Americana Future Forward: What's Next For Americana

Americana Community Center has served thousands of immigrants in the Louisville area for nearly 30 years. While we celebrate this important work, Americana is moving into a new chapter to develop a service model that can ensure the next 30 years, and well beyond.

We have important news to share about these changes.

Our Executive Director, Emilie Dyer, is leaving, but she departs with our deep thanks for helping our Board of Directors develop a plan for the future, which included painful but necessary staff cuts, as well as not offering our summer youth program in 2025. Funding cuts at both the state and national level forced this decision. Americana hopes to bring this program back in 2026. As we make these decisions, we do have good news to share that will help us stabilize in the future.

• Americana is diversifying partnerships with new campus partners and deepening relationships with current campus partners to inform our sustainability model.

• Americana Board of Directors plans to kick off a 3 to 5-year business planning process that will ensure our strategic direction is aligned with the community

• We are re-envisioning our programs to offer the highest quality and greatest efficiency in service provision

Americana will continue to offer Coaching, Crisis Case Management & Counseling services with the support of partnering universities, as well as computer classes, space for a community garden, and tax preparation. Additionally, new partners are joining the campus. They will provide support for families in recovery, workforce development technical certifications, and other essential services that contribute to the strength and stability of our neighborhoods.

The Board of Directors has selected Karen Moya as our Interim Executive Director.

Karen Moya is already a valuable member of our staff, and the right person to lead us forward as we plan for the future. A search for a new permanent Executive Director will begin once our board and the interim director have completed important work that will prepare us for the future. The Board of Directors anticipates the search will begin in Summer 2025.

Americana will still be here years from now to serve this community because of the difficult but necessary decisions we’re making now. We have tremendous support from people who care deeply about ensuring Louisville is truly a welcoming city, and we continue to be grateful for all the ways they help us care for those we serve.

Americana is in a much better position to meet the challenges of this moment thanks to the humbling support of the community and significant stakeholders committed to the continued work of Americana. We will continue to need the support of our community to launch Americana forward into the sustainable future we envision. We hope you will consider supporting us by volunteering your time and making a recurring contribution on our website www.americanacc.org