While we couldn't gather in person, we still celebrated our shared accomplishments at the 2021 Virtual Annual Meeting over a conversation with Angela Davis, musical performances from Ben Sollee and Scott T Smith, and poetry from Tytianna Wells.
This year's annual meeting was held virtually due to the pandemic, but that means it was more accessible than ever!
Catch the highlights on YouTube here
Special Guests
- ACLU-KY's Keturah Herron sat down (virtually) with Professor Angela Davis to discuss how social movements can create sustainable, community-based change.
- Tytianna Wells, author and illustrator
- Scott T. Smith, folk/soul singer
- Ben Sollee, singer/songwriter
- Introduction of new board members and update on the past year's work and the road ahead from ACLU-KY Executive Director Michael Aldridge
Voting and New Board Members
ACLU of Kentucky members voted for new members for our Board of Directors. Learn more about them below and meet the full board and staff here.
Not an ACLU-KY member? Join today for just $5! With you by our side, we can continue fighting to protect the rights guaranteed to every Kentuckian under the U.S. and Kentucky Constitutions. Your membership dues will directly support our work in the courts, Frankfort, and communities throughout the commonwealth. Memberships are not tax-deductible and support our non-partisan legislative work funded by our 501(c)4. Join here.
You can also support our work by making a tax-deductible donation to our 501(c)3 to support our organizational work. Donations do not make you a member of the ACLU of Kentucky. Donating is easy and can be done online, through the mail, or over the phone. Learn more and make a contribution here.
Cody Angel, Mount Sterling
Cody would like to bring his knowledge of Eastern Kentucky to ACLU-KY's Board of Directors. He is passionate about justice reform and voting rights, and sees great opportunities for ACLU-KY to engage Kentuckians in all parts of the commonwealth. Cody has volunteered with the ACLU of Kentucky and volunteers with direct services organizations in his community. He is currently pursuing a degree in social work.
Sofia Calleja, Lexington
Sofia would like to use her legal and legislative experience to help ACLU-KY meet its goals. She is passionate about immigrants' rights. Sofia was an ACLU-KY advocacy intern during her time at the University of Louisville's Kent School of Social Work. She is engaged with other organizations that advocate for immigrants' and LGBTQ rights. Sofia is currently a staff attorney in Fayette County Family Court Division 1.
Shellie Dreistadt, Louisville
Shellie would like to join the ACLU-KY Board of Directors to utilize her 20 years' experience in IT security to help the organization run more efficiently. Shellie is an ACLU-KY member and serves several other local organizations. She is currently the VP, Chief Security Officer of Appriss.
Mary Hargis, Morehead
Mary would like to put her years of community organizing to use for the ACLU of Kentucky. She was a plaintiff in ACLU-KY's lawsuit against former Governor Matt Bevin, Morgan v. Bevin, for blocking people from his official government social media pages. Mary also has experience with several community organizations, including the Rowan County Rights Coalition, which protested Kim Davis's denial of marriage certificates to LGBTQ couples. She is a retired employee of the Commonwealth of Kentucky and worked as an organizer for United Auto Workers.
Stephanie M. Johnson, Louisville
Stephanie would like to join the ACLU-KY Board of Directors to use her 20+ years of financial services, IT, and operations experience to help the organization effectively achieve its goals. Stephanie has co-led the weekly RunForBreonna 5k in Louisville and is engaged with several other local organizations. She is currently the Associate Vice President of Service and Process Management for Nationwide Financial.
Meryem Kahloon
Meryem Kahloon is a practicing family law attorney who wants to bring her legal expertise and community engagement to the ACLU of Kentucky. She is a legal observer with National Lawyers Guild and has served on the board of Guiding Light Islamic Center and is a Louisville Islamic Member of Compassion. Meryem is most proud of the five years she spent as a CASA volunteer. As a single mother and the daughter of a Pakistani immigrant, she has a unique perspective of the challenges minorities face.
Savvy Shabazz, Louisville
Savvy is an ACLU-KY Smart Justice Advocate and has been a longtime advocate for justice reform in Kentucky. He would like to use his knowledge of the ACLU and connections with other organizations to continue giving a voice to the Kentuckians most affected by the issues. Savvy is engaged with several other local organizations. He is currently a Bail Disrupter with The Bail Project – Louisville.
Tytianna Wells, Louisville
Tytianna is a Kentucky artist who wants to put her passion for social justice to use for the ACLU of Kentucky. She describes herself as an avid social justice advocate, activist, and artist. Wells performed excerpts from her memoir for ACLU-KY's 2020 Reproductive Freedom Project Benefit. She is the CEO and founder of Honey Tree Publishing in Louisville.
Terrance Sullivan, Louisville
Terrence is the Executive Director of the Kentucky Commission on Human Rights. KCHR is a state agency charged with enforcing the Kentucky Civil Rights Act. The commission empowers Kentuckians by enforcing law, hosting trainings, and providing resources for communities to protect civil rights locally. He has worked with ACLU-KY in the past and serves on the Racial Equity Advisory Board for Jefferson County Public Schools.