Housing

Katheryn Higgins is a second-generation Russell resident who still lives in the West Chestnut home her parents purchased in 1946. Higgins discussed the impact of urban renewal and disinvestment on the community.

At the time of the interview in 2012, Mr. Phil Bills and Mr. Michael Hill worked with Metro Planning Design Services. They discuss the impact of zoning on fair housing.

Hinko was executive director of the Metropolitan Housing Coalition at the time of this interview. She talks about public housing, homelessness, partnering with other local organizations to provide services and describes the work she has done within city government around housing. She describes the mission and work of the Metropolitan Housing Coalition.

Lula Howard was the first African American woman to work in planning services for the city of Louisville. She discusses zoning as it relates to racial segregation.

Ms. Hudson describes her experiences at College Court (Louisville's first housing project), and discusses her career with the Housing Authority of Louisville.

This interview covers Hyde's memories of her childhood in Sheppard Square. Outside of school, her days were spent doing chores, playing with friends, participating in activities sponsored by neighborhood churches, the Presbyterian Community Center and the nearby public library. She recalls a strong attachment to the senior citizens in the community. She was influenced by her mother's commitment to communtiy volunteer work. She noticed a change in the neighborhood in the later 1970s attributing that to a reduction in services to children, the departure of senior citizens from the communtiy and a decrease in two-parent families.

Lillie Ingram is a California resident who grew up in Newburg. She discussed her childhood in a rural area of Newburg and the white flight that happened after her family was the first Black family to move into their block at 18th and Hill Street.

Irvin discusses her childhood in Hopkinsville, Kentucky; her primary and secondary education there; her move to Louisville in 1950, a city she found to be "friendly to Blacks, but very segregated"; involvement in open housing demonstrations in Louisville's south end, led by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.; and work in Democratic politics as a precinct co -captain, captain, and committee woman.

Mark Jackson is a third-generation resident of the James Taylor neighborhood, a traditionally African America area of Prospect. Jackson discussed his family history, and the ways James Taylor has changed since his childhood.

Jin, a native of New York City, talks about her move to Louisville in 1996 and the circumstances that brought her to Sheppard Square. She describes the first two years as "rough." Shootings and illegal drug activity were prevalent. Jin served on the Sheppard Square Resident Council but became frustrated with the process and resigned. Generally speaking, Jin talks in survival language about her and her daughter's experiences in Sheppard Square. She believes that people outside of public housing unfairly characterize its residents. She adds, however, that there are people who seem to perpetuate the stereotypes. Her reaction to the Hope VI project is mixed.