LOUISVILLE, Ky. (September 27, 2024) – On Friday, Mayor Craig Greenberg joined community leaders, District 3 Metro Councilwoman Shameka Parrish-Wright and Shively Mayor Maria Johnson, as well as participants from The Spot: Young Adult Opportunity Center, to officially announce the opening of its new location.
“The Spot gives disconnected young adults a chance to connect all the dots and have opportunities for meaningful career opportunities,” said Mayor Greenberg, whose administration has led efforts to expand The Spot and its programming. “This new location will make important career and life resources more accessible to thousands of young adults living in Shively and the surrounding neighborhoods of southwest Louisville.”
A partnership of KentuckianaWorks, Goodwill Industries of Kentucky, and Louisville Metro Government, The Spot offers young adults ages 16-24 in the Louisville region free tools and support to overcome adversity and get on a productive educational or career path. The program focuses on young adults facing significant barriers such as homelessness, substance abuse, involvement in the justice system, and more.
“The Spot helped me to remember who I am,” said Tikeyrai “Ti” Brown, a young adult who enrolled at The Spot earlier this year after struggling for years with mental health issues stemming from an abusive childhood. The team at The Spot helped connect Ti to health insurance, therapy, and other resources she needed to get on track. Ti now works for Goodwill as a Peer Support Specialist where she can help other young adults overcome the life and career barriers she has faced.
“We know that programs for young adults can make a huge difference — young people get their life on track, employers get great employees, and families and neighborhoods benefit when young people get connected to jobs,” said Michael Gritton, Executive Director of KentuckianaWorks, the Louisville region’s workforce development board. “We are incredibly grateful for Mayor Greenberg’s leadership in investing in this work, and to the Metro Council for approving that investment.”
“This moment is more than just the opening of a building—it represents hope, opportunity, and transformation for the young people in the Shively community,” said Nicole McGill, Director of Young Adult Services for Goodwill Industries of Kentucky. “To the young adults who will walk through these doors: Know that this space was built for you. We believe in you, and we are here to walk alongside you on your journey toward success.”
The Spot: Young Adult Opportunity Center in Shively is supported by funding from Louisville Metro Government, the U.S. Department of Labor, the Commonwealth of Kentucky, and other sources. It is located at 3965 S. 7th Street Rd., Louisville, KY 40216 in the Southland Terrace shopping center. It is open Monday-Friday and can be reached by phone at (502) 208-1435. The Spot also has centers in downtown Louisville, Eminence, and Bullitt County.
You can find more information at TheSpotKY.org.