Interview: UofL sophomore, Katelyn Johnston, is a STOP Fellow and co-founded Clean4ChangeKY

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It’s Sustainability Week at the University of Louisville, and on this week’s program, your host, Justin Mog, is in conversation with UofL Class of 2027 ASL Interpreting Studies Major, Katelyn Johnston! In high school, Katelyn co-founded the environmental non-profit Clean 4 Change KY, and the Post-Landfill Action Network (PLAN) recently named her as one of the Students Taking on Oil & Petrochemicals (STOP) Fellows for 2024-25!

The STOP Fellowship supports students in the Ohio River Valley, a region threatened by petrochemical build out, as they create campaigns & education in their campus communities. Students connect over shared experiences, receive one-on-one guidance from mentors in their area, and train up on facilitation and leadership skills.

Katelyn is a sophomore American Sign Language Interpreting Studies major at the University of Louisville. She is co-founder of an environmental nonprofit, Clean4ChangeKY, an organization that focuses on environmental justice and education in Kentucky. Learn more at clean4changeky.wixsite.com/home.

This year's STOP Fellows include students from Ohio University, Virginia Tech, Centre College, Berea College, University of Louisville, Morehead State University, Bethany College, West Virginia State University, and Virginia State University. They are passionate community organizers, policy advocates, educators, researchers, club leaders, and more! Learn more at www.postlandfill.org/post/stop-fellows-24-25

As Katelyn reminded you, don’t forget to support her organization by participating in this Saturday’s Louisville Earth Walk
Saturday, October 26th, 9am, Shawnee Park
Everyone is invited to join in the 8th annual Louisville Earth Walk, a community celebration featuring a non-competitive walk. Join in support of a vision where every neighborhood has safe and clean water, air, and soil. Participants can celebrate our beautiful planet while raising both awareness and funds for the organizations in our city that work to protect and improve the quality of life for all. We invite participants to join us at 9 a.m. at Shawnee Park for a celebration and 3.7k walk. Proceeds will be distributed among the 10 environmental nonprofit organizing partners. They include Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest, Clean4Change, Kentucky Conservation Committee, Kentucky Interfaith Power and Light, Kentucky Solar Energy Society, Louisville Grows, Louisville Sustainability Council, Passionist Earth & Spirit Center, OurEarthNow, and the West Jefferson County Community Task Force. Details and registration options available at LouisvilleEarthWalk.org.

As always, our feature is followed by your community action calendar for the week, so get your calendars out and get ready to take action for sustainability NOW!

Sustainability Now! is hosted by Dr. Justin Mog and airs on Forward Radio, 106.5fm, WFMP-LP Louisville, every Monday at 6pm and repeats Tuesdays at 12am and 10am. Find us at forwardradio.org

Source: Interview: UofL sophomore, Katelyn Johnston, is a STOP Fellow and co-founded Clean4ChangeKY (Sustainability Now!, Forward Radio, Oct. 21, 2024)