February 28, 2025. Louisville, KY.– Students from Jefferson County Public Schools will be in the spotlight sharing their ideas on ways to solve community-wide issues this Saturday, March 1, at the fifth annual Park Community Credit Union JusticeFest. The JusticeFest event showcases projects and collaborative work done by JCPS students from elementary to high school, along with their teachers and coaches. They address a variety of concerns, including food access, playground inclusiveness, mental health, digital divides and historical content from diverse communities.
“It’s inspiring to watch students channel their passions into collaborative projects for the community,” said Matt Gibson, Kentucky Derby Festival President & CEO. “With the support of our sponsors and the Kentucky Derby Festival Foundation, the Park Community Credit Union JusticeFest provides a platform for students to drive meaningful change outside of their classrooms.”
“At Park Community Credit Union, we are committed to building thriving communities together by cultivating belonging and empowering communities,” said Jana Erny, Park Community Credit Union President & CEO. “JusticeFest brings people together in a way that inspires connection, learning, and action — aligning with our vision to be a beacon of hope, opportunity, and belonging. We are proud to support this event and the meaningful impact it has on our communities.”
JusticeFest is part of an immersive learning program called Justice Now at JCPS. Justice Now was launched in January 2021 and challenges students to make Louisville their classroom and Justice their curriculum. The students focus on four key cohorts as part of Justice Now and JusticeFest, which include: Acceptance and Equal Rights for all People; Environmental Justice; Educational Justice; and Community Investment/Disinvestment.
“JCPS students are invested in our community and ways to make it better,” said Dr. Marty Pollio, JCPS Superintendent. “I’m always impressed by their presentations at JusticeFest, which take what students have learned in the classroom and apply it to push for positive change in our city.”
On Saturday, 14 different student groups will present their concepts to panelists, including community and business leaders, as well as teachers, advisers, mentors, and other professionals. The panelists have been chosen based on their expertise and will provide the students with mentorship, insights, and ideas to help further their work.
JusticeFest is sponsored by Park Community Credit Union. Contributing Sponsor: Ford Philanthropy. Supporting Sponsors: The D’Angelo Russell Foundation and Norton Children’s. The event is produced in partnership with Jefferson County Public Schools and is a Kentucky Derby Festival Foundation event.
