Backside Learning Center

📣Our “Familia” at The BLC is growing, and we are HIRING! 👀 ➡️ Social Services Manager: 🔥NEW🔥Social Services Manager is a social work position, managing all social services provided to the community of adults working in the equine industry, and their families. This will include direct services for walk-ins, case management for individuals and families, and mental health support in a group or individual setting. ➡️ Family Support Coordinator: 🔥NEW🔥We are looking for a caring, passionate, ethical, and organized individual to work as a youth support coordinator to support, advocate for, and empower racetrack families and their children seeking our services. ➡️ Early Childhood Coordinator: The BLC is looking for an Early Childhood Coordinator, who will support the family programs team through efforts in program planning, outreach, implementation, and evaluation for our youngest community members. ➡️ BLC Van Driver: We are seeking a Part-Time Van Driver (Non-CDL) to drive the BLC’s 12-passenger van, whose primary responsibility will be to transport our adult and youth participants to and from our programs in the safest possible manner. ‼️WHAT SETS US APART FROM THE REST:‼️ ✨Competitive benefits package ✨Non-traditional work environment located at the heart of Churchill Downs Racetrack ✨Workplace has a focus on trauma-informed care, with a focus on a healthy work environment and self-care as a priority To learn more and to apply, see below👇 https://buff.ly/3JlCavX Please share with your community! 🙏 #louisvillejobs #nowhiring #jobopening #hiring #equineworkers #backsidelearningcenter

HELP SUSTAIN ARTS PROGRAMMING at the BLC. 
 GIVE FOR GOOD LOUISVILLE 2024 is 
🚨TOMORROW🚨 Thursday, September 12 ALL DAY LONG. 

DONATIONS ARE OPEN NOW through the big day tomorrow!👇 
https://buff.ly/3yvKN3Y
 ➡️ Our 🔥NEWEST🔥 episode of the “Beyond the Backstretch” is out now. 📣 🎙Listen on Spotify here: https://buff.ly/39a40v3 🎙Listen on Apple Music here: https://buff.ly/37JQ2j5 On this episode of Behind the Backstretch, we are focusing on Give for Good Louisville, the biggest fundraising day of the year in the city! Taking place on September 12th, the focus for our fundraiser will be arts programming at the BLC, specifically our work with artist Sara Noori and Fund for the Arts.   First, hear from Sara as she dives into her background, her work with us, and the growth she's seen with both children and adults during her time at the BLC. We then talk with staff members Merlin Cano, Taylor Ohlmann and Adalberto Castellón Jr as they talk about the impact art has made with clients in their respective programs!

 🫵DON’T FORGET TO DONATE TO THE BLC THIS GIVE FOR GOOD LOUISVILLE! ‼️DONATIONS ARE OPEN NOW through the big day tomorrow!👇 
https://buff.ly/3yvKN3Y
 #backsidelearningcenter #cflouisville #giveforgoodlou

🚨GIVE FOR GOOD LOUISVILLE 2024 is 
👉 THIS Thursday, September 12 ALL DAY LONG. 👉THROUGHOUT the day on September 12, Sea Warrior Stables, a generous group of 20+ Thoroughbred trainers, AND a group of dedicated jockeys—including Brian Hernandez and Tyler Gaffaliione—are hosting MATCHES and challenges for us! ⬇️SEE THE LINK BELOW TO SEE OUR GIVING PAGE: https://buff.ly/3yvKN3Y 🫶If you donate between the hours of 8am and 10am, Sea Warrior Stables will match your donations up to $1,000, per $100 donation. 🫶If you donate between the hours of 1pm and 4pm, a group of generous Thoroughbred trainers will match your donations up to $3,000. The following trainers have pitched in for this $3,000 match so far: Bret Calhoun, Brian Lynch, Cherie DeVaux, Chris Hartman, Dale Romans, Dallas Stewart, Eddie Keneally, Greg Foley, James E Baker, Matt Shirer, Mike Maker, Mike Thomlinson, Neil Pessin, Norm Casse, Phil Bauer, Phil Trip, Randy Morse, Rick Hiles, Riley Mott, Ron Moquett, Sebastian Rice/D Wayne Lukas, Steve Margolis, Tommy Drury Jr., Wayne Catalanol, Whit Beckman 🫶 Lastly, If you donate between the hours of TWILIGHT RACING AT CHURCHILL DOWNS, or 5pm to 8pm, a group of generous JOCKEYS will match your donations up to $3,000. Catch us on Facebook Live during Twilight Thurdsday, the opening night of the Fall Meet! We will be live at the track talking to Tyler Gaffalione himself about why it’s important to support us at the BLC. ⬇️SEE THE LINK BELOW TO SEE OUR GIVING PAGE: https://buff.ly/3yvKN3Y

Please join us in wishing a very Happy Birthday to our board chair Pam Conway— a true leader, visionary, and friend. 🥳🎂 Beginning as an English teacher, Pam has provided unwavering support to our community since 2019. In 2021, she began her leadership as the president of our board of directors. This is her last year in this role. 😢 We are grateful to her dedication and passion that has guided us to new heights the past few years. Hope you have a wonderful day. 🎉 #boardofdirectors #backsidelearningcenter #birthday #equineworkers

📣Our “Familia” at The BLC is growing, and we are HIRING! 👀 ➡️ Adult English Instructor 🔥NEW🔥 The ideal candidate would plan, organize, and deliver English language instruction for equine workers employed on the backside of Churchill Downs. English classes take place two evenings a week at the Backside Learning Center’s main office located on the backside of Churchill Downs. English instructors will teach a class on Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 5:30 pm-7:30 pm, plus hours for lesson planning, classroom preparation, and other tasks related to the position. Some daytime hours may also be available. This position has an immediate start date. ‼️WHAT SETS US APART FROM THE REST:‼️ ✨Competitive benefits package ✨Non-traditional work environment located at the heart of Churchill Downs Racetrack ✨Workplace has a focus on trauma-informed care, with a focus on a healthy work environment and self-care as a priority To learn more and to apply, see below👇 https://buff.ly/3JlCavX Please share with your community! 🙏 #louisvillejobs #nowhiring #jobopening #hiring #equineworkers #backsidelearningcenter

Daniela Jacuinde, who is our social services intern, is leading a mental health series for our commmunity! 🧠🫶 Last week she held an introductory talk about the importance of mental health. She touched on emotions and how taking care of yourself mentally and emotionally is paramount. 🥳 She plans on leading a talk on substance abuse next month! Daniela recently received her bachelor’s in psychology in Mexico. Since workers come and go from different tracks around the country, feelings of isolation and loneliness are common. As her family is huge in the horse racing world both here and in New Orleans, we’re so lucky she’s here as a true representative of the community spreading such important insight! 👏 Want to support programs similar to this? REMEMBER TO DONATE TO THE BLC THIS GIVE FOR GOOD LOUISVILLE ⏩ September 12th ALL DAY LONG. Learn more below 👇 https://buff.ly/3yvKN3Y #backsidelearningcenter #equineworkers #mentalhealth

Creciendo Juntos, or “Growing Together”, is a group focused on empowering the teen children of the workers of the backside community to become healthy, effective leaders, and agents of change within their community. 💪 This summer our teens have been super busy with Jo Cruz from University of Louisville’s Kent School of Social Work and Family Science. She led team building workshops with the goal with the teens becoming community activists. 🌎 As a result, 100% of the teen participants grew in leadership and shared their voice! They ended the summer with a group swimming outing to a local creek. 🤿 This fall, we’re excited to instill a college and career readiness curriculum with our teens! We’re priotizing hosting Hispanic/Latino@/Latine volunteers from a variety of different careers and colleges come talk to our teens about their field. In addition, we hope to conduct a “Youth Passions Project” as a way to combine leadership and passion. ❤️🔥 Want to support programs similar to this? REMEMBER TO DONATE TO THE BLC THIS GIVE FOR GOOD LOUISVILLE ⏩ September 12th ALL DAY LONG. Learn more below 👇 https://buff.ly/3yvKN3Y #backsidelearningcenter #equineworkers #youthleadership

Last Friday, we were fortunate to join representatives from other local Hispanic/Latino@/Latine organizations to talk about issues of concern for the communities we serve with Rep. Morgan McGarvey and his team! We had an incredible discussion. We're enthused and grateful Congressman McGarvey is interested in collecting feedback from our communities. As these meetings are quarterly, we look forward to continue attending the meetings to help be the voice of backstretch workers and their families!

Meet Gloria, our Volunteer of the Month!👋 Gloria Peña moved to the US from Venezuela 12 years ago. 🇻🇪 She began volunteering with us in Front Runners in the fall of 2023 and has most recently volunteered with us for our two-week literacy camp this summer. A natural teacher, Gloria teaches Spanish classes to adults remotely.🗣️🍎 Gloria has worked predominantly with Keila during her time volunteering with us this summer. She loved working with Keila, a bright 6-year-old eager to learn English, on letter sounds and letters. Gloria admires Keila’s progress, noting, “The sounds, she’s got it,” said Gloria. “She’s been able to recognize all the English sounds and letters.” 📚🐛 Gloria shares a special bond with Keila over their shared experience of being in a new country. “We miss a few things about our home countries. She misses her grandmother, I miss my mom who’s still in Venezuela,” Gloria reflects. She appreciates the supportive environment at the BLC, adding, “I’m happy she’s at this organization that can support you, make you feel safe, and be on this path with you.” Gloria’s dedication and passion made her an invaluable volunteer this summer. Thank you, Gloria, for the impact you made on Keila’s summer! Want to make an impact to a child's literacy this fall? 🍁 We're still recruiting Front Runner's after-school tutors! Learn more below. 👇 https://buff.ly/44GYUxm #volunteerofthemonth #backsidelearningcenter

🚨SAVE THE DATE & Join us in supporting “Benefit for the Backside: A Day at the Races Celebrating the BLC’s 20th Anniversary” on Friday, November 22nd at noon. 🚨 👉https://buff.ly/2Sb8pCs The event supports the BLC's mission to provide support and resources in a safe, welcoming environment for the diverse community of racetrack workers & families. 📣TABLES AND TICKETS ARE NOW AVAILABLE!📣 Held at the First Turn Club, the Benefit for the Backside is the most important annual fundraiser for the Backside Learning Center. It generates crucial funding that allows the BLC to continue its current and future success.   Celebrate our transformative work with equine workers and families, enjoy a relaxing day at the races, bid on incredible items during the live and silent auctions, and take a chance in our raffle to win a Champion's Day Suite. 👉 https://buff.ly/2Sb8pCs   We are looking for auction items and sponsorships! If you have any leads, DM us or reach out to us at 502 634 6543. 👀 #b4b24 #backsidelearningcenter #equineworkers