MIKAL

FORBUSH

Education & Engagement Director

Mikal is a native Louisvillian and resident of Old Louisville. He leads the Neighborhood Liaison outreach program and all Educational programs including the Neighborhood Institute and the Neighborhood Summit. Previously, he was a Senior Program Coordinator with the Muhammad Ali Institute for Peace and Justice at the University of Louisville. He has a background in working with youth and community organizations around creating change. Mikal is a graduate of the University of Louisville with degrees in Pan African Studies and Sociology, and enjoys many activities within the city. Mikal serves neighborhoods in Metro Council Districts 6, 9, and 25.

JOHNIQUE

ISON

Senior Neighborhood Liaison

Johni is a West Louisville Native and is a current member of the Pleasure Ridge Park neighborhood. She has had ample experience working with various communities bringing about change to both individuals and organizations. Aside from consistent service throughout District 5, Johnique has worked with underrepresented groups through Girl Scouts and Jefferson County Public Schools. She also sits on the board of a local non-profit that focuses on the enriching of children from ALL Louisville areas. She is currently working towards a Masters in Social Work at University of Louisville. As a Neighborhood Liaison, she serves Metro Council Districts 1, 2, 3, 12, 14, 15, 22, 23, & 25.

Click here to read "Mellone Was Just Thinking, Letters From the Director" 

JESSICA

BROWN

Planning Director

Christi

Stevens

GIS & Data Coordinator

Jess is certified planner and leads all planning and community design projects such as Better Block Louisville, neighborhood planning, neighborhood assessments, P.A.I.N.T – Producing Art In Neighborhoods Together, and Community Design Assistance. She is a graduate of the National Charrette Institute. Previously, she worked with Louisville Metro as a Policy Analyst at the Center for Health Equity, with a focus on racial equity and government policy, and the Office of Performance Improvement and Innovation in the Mayor's Office where she developed equity initiatives for the Mayor’s Strategic Plan. Jess has a Master of Public Administration and Master of Urban Planning from the University of Louisville. Jess is a volunteer urban gardener and a mother to Jack (6) and Jemma (1).

Christi is passionate about grassroots community building and is on a mission to bring the power of data and mapping into the hands of community leaders. She is a certified GIS Professional with 25 years of experience providing geospatial services, including more than 10 years with LOJIC. Her experience includes development and maintenance of ArcGIS Server based web map services, geospatial analysis, geospatial database and applications development, data mining and data fusion services. Christi has a BS in Environmental Geography from the University of Louisville. Christi enjoys playing music and gardening in her spare time, and currently serves on the board of Crescent Hill Radio where she created, produced and hosted the original Home Grown Radio Hour.

Ja'mel

Armstrong

Neighborhood Liaison

Ja'mel is a Louisville native raised in Russel, currently residing in the Iroquois Park/Auburndale neighborhood.  With close to 20 years of community and non-profit experience, he has spent the last 10 years planting churches, a process of engaging a community to determine its greatest needs, and forming a local congregation to assist in meeting those needs.  Ja'mel is currently pursuing a Master's of Divinity Degree from North Park Theological Seminary in Chicago, IL.  He is married to Rochelle and they have 3 children, Jonathan, Jessica and Dejah.

Tahjena

Muldrow

Neighborhood Liaison

Tahjená is a Louisville native, currently a resident of the Highview community, and a Neighborhood Liaison at the Center for Neighborhoods. Graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Diversity and Community Studies, she has acquired a critical framework for understanding identity, inequality, and community development. With a concentration in Citizenship and Social Justice, she has also studied social change through political structures and social movements. As a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., she has had the pleasure of serving various communities through public service and program planning. Through her passion for the arts, she has been a mentor and dance coach for girls and young women, gaining interpersonal and leadership skills. She is a multifaceted, young professional who seeks to be an advocate for individuals and communities, evoking change through the necessary groundwork in neighborhoods.