IT REALLY DOES ALL BEGIN WITH FOOD...
Last Friday, after we had closed down Porkland for the last time as a restaurant, Shawn and Ethan were doing some final clean up in the kitchen and I sat by myself on the old pew from St Cecilia next to the order counter, taking in the now quiet space and remembering. In my mind I could see neighbors, that had become friends, chatting with each other while waiting in line to order, business meetings taking place at the table in the corner during a busy lunch rush, kids playing with the pop a shot basketball game and climbing all over the half of a VW bug while their parents waited for their order to come to their table. I thought back to how it all started and the power of food. All the community that would take place every day at Porkland started when we unknowingly tapped into the history and tradition of food in the Portland neighborhood.
If the way to a person’s heart is through their stomach, the same goes for a community. Over the years we have lived here, people have tried to categorize what it is that Love City does. Since humans have a tendency and sometimes a need to categorize things to make sense of them, we often got labeled as ‘community developers.’ While probably not completely inaccurate, we never had any grand plan to move to the neighborhood and do ‘community development.’ Our goal was always to love people and empower them to change their own community. The first step we took in loving people, involved food.
When we started the Fish fry at the Mackin gym, we were only thinking about how we create some sustainability to keep the lights on, not knowing that we had touched on vital link to the community’s past and future. As more and more people from the neighborhood started to pull in the then gravel drive, past the leaning fence topped with barbed wire, and walk through a battered old metal exterior door into the café to buy fish, we noticed the effect it had on the people and began to research it’s past. The first regular fish fry at St Cecilia started around 100 years ago in the 1920s. It probably had its origins well beyond that. It’s a food tradition that’s knit into the very creation of the neighborhood. As our weekly fish fry grew, we saw the community come back to life. People that had been living on the same street for years but hadn’t seen each other in decades ran into each other at the fish fry and shared a meal together, caught up on life, and rekindled friendships. Food did what food does at its best and brought people together.
The realities of the neighborhood didn’t disappear when we started the fish fry. We still had a lot of people volunteer to get a meal because it had been days since they last ate. We’ve had our share of high/drunk/pant less people come in searching for something or someone to help them, even if all they wanted was to eat as they came out of whatever it was, they had taken. As the fish fry grew into Porkland it seemed like the community was growing into a better version of what it had once been, close knit people, thankful to have a place in their own neighborhood they could go to get a good meal at a decent price in a friendly atmosphere. Community had come together once again over food.
And as I sat in the closed restaurant reliving in my memory countless hours of hard work, joy at busy lunch and dinner rushes, defeat, and sadness when the restaurant was broken into, and happiness as neighbors found a place to gather and build relationships, it was almost as if I could see even further back in time. I could see the nuns and ladies of St Cecilia parish bustling around the kitchen, frying fish and chicken, I could see the smoke-filled bingo hall that became the restaurant space, smoke eaters humming as bingo callers said letters and numbers through the crackling PA system for bingo games that are now legendary in the city of Louisville. I could see the life that has been lived in this space for over a century. As Porkland closes and we return to the Fish Frys that began it all, food is still at the center. We will continue to host community on Fridays. Neighbors will still be able to gather and meet and have a good meal at a reasonable price. Community will continue to develop. It really did all begin with food.
Please be sure to stop by today at our Fish Fry in the old Porkland space to grab some lunch or dinner! We'll be open from 11am - 7pm.
AND THAT'S A WRAP!
Yesterday was the last day of school for Mighty Oak Academy! We finished the first full year of school at MOA with a trip to the Louisville Bats game and a Field Day! The entire school went to the Bat's game to enjoy the perfect sunny weather, even though the Bats didn't pull through a win, everyone had a blast!
Field Day was in the gym because of the weather but that didn't stop our students from cheering on their team in everything from hula hoop pass to sack races! We are excited for the summer but also can't wait to welcome our students back in the fall!
Field Day Highlights
MIGHTY OAK IS HIRING!
Our enrollment is doubling next school year and we are expanding our staff to be able to serve all our student's needs. We are hiring more teachers for additional classrooms next year. Below is a summary of the teacher job posting. You can find a full description of the teacher job, as well as links to all of the additional jobs we have open. If you or anyone you know might be interested in joining the MOA staff this year, please forward them the job posting. All postings are also on Indeed.
TEACHER JOB POSTING AT MIGHTY OAK ACADEMY
The Teachers report to the Instructional Coach and are responsible for leading their own instruction as well as collaborating on a teaching team to facilitate learning across multiple elementary classrooms. Teachers are tone setters for the school and responsible for high quality instruction, culture building within and across classrooms. Teachers will also need to be able to deeply integrate academics, socio emotional learning and health in our classrooms daily. Mighty Oak Academy is a new school, and as we learn and grow, we respond and adapt to the needs of our students and staff. This year we will have teachers working on teams across 2-3 grade levels to address different subjects, integrate project-based learning and adjust classes to skill level rather than grade level.
Some highlights from the job responsibilities:
Annual, weekly, and daily instructional planning tailored to the needs of each child
Instructional delivery in large group, small group, and individualized formats
Collaboration with other teachers to practice skills and jointly problem solve
Partner with instructional support team, behavioral support team and other related service providers to provide personalized supports for students with identified needs
Create a safe and enjoyable educational environment that encompasses project-based learning.
Use the school’s social emotional learning techniques for encouraging the social emotional development of children that builds a healthy, safe, loving school environment.
Manage classrooms effectively so that children feel loved, safe and want to learn.
Some highlights from the job qualifications:
You have a bachelor’s degree
You have a minimum of 3 years of experience as a classroom teacher and hold deep and diverse instructional competence
Your work demonstrates a practice of creating transformative classroom culture for all kids. You take proactive steps to build an equitable classroom practice
You have a parent- and family-centered mindset
You recognize the multidimensional needs of children and families, because in your own way, you’ve been trying to weave education, health, and family support services together for your students
For the full job posting and to see all our other open positions please click on the following link:
Job Postings at Mighty Oak Academy
PARTNER WITH US
At Love City we believe in time, talent and treasure.
Mighty Oak Academy Amazon Wish List
We are working on a comprehensive school needs list to prepare for the fall that we will be sending out soon. Until then if you have any snack food items like gold fish, fruit snacks or chips we will be taking those donations for our summer camps that start on June 13.
If you are interested in volunteering or to find out more information about supplies needed please email: info@lovecityinc.org or call (502) 272-078.
Please consider partnering financially with Love City. We are looking for sponsors for students at Mighty Oak Academy as well as partners to help fund construction of our new preschool. Click the button below to donate today.