Drone STEM Pilot Program – Leestown Middle School Kappa Klub

May 15, 2026

Middle school students participating in the Kappa Klub after-school program at Leestown Middle School were provided with exposure to drone technology, aviation safety, and real-world STEM career applications. Many students had little prior experience with drones beyond recreational awareness and had not previously explored how drones connect to disaster response, engineering, agriculture, aviation, mapping, emergency management, or future career opportunities.

Grounding Skills and Nutrition for Youth Resilience 2026 Layne Elementary Mental Health Fair

April 29, 2026

Youth social and emotional learning can be instrumental in education and lifetime outcomes. The Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL) reports that social and emotional learning has a positive impact on academic outcomes, with evidence showing that test scores, grades, and attendance increase as SEL increases at schools. 

Trust, Verify, Respond: The Role of Social Media and Digital Technology in Disaster Response 2026 MRC Summit

April 22, 2026

Kentucky is uniquely vulnerable to disasters which damage infrastructure, cause loss of life, and greatly impact community development and resilience. To ensure Kentuckians have access to care and resources needed to make a recovery after disaster strikes, the Kentucky Department of Public Health Emergency Preparedness & Response Branch has adopted a national model of response by credentialling volunteers through the Medical Reserve Corps. 

Heirs' Property At The Regional Level

march 4, 2026

The most recent will clinic and associated heirs’ property services were supported through a grant sponsored by Alcorn State University, which concluded in September 2025. Community assessments continue to demonstrate a significant and ongoing need to address heirs’ property, estate planning, and land retention challenges in both rural and urban Kentucky. The results from our Train the Trainer program are below:

Inaugural Urban Growers Program Demonstrates Early Long-Term Impacts for Urban Producers

Urban growers in Louisville’s West End face ongoing barriers to operating viable food enterprises, including limited access to technical assistance, food safety training, and market-ready business support. These challenges affect both individual growers and the broader local food system by limiting the availability, quality, and safety of locally produced food. In response, Kentucky State University Cooperative Extension launched the Urban Growers Program in 2025, a new cohort-based initiative designed to build long-term capacity among emerging and small-scale urban producers.

MindBody Reset

Kentucky State University’s Louisville Cooperative Extension Office teamed up with Hill Street Missionary Baptist Church to present “MindBody Reset”—a community-based program that focused on nutrition, physical activity, lifestyle and stress management. Held on every Saturday between October 18 and November 22, this hands-on program assisted adults with a jump start on their health.

Transportation Industry Professionals to Develop Cross Training Programs for Youth

As a pre-requisite to prepare more minorities for careers in the transportation industry, a 2-week residential camp is funded annually by the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet and Federal Highway Administration to encourage minority youth to pursue a transportation related field. An application is provided to capture demographics and to gauge youth participant's interest in Summer Transportation Institute.  In the 2024 Summer Transportation Institute Camp, 21 out of 42 youth participants were accepted into the program. 

Spike Prime

Winter Indoor Growing Workshop Expands Skills for Louisville Growers

The College of Agriculture, Health, and Natural Resources at Kentucky State University hosted a Winter Indoor Growing Workshop Sept. 6 at the University’s West Louisville Extension Office, equipping local growers with tools to extend the season and strengthen community food systems.

West Louisville Urban Growers Learn About Organic Agriculture

On August 16, 2025, Kentucky State University hosted the final core workshop of the season, focusing on organic agriculture and sustainable growing practices. Participants explored organic soil management, composting, and pest control methods that reduce chemical inputs and improve soil health. The workshop blended classroom instruction with field demonstrations designed to help urban growers apply sustainable principles on a small scale.

West Louisville Urban Growers Learn About Pest & Disease Management

On July 19, 2025, 23 members of Kentucky State University’s Urban Growers Cohort gathered at Alberta O. Jones Park to focus on pest and disease management. The day began with a walking tour led by Joe Magruder of the Urban Conservation Corps, who shared the park’s history, current projects, and vision for the future.

West Louisville Urban Growers Learn About Urban Agriculture

On June 21, 2025, Kentucky State University’s Urban Growers Cohort dove into the world of urban agriculture with a dynamic workshop developed by Dr. Theoneste’s Urban Agriculture team.

Respond. Recover. Rebuild: KYSU's 2025 Frankfort Flood Response

In early April 2025, severe flooding impacted Frankfort and surrounding areas, damaging homes, displacing families, and leaving many residents without access to basic services or digital connectivity. In response, Kentucky State University (KYSU) Extension coordinated a multi-day flood recovery effort from April 7–12, 2025. 

Establishing a Home-Based Baking Business: 2T's Sweet Tooth

In many urban communities, individuals possess valuable talents and entrepreneurial aspirations but often lack the resources and guidance to formalize their businesses. Jackie Branham, an aspiring entrepreneur with a passion for baking, faced uncertainty about how to transition her hobby into a legitimate enterprise. In response, Kentucky State University’s Community Resource Development State Specialist in Entrepreneurship, Lynsey Crumbie, provided individualized coaching and technical assistance to support Branham’s journey.

West Louisville Urban Growers Learn About Soil Health

More than 120,000 people in Jefferson County experience food insecurity, with limited access to fresh, locally grown produce, especially in the West End (Dare to Care, 2019). Urban growers in these communities often face barriers such as lack of infrastructure, tools, certifications, and technical support needed to scale production or meet food safety standards. Urban growers in these communities often face barriers such as lack of infrastructure, tools, certifications, and technical support needed to scale production or meet food safety standards.

Tates Creek Middle School Ribbon Cutting for New Greenhouse

Tates Creek Middle School (TCMS) lacked the technical support needed to initiate its greenhouse and land lab, limiting its ability to provide students with hands-on learning opportunities in hydroponics, aquaponics, and sustainable agriculture. The Kentucky State University (KSU) Community Resource Development (CRD) and Aquaculture teams collaborated to address this need by installing multiple systems, including Nutrient Film Technique (NFT), Dutch bucket, 5-gallon bucket hydroponics, and a media bed aquaponics system.