Louisville nonprofit VOCAL-KY celebrates Juneteenth, anniversary and new space

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- A Louisville organization with a lot to celebrate held a cookout on Wednesday to mark Juneteenth.

In addition to the federal holiday, Voices of Community Activists and Leaders (VOCAL)-KY is celebrating its second anniversary and moving into a new space on South Brook Street.

The nonprofit is working to end the war on drugs, HIV, mass incarceration and homelessness. The Black-led group works directly with impacted, poor, marginalized and working class people across the state through community organizing and policy change, VOCAL-KY said.

Organizers said it's important to their mission to give people who are struggling a place to go for resources.

"People who are dealing with this need to know they're supported, need to know there's a place to come organize, and there's a place for directly impacted people to have a seat at the decision making table. That's what this is about," said Councilwoman Shameka Parrish-Wright, D-3, and director of VOCAL-KY.

The nonprofit said the turnout for Wednesday's event was huge, with more people than they expected showing up.

To learn more about VOCAL-KY, or to donate, click here.

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