GLSC May Program: Ellie Davenport, Community Engagement Manager for Louisville Grows
 

Please join us May 19, 7:00 p.m. at United Crescent Hill Ministries building, 150 State St., 40206, as we welcome Ellie Davenport, Community Engagement Manager for Louisville Grows. Louisville Grows is a nonprofit organization working to create greener, healthier neighborhoods in Louisville. They work to grow a vibrant, sustainable community by promoting urban horticulture and advancing health equity. We’ll learn about the variety of programs that Louisville Grows offers to support their mission, including their Urban Forestry Program, their Urban Horticulture Program, their Healthy House community hub, and their newest program, a  partnership between Kentucky State University’s College of Agriculture, Health, and Natural Resources, Louisville Grows, and Blueprint502. Through this collaboration, Kentucky State’s Cooperative Extension teams will work alongside Louisville Grows to deliver hands-on, experiential training that equips residents with marketable skills, strengthens local workforce opportunities in the green economy, and supports ongoing environmental restoration efforts in Louisville. Kentucky State University’s Cooperative Extension team will provide expertise in curriculum development, credentialing, and program evaluation. Louisville Grows will lead community engagement efforts, drawing on more than a decade of experience in urban forestry and community agriculture. Together, the partners aim to prepare adults for meaningful careers while communities benefit from stronger food systems and resilient landscapes. This initiative represents a shared commitment to advancing environmental equity and economic opportunity in Louisville. By combining education, research, and community action, Kentucky State University and Louisville Grows are planting the seeds for more resilient neighborhoods, a stronger workforce, and a more sustainable future for the city.

Ellie Davenport is a Louisville native who has spent the past five years working alongside residents and organizations in Portland to build stronger, greener neighborhoods. As LG’s Community Engagement Manager, she connects with volunteers, community partners, and neighborhood associations to lead events, support local initiatives, and help shape a more vibrant urban forest. Whether she’s organizing volunteers or throwing a shovel in the ground, Ellie is most passionate about connecting community members with meaningful volunteer opportunities and collaborating with others to grow a greener Louisville. Her work daily increases both her knowledge of tree species and her curiosity about the natural world. She also serves on the board of the Portland Neighborhood Institute (PNI), where she continues to collaborate with neighbors on projects that reflect the community’s vision and needs. Outside of work, Ellie enjoys riding bikes, hiking, trying new restaurants around town, and spending time with her fiancé, Carson, and their mischievous cat, Gizmo.  

We will have social time with light refreshments beginning at 6:30 p.m.

Register here to attend.