Backside Learning Center

In observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day yesterday, our office was closed. We are open again today and are excited to host our Front Runners after-school tutoring program this evening! Especially in the bitter cold today, MLK’s words remind us that it’s important to spread kindness and love. #happybirthday #mlk #martinlutherking #equineworkers #buildingcommunity #blackhistory #louisvillelove #equity #justice #alwaysunited

??Our Marketing Manager is expecting and we are trying to find someone to fill in while she’s on maternity leave! ?? ??Our “Familia” at The BLC is growing, and we are HIRING! ?? ?? Communications and Marketing Contract Associate ??NEW?? The communications and marketing associate is a part-time, 3-month position temporarily leading the organization’s external communications and marketing efforts during Derby season, including content creation, social media, relationships with media, as well as marketing and communications for special events. The position will work as a hybrid model. Candidate can complete some tasks from home, but will need to be on-site to document programming on occasion and meet weekly for check ins with development staff at the BLC’s main office, located on the backside of Churchill Downs racetrack. For more info, please see link below! ?? https://buff.ly/3JlCavX #backsidelearningcenter #equineworkers #jobslouisville

Tuesday marked a new semester of our Front Runner’s after-school program taking place Tuesday and Thursday afternoons. ?? ??We are so excited to welcome around 30 new and familiar faces for this program focusing on homework help and social-emotional learning. ???? Each evening contains a warm-up game, a mindfulness activity, reading time, an art project, and the highest priority—homework help with a tutor. As enrichment is at our forefront, we have a TON of really exciting partnerships to look forward to. Stay tuned for partnerships in literacy, theater, music, art and many, many more. For example, Sara Noori and Fund for the Arts are leading art classes again for students of all ages. Tuesdays are focused on our early childhood kiddos and their parents, and Thursdays are focused on our Middle and High Schoolers. So grateful for our partnerships and volunteers. ?? Stay tuned as the semester continues! #backsidelearningcenter #equineworkers

A quick shoutout to Sacred Heart Model School (SHMS) ! ???? The past year, Sacred Heart Model School students have gone above and beyond to help support us in our mission providing support and resource to backstretch workers and their families. They engaged with our community in three different ways in 2024. 1?? Around Derby, they held a drive to help us gather things for our comfort corner. They gathered sound machines, fidget toys, coloring book supplies, etc which provide children a safe and calming space to regulate their emotions. In turn, this fosters emotional resilience and helping them refocus on learning. ?? 2?? Two 8th graders created 26 alphabet coloring “letter books” for our students with an ELL/ESL mindset. Margarita, 8th grader at SHMS, also moved here from South America was able to relate her own personal experience as an English Language Learner when she created the books. They were able to attend Front Runners one night and walk the students through it. This is extremely valuable to our community of young learners and readers as they learn letter sounds and new vocabulary! ?? 3?? Last but not least, SHMS gathered and filled 24 backpacks for students of all ages for the holiday season! They were filled with educational toys, games and books. We so thank SHMS for helping to brighten the holidays for our community! ???? We are incredibly grateful to SHMS for their unwavering dedication to our community throughout 2024, it made a meaningful difference in the lives of so many. Thank you for being a pillar of support and kindness! We are so excited to jump start our new semester of Front Runners after-school tutoring tomorrow! Stay tuned. #backsidelearningcenter #equineworkers

It’s time to celebrate the end of an era. ?? Lauren Degeorge, our previous Deputy Director / Director of Programs, who has been with us for over a decade, just completed her transition out of The BLC. Although we are devastated to lose her, we’re excited she now has the opportunity to pursue her dreams opening up “Trail House” with her cousin, a “community-rooted affirming education and therapy for autistic, neurodivergent and all children and teens.” Lauren has been pivotal in getting The BLC to where it is today, case in point. She first began her journey with us in 2014 part time and as a support for Executive Director Sherry Stanley. Since then, she helped launch our Front Runners after-school tutoring and family program and helped us established ourselves as an official and independent 501(c)(3) in 2015. Since then, she’s helped guide our organization through COUNTLESS ebbs and flows, and most importantly, HELPED US GROW. ???? In short, she has been pivotal in our development and we are ever grateful to her decade-long service providing support for backstretch workers and their families. ?? Here are some photos through the years to commemorate. With that, we would like to introduce you to April Smith, our new Director of Programs!?? April oversees the Backside Learning Center’s adult and youth educational programs ensuring quality instruction, organization, program development, and training opportunities are available for the backside community and the volunteers of the BLC.??? Originally from Montana, ??April relocated to Louisville in 2001 and graduated from the University of Louisville with a BA in Spanish and a Latin American Studies minor in 2008. She began working for the National Center for Families Learning where she found her calling to education.?After pursuing her MA TESOL, Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages, from Murray State University, she was selected as an English Language Fellow funded by the U.S. Department of State that took her around the world.?She worked in Niger, West Africa and Manila, Philippines.? Following her time abroad, April continued to develop her administrative capacity in the fields of English as a Second Language (ESL) and adult education and has finally returned to Louisville to share her growth with the community she loves. ?“I love learning and experiencing new and different environments and connecting with people.?This makes the BLC a perfect fit,” said April. In her spare time, April loves sharing time with family and friends. She also enjoys making, baking, and creating all sorts of homemade goods. ?? We’re so excited to have April on our team as we transition into this new era of The BLC! ?? #backsidelearningcenter #equineworkers

Please extend a warm welcome to Amaray Coca, our Administrative Coordinator and English instructor. Originally from Sancti Spiritus, Cuba, she came to Louisville Kentucky at the age of eight and attended JCPS. From there, she attended the University of Louisville and graduated with a bachelor’s in Spanish. Amaray became interested in working with community programs around based on her own experiences as a Cuban immigrant. “I also relied heavily on their mentoring program to learn English when I was younger from the Americana,” Amaray said. Amaray learned about The BLC from college friends and community members that have talked about The BLC as a one place to supply multiple needs for the community and their families. “Here is where you can find your family away from home, where everybody is welcomed with a smile,” Amaray said. “The BLC goes above and beyond for their staff and clients.” Amaray is excited to use her background as a previous teacher and Human Resource Generalist while working at The BLC. “My hope is to help my future students navigate their lives in the United States by providing them with the lessons and tools to become proficient in English and for them to chase their dreams,” said Amaray. We’re so excited to have Amaray on the team! #newhire #equineworkers

??A NOTE: THE BLC WILL BE CLOSED UNTIL THURSDAY, JANUARY 2ND. ?? Happy Holidays from our community to yours! ? If you need anything, please leave a voicemail at 5026346543, or DM us here!

??EXCLUSIVE UPDATE. ?? For the past year, we’ve been partnering with “Mind Body Child”, a pediatric wellness center who has been offering occupational and speech therapy for our youngest community members! Here are some key points now! ?? Nine children through the ages of 2–5 are actively engaged. ?? Originally funded for six months through DePaul School, the program extended after incredible results—doubling to 12 months ?? Thanks to our partnership with Novak Family Foundation and Lift a Life, we’ll be able to allow 6 and 7 year olds to attend the program and will be able to extend through next year. ?? Early interventions are critical. At age 5, Individualized Plans (IPs) aren’t guaranteed within their elementary schools. With this program in place, we’ll be able to ensure our students receive IPs that will set them with success throughout their educational journey ?? Speech therapy has boosted pronunciation, fluency, and vocabulary, helping our kids communicate with confidence. ?? Occupational therapy has helped foster relationships with other kids, improve motor skills, and identified/addressed challenges like sensory issues or learning disabilities. ?? Thanks to the welcoming environment at Mind Body Child, bilingual instructors have helped kids embrace their heritage while also adapting to new cultural norms. Marta, one of our parents, said the following about receiving the services for her daughter, Aylin. “At first, she had problems with speech. Once she began going to speech therapy, everything has fallen in place. It’s been a huge help to us.” ??A huge thanks to our funders helping us collaborate with Mind Body Child. We’re so excited to provide programs helping us provide a supportive foundation for our youngest community members to succeed in their educational journey and build confidence in their abilities.? ??If you like what you see and would like to contribute to our end-of-year appeal, it’s not too late! Please visit the website below: https://buff.ly/49f2yCF #OT #speechtherapy #EarlyIntervention #ChildhoodTherapies #CommunitySupport

We cannot BELIEVE how generous the community was for #GivingTuesday! ?? Together, we more than exceeded our expectations. What started as a goal of $5,000 transformed to grand total of $7,395! ???? ??We are collecting funds for holiday baskets for 200 of our community members and will fill them with winter gear, books, ingredients for a holiday meal, and an educational game. ?????????? We can’t wait to start packing them! ???? More info to come! ??It’s not too late to give! If you missed the big day a couple of days ago but still want to contribute, visit https://buff.ly/3n8IBEg #backsidelearningcenter #equineworkers

??Make the season a little brighter for a backstretch family this #GivingTuesday. ?? We are collecting funds for holiday baskets for 75 of our families and fill them with blankets, hats, gloves, scarves, books, ingredients for a holiday meal, and an educational game. ?????????? ??https://buff.ly/49f2yCF Consider adding Backside Learning Center to your list of organizations this Giving Tuesday, as we aim to partner with and advocate for the equine workers and families who are the heart and backbone of the horse racing industry this holiday season.???? ??https://buff.ly/49f2yCF #backsidelearningcenter #equineworkers #buildingcommunity #louisvillelove