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August 2021 Neighbor of the Month: Growing Community from the Ground Up

Cassia Herron is a leader in Kentucky’s local food movement working to improve urban and rural communities in the commonwealth.

Hi, Cassia! Tell us a little about yourself:

I am a proud Kentuckian and identify as an abolitionist, community organizer, and writer. I have spent the past two decades working to transition the state’s agricultural and energy economies from extractive industries to democratized, community-owned, cooperative economies that advance equity and justice. I am co-founder of the Louisville Association for Community Economics where we are working to educate Louisville residents about cooperative economics and open the Louisville Community Grocery. My writing background includes poetry and op-eds in the Courier-Journal and Lexington Herald Leader; most recently, I’ve written for and served as contributing editor for Louisville Magazine. I am a graduate of the University of Louisville and have a Masters of Urban Planning from the University of Michigan.

What have you been working on in your neighborhood?

I have been in the Wyandotte neighborhood for two-and-a-half years. I have enjoyed learning about my neighborhood, getting to know my neighbors, and working in my garden. Currently, I’m working to stay here. My landlord is selling her house.

How did you get involved in this work?

Funny, when I first moved one of my neighbors already knew me. She was heading up the neighborhood association and knew of my work with Kentuckians For The Commonwealth and we have a friend in common. She’s a homesteader and has encouraged me to grow a garden and learn more about chickens. She and my next door neighbor have chickens, as do several other households.

What do you love about your neighborhood?

I love how walkable my neighborhood is! The tree canopy is very mature and diverse and most people have nice yards and flower gardens. I appreciate the diversity in families — race, income, composition. I even appreciate my neighbors who fly Confederate and Blue Lives Matter flags. People are very friendly and there is no shortage of yard grass cutters! One of my favorites is Wyandotte Park. Nyla, my German shepherd, and I walk the same route 4-5 times a week — from our house through the park then back through the neighborhood to home. We see all kinds of people engaged in lots of activities, including soccer players and a senior group who plays softball in the mornings. I like skating on the basketball courts. I frequent the shops on Woodlawn — coconut latte or miel from Sunergeos and curry shrimp pho from Annie’s Cafe — and became a customer at Stock Yards Bank since I’ve lived here. I love supporting local businesses! I have friends who live in other neighborhoods nearby and it’s very convenient.

What are your hopes for your neighborhood in the future?

My hope for my neighborhood is that it remains family-oriented, diverse, and affordable. Gentrification is affecting many residents across the city and Wyandotte isn’t free from it. It would be nice if Churchill Downs and Louisville Metro Government invested more in the people of the neighborhood so that it doesn’t become an area for short-term rentals serving Churchill Downs guests.

Want to learn more about cooperative economics and the Louisville Community Grocery? Visit https://loufoodcoop.com and https://louisvillecommunitygrocery.com


Do you know someone who deserves a spotlight? If you would like to nominate a neighbor to be a “Neighbor of the Month,” email us: ,admin@centerforneighborhoods.org. (Please include their name, neighborhood, and your reasons for why they should be Neighbor of the Month.)

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