

League report shows increase in those denied vote

Northern Kentucky chapter members Lauren Gabbard, Sister Joyce Moeller and Richard Young met with Sen. Will Schroeder during the session to discuss a variety of issues.

In February, the League of Women Voters of Kentucky released a report, Felony Disenfranchisement in the Commonwealth of Kentucky, showing Kentucky has the third highest in the nation rate of citizens and the highest rate of African Americans who have lost their right to vote despite completing their full felony sentence.

According to the report, Kentucky is one of only four states to enforce lifetime voting bans on all persons with felony convictions, resulting in the disenfranchisement of more than 312,000 residents.

One of every 11 adults in Kentucky is ineligible to vote due to a previous felony conviction, a rate of 9.1 percent, nearly three times the national average of 2.47 percent or one in 40.

Among African Americans, almost one in four is disenfranchised, a rate of 26.2 percent, more than triple the national rate of 9.1 percent.

The report also finds that 92 percent of those disenfranchised live in the community and 78 percent have completed their full sentence.

Find the report here: http://bit.ly/2oZd9y6

Perry County members let legislators hear from them After the 2016 election, many folks were left feeling sad, angry, hurt and generally unsure of what to do next. Members in Perry County came together and, through a series of dinner conversations, found ways to build community and take action around issues they care about.

Initially brought together by Jenny Williams last November, a group of folks met to debrief the election and find support with each other over a homemade meal. They talked about the national election, as well as the local implications of statewide results, and shared how they were taking care of themselves post election and ideas for moving forward.

“I was so disheartened and tired after the election that it felt like the only productive thing I could do was feed people,” said Williams of the dinner idea. “I trusted that if I did just that, and only that, the people around my

table would lift me up. And they did.”

As the General Assembly got underway in January, Chris Doll – who came to Williams’ post-election dinner – invited folks over to share another meal and to talk about what Kentuckians could expect during the session.

More than a dozen folks came and learned about particular bills, how to keep up with the often fast-paced movement of legislation, and the best ways to get in contact with their representatives.

The following month, Anne Kuhnen hosted a potluck for folks to come and put everything they’d learned into action.

Armed with KFTC’s bill tracker, the legislative guide, and their phones, folks made dozens of calls to the Legislative Message Line, tweeted to their representatives, and wrote notes thanking them for their support of certain bills.

Members and friends in Perry County gathered at each other’s homes several times in recent months to discuss current events and contact their representatives about legislation in the General Assembly.

www.kftc.org | April 13, 2017

Balancing the Scales | 23

2017 General Assembly

Organized opposition stops bill designed to end rooftop solar retracted the bill.” called net metering, that sets the SB 214 was especially alarming terms by which customers are cred- “The one thing that stopped this bill was the full force since Kentucky already has some of ited for electricity their solar panels of opposition to SB 214 by the most restrictive policies in the napump into the electric grid.

KFTC and our allies.” tion when it comes to locally-owned SB 214 would have significantrenewable energy. ly reduced the value of this credit Steve Wilkins for new solar customers. It also alMadison County • The state’s tiny tax incentives for lowed utilities to change the value rooftop solar expired two years ago of the credit they offer in the future, and have not been renewed. making it impossible for potential solar customers to evaluate if their investment in solar would ever be • Kentucky is one of four states that do not allow “third party ownership” of renewable energy sysworthwhile. tems, which limits many leasing arrangements and For perhaps the first time, lawmakers in Kentucky blocks independently-owned community solar. were faced with the realization that support for homegrown solar energy jobs and opportunities is broad and • Kentucky’s current net metering policy caps the size of any net-metered solar array at 30 kW, despite the deep across the state. fact that many states allow net-metering for systems Carpenter told a reporter with The Courier Jourup to 1,000 or even 2,000 kW. nal he was “shocked” by the degree of opposition to his • And Kentucky doesn’t allow virtual net metering, bill. This came from: which means customers cannot assign their netmetering credit to another account on the same • KFTC, the Kentucky Solar Energy Society and system (in other words, a farmer with a sunny barn other allies who got the word out to their members and shaded house cannot install panels on her barn and networks that generated hundreds of messages and assign the credits to her home account.) to legislators.

• Solar businesses that sent their employees to Frank Despite those barriers, Kentucky’s homegrown fort to meet with lawmakers.

• A letter drafted and circulated by KFTC that quick- solar industry has grown in recent years as solar instally was signed by nearly 200 businesses and organiza- lation costs plummet. The industry now employs more than 1,000 people in the commonwealth. tions opposing SB 214.

• And solar busi- A jobs census produced by the Solar Energy Innesses and advocates dustry Association (SEIA) counts 46 companies in who worked urgently Kentucky’s solar industry, including 14 manufacturers, behind the scenes to 17 contractors and installers, two project developers, develop “less bad” al- two distributors, and 11 firms that provide a range of engineering, legal and financing services. ternatives to the bill.

“Federal and state incentives have been making a “Senators did not difference in Kentucky. We now have a growing solar understand that this industry and an increasing number of families turning bill would destroy to solar power in their own homes,” observed Shelby Kentucky’s free en- County KFTC member Nancy Reinhart. “I have sevterprise rooftop so- eral friends who have planned their retirements around lar business, leaving the benefits they forecasted from having panels on solar development their houses. We are seeing more and more how sun totally in the hands keeps the light on, inside and out!” of monopoly electric “Stopping this bill was important because it gives utilities,” Wilkins ex- us hope,” concluded Louisville resident Cassia Herplained. “When edu- ron. “And it helps us understand what matters most Madison County KFTC members have been developing a relationship with Sen. cated on what the bill to legislators. It’s not about the environment or future Jared Carpenter, such as during this 2013 chapter meeting with Carpenter (upper would actually do, generations; they are concerned about how it would right). That relationship paid off when members had to work with the senator to Sen. Carpenter wisely look if they cause people to lose jobs.” explain flaws in Senate Bill 214.

Kentucky’s homegrown solar industry and clean energy supporters worked feverishly in the 2017 General Assembly to stop a bill that would have brought the expansion of rooftop solar to a screeching halt in the commonwealth.

They breathed a sigh of relief when, as a result of their efforts, Senate Bill 214 sponsor Sen. Jared Carpenter of Berea announced he would not call his own bill for a hearing in the Senate committee he chairs.

“The one thing that stopped this bill was the full force of opposition to SB 214 by KFTC and our allies,” said Steve Wilkins, a KFTC member from Madison County.

Shelby County KFTC member Gail Chandler, who is a solar customer, explained why she and so many others opposed the bill.

“Solar is a fast growing new employer, providing more jobs than coal across the U.S. SB 214 would effectively grind these new businesses to a halt in Kentucky and send the workers to the unemployment lines,” she said.

“Additionally, homeowners who bought into the promise of solar would have lost their investment, causing a substantial hardship, especially on the elderly who hoped for a hedge against inflation on their fixed incomes.”

The legislation was strongly supported by utility companies, rural electric cooperatives and the coal association. It was designed to end an existing policy,

www.kftc.org | April 13, 2017

24 | Balancing the Scales

2017 General Assembly

Pro-corporate charter schools bill fails Kentucky children

By Amber Morgan On March 21, Kentucky became the 44th state to adopt a charter schools bill.

Unlike several other states, the language used in Kentucky’s charter schools bill is vague and sorely lacking in oversights that would protect our most vulnerable and most precious resources, our children. HB 520 intentionally leaves out regulations that safeguard against discrimination and corporate fraud.

Supporters of HB 520 have said its purpose is to encourage innovation. They also claim that by allowing charter schools in Kentucky, public schools will be forced to improve, despite zero credible research to support this idea.

In reality HB 520’s purpose is to turn schools into corporations that make money for the “charters” that govern them, while using federal money to operate autonomously, opening the door to legal discrimination (i.e. school segregation).

HB 520 fails to do the following: •

• • • • •

Fully address funding for charters (HB 471 states that some funds shall be transferred from public schools, but the bill fails to address specific funding questions.)

Cap the number of charters that can operate Regulate who can apply to become a charter.

This includes for-profit corporations, private (non-profit) schools, home school groups, etc.

Place clear regulations on how transportation funds can be used by charters Address how/if students who attend charters will be fed Require a certain percentage of students who qualify for free or reduced-price lunch be admitted or given preference to attend a charter

staff as well as admitting and retaining students. They have also threatened the elimination of programs like SCAPA (School for the Creative and Performing Arts), Gifted and Talented, Pre-engineering, afterschool programs, and others.

The failure to address key issues in HB 520 did not go unnoticed by Kentucky residents. Seven Fayette representatives willingly provided constituent feedback. Rep. James Kay had communication with hundreds of his constituents, and approximately 98 percent were opposed to HB 520. Rep. Sannie Overly spoke with numerous constituents who were all opposed to HB 520, and Rep. Robert Benvenuti said that his constituents were split 50/50 over the issue.

Other legislators reported:

Rep. Russ Meyer – 200 against and 5 in favor Rep. Susan Westrom – 300 against and 3 in favor Sen. Tom Buford – 289 against and 15 in favor

Jefferson County Representative Attica Scott tweeted that she alone had heard from over 500 of her constituents who were all opposed to HB 520.

During debates on the House floor, bill sponsor Rep. John “Bam” Carney seemed unclear about many aspects of HB 520, as shown by needing to have state employee Wayne Lewis answer questions for him.

Despite being unable to clearly address funda-

mental issues with HB 520, the thousands of Fayette and Jefferson county residents expressing their concerns about HB 520, and hours of testimony and debate by experts that took place on the House floor against its passage, the bill still passed.

It’s important to note that charter schools themselves are not inherently bad, nor are the faculty/staff who work in them or the students who attend. There are quite a few charter schools that are extremely successful.

A dear friend of mine teaches at a successful charter school. The issue with Kentucky’s charter school bill is that it is sorely lacking in regulations that make other charter schools successful, as supported by research. HB 520 was written not with the intent to provide Kentucky’s children with educational opportunities, but rather to use Kentucky’s children as a source of income.

Perhaps more troubling is the fact that HB 520 will encourage re-segregation, and in the words of Atticus Finch in To Kill a Mockingbird, “The one thing that doesn’t abide by majority rule is a person’s conscience.”

It therefore becomes our responsibility to question and stand up to those who would so casually disregard our children’s future by undermining public schools, and we must actively work to ensure that Kentucky does not appear as another statistic on the list of failed charter school experiments.

Failure to address such crucial issues will open the door to discriminatory practices in hiring faculty/

Thanks

for being a member or supporter of KFTC. You make the work you read about in Balancing the Scales possible – all 35+ years of it!

www.kftc.org | April 13, 2017

Balancing the Scales | 25

2017 General Assembly

Legislative Outcomes Here are some of the bills that passed – or didn’t – during the 2017 General Assembly. This is not a complete list: other bills could be added in each category. Some bills would fit under more than one heading. For a complete list of bills introduced in the 2017 General Assembly, visit the Legislative Research Commission’s website at www.lrc.ky.gov/record/17RS/record.htm.

Good bills that went nowhere

Just plain mean

Senate Bill 69 and House Bill 170 – the Restoration of Voting Rights for former felons

House Bill 2 – mandates that women get an unneeded ultrasound prior to an abortion

House Bill 263 – tax reform to make Kentucky's tax system more fair, adequate and sustainable with a variety of reforms while raising hundreds of millions of dollars in new revenue

Senate Bill 8 – defines how public funds shall be granted to entities providing family planning services, specifically written to deny funds to Planned Parenthood

House Bill 327 and Senate Bill 63 – would have prohibited discrimination in housing, employment, public accommodations and financial transactions on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity

Bills that passed that make the world less safe

Senate Bill 33, House Bill 178, House Bill 420 – bills that would have increased the minimum wage House Concurrent Resolution 50 – urge Congress to pass the RECLAIM Act Senate Bill 131 and House Bill 251 – to abolish the death penalty House Bill 510 – the Uniform Residential Landlord Tenant Act House Bill 338 – the Clean Energy Opportunity Act

Bills that passed designed to lower wages & increase the wealth gap

House Bill 14 – aims to undermine the Black Lives Matter movement and creates a new category covered by hate crime laws based solely on occupation House Bill 384 – replaces up to three of the six required annual underground coal mine inspections with mine safety “analysis visits” and reduces the minimum number of annual full electrical inspections from two to one House Bill 184 – increases the highway weight limit for vehicles with “metal commodities” from 80,000 pounds to 120,000 pounds Senate Bill 11 – lifts the ban on nuclear power plants by requiring only a plan for storage of nuclear waste rather than a permanent means of disposal Senate Bill 5 – denies women their right to an abortion after 20 weeks of pregnancy

House Bill 1 – allows workers to benefit from union-negotiated contracts without membership in or financial support of that labor union

Passed bills designed to undermine our democracy

House Bill 3 – removes the requirement that local governments require employers to pay prevailing wage to employees

Senate Bill 107 – gives sweeping new powers to the governor to abolish public educational governing boards, including at state universities, the Kentucky Board of Education and the Council on Postsecondary Education

Senate Bill 151 – takes away “employee” status for workers hired by a franchisee, meaning they are no longer protected by wage, safety, overtime and similar rules House Bill 520 – expands authorization for establishing charter schools to draw students and resources from public education

Bills that passed to give more power to those who already have a lot of it House Bill 72 – requires community groups and others challenging local zoning decisions to the court of appeals to post bonds of $100,000 up to $250,000

Senate Bill 75 – doubles the amount that donors can contribute to state political campaigns and allows unlimited donations from corporations for “building funds” Senate Bill 4 – creates medical review panels to decide the merits of malpractice and neglect claims against doctors, hospitals and nursing homes before the claims can proceed in court as lawsuits.

House Bill 277 – eases anti-nepotism rules for aunts, uncles, daughters-inlaw and sons-in-law of school board members to be hired by a school district More information about these bills and others, including how legislators voted, can be found at www.kftc.org/2017-general-assembly-outcomes

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26 | Balancing the Scales

KFTC’s Spring Membership and Fundraising Campaign is underway. Thanks for giving generously to support the new initiatives described by KFTC Chair Elizabeth Sanders below, and all the existing work described in this newsletter. Please respond to Elizabeth’s letter you may have received in the mail, give online at: www.kftc.org/support, or use the mail-in form on 6.

Build grassroots power

Support KFTC’s Organizing Academy and Apprentices Our values are being challenged every day – both here at home in Kentucky and across the country.

But KFTC members are standing for the Kentucky we know is possible. In the halls of Frankfort and in our communities, we’re resisting with a vision for affordable healthcare, clean energy solutions, fairness and equality, and a healthy democracy.

Already this year, KFTC members have: • • • •

Lined the halls of the capitol in silent resistance at our Stand for Kentucky event.

Called, written to and met with elected leaders by the hundreds.

Turned out in big numbers to pressure congressional reps at town hall meetings.

Spoken up for our values at rallies, marches and in the media.

We believe in the power of community organizing. We know change doesn’t happen at the ballot box alone; voting is one tool of many. When folks come together around a common vision, we can make changes that benefit all of us. And when elected leaders do things that threaten our vision, we can stand together and resist.

This moment is ripe for community organizing. Hundreds of new people are turning out to KFTC chapter meetings, trainings and resistance events across the state. Folks in western Kentucky are so motivated that they came together to form a new KFTC chapter.

This year KFTC launches the Organizing Academy to train folks in organizing skills and put more organizers on the ground in our communities. We’re also hiring Organizer Apprentices who will work with KFTC staff to learn about and practice community organizing. This strategy will help us build a larger, deeper movement of Kentuckians taking action for justice.

Your donation to KFTC during our spring membership and fundraising campaign will support the Organizing Academy and Apprentices. Here are some ways you can contribute: • • • •

Become a Sustaining Giver. Your Sustaining Gift will support the work now and into the future – building power for the long haul. Set up an automatic, recurring gift today, and you’ll never have to worry about renewing your membership.

Renew your membership with a one-time gift. Your gift of any size will renew your membership for another year and support the work this year.

Join KFTC. If you aren’t yet a member, now is a great time to join. Your gift of any size will make you a member and support the work this year.

Recruit a friend or family member to join KFTC. As our numbers grow, so does our power.

Now is the time to stand for the Kentucky we know is possible. As our vision statement says, we’re working for a day when all Kentuckians enjoy a better quality of life. When everyone has health care, shelter, food, education, clean water and other basic needs. When discrimination is wiped out of our laws, habits and hearts.

We believe in the power of community organizing to achieve this vision. Your membership in KFTC makes it possible.

Elizabeth Sanders, KFTC Chairperson

KFTC OFFICES and STAFF MAIN OFFICE Morgan Brown, Burt Lauderdale and Ashley Frasher P.O. Box 1450 | London, Kentucky 40743 606-878-2161 | Fax: 606-878-5714

FIELD OFFICES Louisville Elizabeth Adami, Alicia Hurle, Ryeshia Reves and Carissa Lenfert 735 Lampton Street #202 Louisville, Ky 40203 502-589-3188 Whitesburg Sara Pennington P.O. Box 463 Whitesburg, Ky 41858 606-632-0051 Bowling Green Molly Kaviar 502-599-3989 Northern Kentucky Joe Gallenstein and Caitlin Sparks 640 Main Street Covington, Ky 41005 859-380-6103 Central Kentucky Jessica Hays Lucas, Beth Howard, Erik Hungerbuhler, Heather Roe Mahoney and Tyler Offerman 250 Plaza Drive, Suite 4 Lexington, Ky 40503 859-276-0563 Floyd County Jessie Skaggs and Jerry Hardt 152 North Lake Drive • P.O. Box 864 Prestonsburg, Ky 41653 606-263-4982 Berea Lisa Abbott, Amy Hogg, Kevin Pentz, Sasha Zaring and Michael Harrington 210 N. Broadway, Unit #3 Berea, Ky 40403 859-756-4027

Email any staff member at firstname@kftc. org except for Jessica Hays Lucas, use jessicabreen@kftc.org; Beth Howard, use bethhoward@kftc.org

continued on BTS page 13

www.kftc.org | April 13, 2017

Balancing the Scales | 27

KFTC News

Steering Committee focuses on KFTC’s organizing strategy At their March 25 meeting, Steering Committee members addressed in depth several issues that will guide KFTC’s work in the coming months and years, buoyed by the inclusion of a new chapter in western Kentucky.

Andy Wiggins and Stephen Montgomery made the long drive to Berea from Paducah and Murray, respectively, to present a petition from members in those communities to become KFTC’s newest chapter (see related story on page 5). After hearing the exciting work already taking place in the chapter, the committee voted enthusiastically to accept the Western Kentucky Chapter.

Wiggins thanked the committee and said that the Western Kentucky chapter will “work hard to uphold the reputation of KFTC.” Committee members shared other good work happening around the state as they went around the room and introduced themselves. Chairperson Elizabeth Sanders asked each person to highlight some of the work that they and other members have been working on in recent months.

Each person spoke of some recent local success or important activity, from the Jefferson County chapter’s work on the People’s Guide to the Budget, to the Wilderness Trace chapter’s work to address coal ash and selenium runoff polluting Herrington Lake.

A good portion of the meeting was devoted to a discussion about KFTC’s organizing strategy – the overall approach KFTC takes in organizing communities across Kentucky to build grassroots power oriented toward a shared vision.

They were reminded of 10 ways KFTC works to build power, including an emphasis on educating and informing themselves and others as a method to build power. “The kind of information I get from KFTC is different and transformative,” pointed out Dana Beasley Brown, KFTC’s immediate past chair.

Committee members also discussed the ways that KFTC helps members become leaders as a power building method. Sharon Murphy of the Central Kentucky chapter highlighted the importance of leadership development with the reminder, “Organizations stay relevant in society when they evolve and develop new leaders.”

Members emphasized that KFTC learns a lot from partners and allies, and that forging alliances is an important piece of KFTC’s organizing strategy.

“Forging alliances expands our vision and presents opportunities to learn from others and be more inclusive,” Allison Crawford of Lexington stressed. Robby Olivam of Jefferson County agreed, saying, “We can’t do this work alone.”

After returning from lunch, the Steering Committee discussed ways that KFTC puts its organizing strategy into action, emphasizing racial justice organizing in eastern Kentucky and work supporting anti-white supremacy actions, the Empower Kentucky initiative, the Tax Justice campaign, and efforts to launch the new Organizing Academy and Organizer Apprentice programs.

Sanders, of Letcher County, briefed the committee on how members are involved in planning and supporting local responses to an unwelcome meeting and

rally in April of white supremacist groups from outside the region. KFTC has a long-term strategy to promote racial justice in eastern Kentucky and is working to lift up a positive vision, rooted in equality, in the counter activities being planned.

Committee members also got briefed on KFTC’s campaign for tax justice and building an equitable, fair and progressive tax structure that results in a state budget that works for everyone.

Meta Mendel-Reyes of Madison County connected this current work with KFTC’s founding, reminding those gathered that “we started as Kentucky Fair Tax Coalition.”

The briefing on this campaign energized committee members and Leslie Bebensee of Scott County said, “It has been fun being on the Tax Justice committee,” adding, to light chuckles, “Who would have thought?”

Committee members also heard an update on KFTC’s Organizing Academy as well as the hiring process for Organizer Apprentices (see related story below).

Other business during the day included accepting a Leadership Development Committee recommendation to extend an invitation to social justice facilitator Adrienne Maree Brown to be the keynote speaker at the annual membership meeting in August and that the theme center around art and activism.

They also reviewed a financial report and the executive director’s annual evaluation before finally discussing logistics for their May Steering Committee leadership retreat before the meeting was adjourned.

KFTC launches organizer apprentice and organizing academy programs Amid a fast-changing political and organizing landscape in Kentucky and the nation, KFTC is launching a Community Organizer Apprentice Program.

Organizer apprentices will help expand the reach of KFTC’s community organizing, train new organizers in basic and advanced organizing skills, train emerging grassroots leaders, and grow the capacity of KFTC, allies and other active communities or constituencies during this critical juncture in history.

This spring KFTC plans to hire at least six apprentices. Apprentices will be full-time organizing positions, fully integrated into the staff team. Apprentices will receive full salary and benefits. The positions will run through December 31, 2018.

In conjunction with the Apprentice Program, KFTC

will launch an Organizing Academy, starting in June 2017. This academy will be a multi-track leadership and organizing training program and the foundation of KFTC's expanding leadership development strategy.

One track of the Organizing Academy will be an advanced six-month training program for the organizer apprentices that develops leadership and organizing skills needed to effect vision-based change. Other tracks will be open to members of the community.

Each apprentice will be paired with an Organizer Partner, a member of KFTC’s organizing staff team.

Organizer partners will coach and provide direction to the apprentice while they work together on a shared body of work such as chapter development, on a statewide issue campaign, and/or with other key areas of KFTC’s

Program of Work.

Apprentices will learn and practice all aspects of KFTC's approach to change including building a membership base, scaled member engagement, leadership development, strategy and tactics, strategic communications, lobbying, direct action, event organizing, deep canvassing, grassroots fundraising, integrated voter engagement and more – and will share responsibilities for many.

KFTC is launching the Organizer Apprentice and Organizing Academy Programs to expand the reach and impact of its work at this critical moment. The Apprentice Program offers an opportunity for those with a passion for social justice to learn advanced organizing skills while helping make tangible, positive change.

www.kftc.org | April 13, 2017

28 | Balancing the Scales

calendar of events April 18 & May 16 Chapter meeting – Northern Kentucky 7 p.m., Center for Great Neighborhoods 321 W. 12th Street, Covington Info: Joe@kftc.org or 859-380-6103

April 25 & May 23 – Chapter meeting Southern Kentucky, 6 p.m.

The Foundry, 531 W. 11th Ave. Bowling Green Info: Molly@kftc.org or 502-599-3989

April 20 & May 18 – Chapter meeting Shelby County, 6 p.m., Stratton Community Center 215 W Washington St., Shelbyville Info: Carissa@kftc.org or 502-589-3188

May 1 – Chapter meeting Wilderness Trace 7 p.m., at Historic Stanford Depot 1866 Depot Street, Stanford Info: Sasha@kftc.org or 859-358-9713 NOTE location change this month

April 20 & May 18 Chapter meeting – Rowan County 6 p.m., St. Albans Church 145 E. 5th St., Morehead April 20 & May 18 Chapter meeting – Central Kentucky 7 p.m., Episcopal Mission House 203 E. 4th Street, Lexington Info: BethHoward@kftc.org or 859-276-0563

May 4 & June 1 – Chapter meeting Scott County, 6:30 p.m.

Scott County Public Library 104 S. Bradford Lane, Georgetown Info: Joe@kftc.org or 859-380-6103 May 6 – Madison County Chapter Potluck 6-9 p.m. Unitarian Universalist Fellowship 1081 Willis Branch Rd. in Richmond Info: Sasha@kftc.org or 859-358-9713

April 22 – Nonviolent Direct Action Training – Madison County 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. at Union Church 200 Prospect Street, Berea Info: Sasha@kftc.org or 859-358-9713

May 8 – Chapter meeting Jefferson County, 6:30 p.m.

First Unitarian Church 809 S. 4th St., Louisville Info: Ryeshia@kftc.org or 502-589-3188

April 23 – Sip ‘N Paint for Our Climate (T-shirt and poster making) with the Southern Kentucky Chapter, 2-4 p.m.

Art Matters Community Art Studio 310 E Main St., Bowling Green Info: Molly@kftc.org or 502-599-3989

May 19-20 – KFTC Steering Committee retreat; 7 p..m. Friday - 4:30 p.m.

Saturday Info: Heather@kftc.org or 859-276-0563

April 23 – Chapter meeting Western Kentucky chapter 5 p.m., Faculty Hall Room 208 Murray State University, Murray April 24 & May 22– Chapter meeting Madison County 7 p.m., Berea Friends Meeting House 300 Harrison Street, Berea Info: Sasha@kftc.org or 859-358-9713

June 5 – Chapter meeting Wilderness Trace, 7 p.m.

InterCounty Energy Community Room 1009 Hustonville Rd., Danville Info: Sasha@kftc.org or 859-358-9713 August 25-27 – KFTC Annual Membership Meeting at General Butler State Park Carrollton

Ryeshia Reves joins KFTC staff and other personnel changes Ryeshia Reves has joined the KFTC staff as the new Jefferson County community organizer.

A Louisville native, Reves grew up in the Fern Creek neighborhood. After spending time at the University of Louisville studying Art History, she found herself more and more being drawn to grassroots organizing around Louisville, first with a small group of concerned friends, then with Summer Bridge learning camp, which finally gave her the push to join Americorps NCCC (National Civilian Community Corps).

She spent two years with Americorps NCCC based out of Iowa, traveling around the Midwest and “getting her hands dirty.” From chainsawing giant oaks to running summer camps, she was able to learn a lot about herself and the ways she could be a resource to the community.

After spending a few years traveling and providing direct service, she decided to bring what she’d learned back to her favorite city, Louisville. Reves said she is honored to work with the members of KFTC to help create a stage for Kentuckians to work for the changes they want to see.

Reves assumes the position held by Alicia Hurle, who remains on the staff as KFTC’s Deputy Organizing Director for Democracy. She will continue to work from the Louisville office.

Also, Sara Estep has left the KFTC staff. She was the community organizer in Letcher and Harlan counties, and is transitioning back to a role as an active member.

Save the date!

KFTC Annual Membership Meeting August 25 - 27 General Butler State Park Look for more info and pre-registration details in the May Balancing the Scales