Company Profile
Louisville Family Justice Advocates
Company Overview
Louisville Family Justice Advocates (LFJA) combines participatory artmaking and health equity to create local policies and practices that affirm the human dignity of families and incarcerated loved ones and address the roots of inequality, especially race and poverty. LFJA’s core program is led by The Special Project Art Team with deep experience of engaging families with incarcerated loved ones. LFJA is now transitioning from being primarily volunteer-led to new leadership. With these two part-time positions, our goal is to build on our successful programs & advocacy to sustain our mission and deepen our work.
Company History
Louisville Family Justice Advocates (LFJA) is a coalition formed in December 2018 that advances equitable policies and fair practices for families with incarcerated loved ones in Jefferson County, Kentucky. LFJA is a collaborative coalition guided by values of respect, dignity, and unity. The coalition is committed to the goal of at least 50% participation of people with direct experiences of incarceration.
The lead partner in founding the coalition is The Special Project. Established in 2008, the Special Project is an independent team of artists and advocates who create weekly art activities with children and caregivers awaiting video visitation with their incarcerated loved ones in the Louisville Metro Jail. In 2018, the Special Project worked with the Louisville Metro Center for Health Equity to document the impact of parental incarceration on children’s health in Jefferson County.
Notable Accomplishments / Recognition
2008 to 2020 - The Special Project Art Activities Leaders facilitated artmaking opportunities to families visiting their loved ones in the Visitor's Lobby of Louisville Metro Dept of Corrections.
2018 - Parental Incarceration, Children’s Health, and an Opportunity to Shift the Future
Can Family Responsibility Statements Improve Children’s Health in Metro Louisville?: A Health Impact Assessment
2018 - Louisville Family Justice Advocates forms