VOCAL-KY

VOCAL-KY is building a statewide grassroots movement that builds power among low-income Kentuckians who  are directly impacted by HIV/AIDS, the war on drugs, mass incarceration, and homelessness to create healthy and just communities. We fight for systemic change rooted in justice, compassion, and love. We accomplish this through community organizing, leadership development, advocacy, direct services, and direct action.

Our model of movement building draws inspiration from three traditions: traditional community-based organizing, direct-action AIDS activism, and Black-led social movements for racial justice.

We approach this work with a firm belief in reducing harm and ending stigma, and the knowledge that the issues impacting our communities are driven by institutional oppression, not personal failings.

Major Accomplishments

• Officially launched a drop-in and services hub, in January 24, in our office located in a high need part of downtown Louisville. Without any dedicated funding, our drop-in center is open 4 hours per day, 3 days each week, and regularly serves 60 people daily, connecting them to trusted community partners.
• Helped to decriminalize fentanyl test strips (HB 353), pass the HIV Is Not A Crime Bil (HB 349)l, and pass HB 21 which provides state IDs for community members being released from incarceration.
• After calling for every dollar of opioid settlement funds to go toward housing, services and care, helped secure over $1 million in funds for key partners.
• Helped to temporarily block local legislation in Louisville to criminalize homeless encampments and HB5, though both city and state legislation were later passed.
• Worked with local allies to release a 2022 Roadmap for Louisville Metro Government to End Overdose and Reverse the Harms of the War on Drugs, and a 2023 Roadmap for Louisville Metro Government to End Overdose and Reverse the Harms of the War on Drugs to provide a path forward for the city. We also helped to develop a national Roadmap for Opioid Settlement Funds: Supporting Communities & Ending the Overdose Crisis, signed by over 130 organizations and featured in The New York Times. 
• Held a series of powerful local events, a 2022 Mayoral Candidates forum, 3 major international overdose awareness days, a City Council Candidates forum for District 4 with over 120 attendees and 9 of 10 candidates participating, a Juneteenth event on our 2-year anniversary attended by about 200 people, and No More Drug War Town Halls in Hopkinsville and Pikeville, with another coming up in Winchester on September 24.