How the Courier Journal brought people together through events in 2022

After two years of canceled or virtual events, The Courier Journal worked to bring people together in 2022 — helping them choose who to vote for in local elections, introducing them to the best of Louisville's food scene, teaching them about the new student assignment plan and honoring the city's Top Workplaces.

In all, The Courier Journal hosted more than 15 events during the past year, the vast majority of which were livestreamed and involved community partners.

We also launched The Courier Journal's mobile newsroom in partnership with the Louisville Free Public Library system, sending journalists to different neighborhoods to hear from residents, answer questions and gain insight to help us better cover our diverse community.

"Bringing people together, sharing crucial information and expertise, and getting out into our small cities and neighborhoods to hear from residents were major goals for us in 2022," said Executive Editor Mary Irby-Jones. "Thank you to all who partnered with us or attended events or shared your insight. You helped us impact our community for the good."

Here are highlights from our 2022 events:

Student assignment overhaul forum

When the superintendent of the largest school district in Kentucky proposed major changes to the way students are assigned to public schools, the community had questions — and The Courier Journal set out to get answers.

We partnered with the Louisville Urban League, the Louisville Branch NAACP and the Coalition of Black Retired Principals and Administrators of JCPS on a community forum in which Jefferson County Public Schools Superintendent Marty Pollio revealed his plan. The March 22 event drew 400 people to the Norton Health Care Sports and Learning Center in western Louisville. Hundreds more watched the livestream.

More:Louisville's desegregation myth: How a busing plan hurt Black communities it aimed to help

Pollio had said his proposal — which would stop forced busing of middle and high school students from the predominantly Black West End, giving them choice — was necessary to end the unfair practice of putting the burden of diversifying schools on Black children, as revealed in a months-long Courier Journal investigation.

On June 1, the JCPS school board voted to overhaul the student assignment plan.

Racial Reckoning series

Following the police killing of Breonna Taylor and months-long protests in Louisville, The Courier Journal partnered with the Frazier History Museum and Muhammad Ali Center for "Racial Reckoning" — a series of community conversations on racial justice issues facing our city.

The series started in 2021 focusing on housing inequity, education and policing. On Jan. 27, we hosted the fourth event in the series, focusing on equity in health care during a virtual event.

During the series, thousands of people listened online and hundreds attended the in-person discussions.

Related:Reading, felony offenders and scandals: Courier Journal stories that made an impact in 2022

Related:A special thanks to the funders and partners of The Courier Journal

Louisville mayoral forums

With a whopping 12 candidates vying to be Louisville's next mayor — four Republicans and eight Democrats — The Courier Journal teamed up with Simmons College of Kentucky, Louisville's only historically Black college, to host back-to-back candidates forums designed to inform residents as they prepared to vote in the May primaries.

More:Louisville Mayor-elect Craig Greenberg announces 58-member transition team. See the names

The forums took place on April 12, with candidates answering questions from a panel of Courier Journal reporters and a Simmons College student. The questions were formed after The Courier Journal asked readers what issues and questions they wanted answered.

Better Derby Betting

There are few things more stressful than walking up to a betting window at Churchill Downs on Kentucky Derby Day and greeting the mutual clerk with a blank look on your face when they ask how you'd like to bet.

That's why we once again hosted our popular Better Derby Betting event to help Courier Journal readers take the guesswork out of the betting game and hear from the experts on how to bet the horses at the 148th Run for the Roses.

The Courier Journal's lead horse racing reporter Jason Frakes hosted the ticketed event on April 27, with a panel of experts including Ed DeRosa and Sara Elbadwi, both of Horse Racing Nation, and David Levitch, a former University of Louisville basketball player who is heavily involved in thoroughbred racing through the DC Racing ownership syndicate and as a handicapper.

More:Courier Journal hosts annual Better Derby Betting night at Ten20 Craft Brewery: See photos

The 90-minute discussion and event at Ten20 Craft Brewery in Butchertown was sold out. Guests were treated to expert tips and were able to ask questions of the panelists.

Remembering the Black Six

A weeklong racial uprising. Six Black people accused of conspiring to destroy buildings in the West End.

It happened in Louisville in 1968, but a panel discussion hosted May 24 by The Courier Journal, the Frazier Kentucky History Museum and Lean Into Louisville showed there are lessons from the tragedy that apply today.

The defendants were known as the Black Six. For two years their lives were in limbo as they awaited trial. In summer 1970, a judge threw the case out of court. But by then, it had turned the defendants lives upside down and left a permanent mark on Louisville's history, a reminder of the ways the city repeatedly fought to quiet Black dissent.

During the event, Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer apologized for the wrong that was done. Two members of the wrongly accused Black Six — Manfred Reid and Sam Hawkins — were on the panel at the event, as was former Metro Councilwoman Cheri Bryant Hamilton, whose mother was a member of the Black Six.

"Until we acknowledge the harm that's happened in the past, it's hard to move on," Fischer said. "I wasn't there then, but I'm here now. I represent an institution. So I apologize."

Not only did the mayor apologize, on Dec. 30, he unveiled a historic marker outside Metro Hall "dedicated to the Black Six, whose struggle taught us to never give up the battle for dignity and justice."

School board candidates forums

As four of the seven members of Kentucky's largest school district faced reelection challenges in one of the most expensive school board election cycles in recent history, The Courier Journal got out in front of the issues, organizing candidate forums for each of the contested races.

Incumbents faced challenges from conservative-leaning candidates as was the case across the country as disputes over mask mandates and how race is taught about in school drew candidates who wanted to see change.

We hosted the forums in August, September and October in local libraries in conjunction with our mobile newsroom. Each forum included an opportunity for residents to ask questions, and each was livestreamed to reach more people.

Showcasing our Top Workplaces

In October, The Courier Journal returned to an in-person experience for its Top Workplaces event. The event at the Muhammad Ali Center downtown honored the best of the best among Louisville’s thriving business community.

Employees at companies around the metro area anonymously filled out questionnaires about their companies, many of which were honored for their inclusive workplace practices and for creating a positive working environment, among other accolades. Additionally, some top-notch managers were honored for their commitment to excellence.

More:Meet the 2022 Top Workplaces for Greater Louisville winners

Experiencing The CJ's Wine & Food event

After a two-year absence due to COVID-19, The Courier Journal's popular Wine and Food Experience was back in person in 2022 at Norton Commons. The sold-out event, hosted Oct. 1, featured food from more than 20 locally owned restaurants, alongside a wide range of wine, beer and cocktails.

The event, which sells out each year, boasts an elevated VIP experience with special cooking demonstrations and panels. Meanwhile, all guests at the USA Today Network event were treated to cooking demos from a former Top Chef contestant.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Courier Journal community events brought people together in 2022