Louisville is a city of neighborhood pride and identity. Our neighborhoods are strong because citizens like YOU engage in civic affairs, block-by-block.  Since 1972, Center For Neighborhoods (www.centerforneighborhoods.org) has sustained this spirit of grassroots community involvement.  Development of civic capacity in our resident leaders can be attributed to the Neighborhood Institute – Center For Neighborhoods’ flagship program - which has cultivated hundreds of neighborhood and community leaders over three decades.  These volunteer leaders established a strong network of neighborhoods in Louisville and created positive change in our city, both urban and suburban.

Despite priding itself on quality neighborhoods, the Louisville Metro government eliminated the city’s Department of Neighborhoods at the close of 2009.  Since that time, Center For Neighborhoods has been the ONLY organization with a mission to serve all Louisville neighborhoods, Metro-wide.

The health, continued revitalization, and sustainability of Louisville neighborhoods is in jeopardy.  Support for all neighborhoods is excluded from the proposed Louisville Metro 2011-2012 fiscal year budget. Without a Department of Neighborhoods, and by neglecting to support the work of Center For Neighborhoods, Louisville Metro government is depriving support for programs and services that ensure effective grassroots engagement in neighborhoods.

Please sign the petition.  Tell Mayor Fischer and Louisville Metro Council to make neighborhoods a REAL priority by including Center For Neighborhoods in the budget!  Support Mayor Fischer in making good his statement that “Louisville is a city of vibrant neighborhoods, and it’s time we invested in them…. I’ll make sure that our neighborhoods come first.”