COVID Lexington Podcast

Mark Manual joins us from BCTC to discuss how they pivoted to online courses and what they're doing to serve current students and potential new students as we enter a possible recession. He says no one should believe they can't afford to go to college.

"The technology is much better than it was 10 years ago. Even things like training on an electric meter can be simulated online."

"Anytime we can do to help the student be focused on learning will help them be more successful."

Mark Manuel, the Vice President for Advancement and Organizational Development for Bluegrass Community and Technical College. Mark’s responsibilities include leading Strategic Communications; Resource Development/BCTC Foundation; and Human Resources and Professional Development. His experience includes process redesign, lean manufacturing implementation, organizational consulting, organizational redesign, strategic planning, and employee development in both the private and public sectors. He serves as a board member for the Business and Education Network (BEN), Commerce Lexington, Leadership Central Kentucky, Scott County United, and the Central Kentucky Public Policy Council.

Erin Royal is both a psychotherapist and registered yoga teacher. She splits her time between offering therapy to her clients and operating a yoga studio. The mind-body connection is important for both groups, and Erin joined us to share how each can be helpful during the pandemic.

Three Key Takeaways from Erin:

Mindfulness: We spend a lot of time in the past and the future in our thought processes, A LOT. Mindfulness says, "Stop it."

Gratitude: When you find yourself worrying, turn your list of worries into things for which you are grateful.

Compassion: For yourself and other people, in any way you can do it, try to find compassion every day.

Amy Varner moved to Lexington and opened Fleet Feet in March of 2019. Just after her one year anniversary, her store was closed due to the pandemic. We discuss the challenges for retail businesses and the changes they've made to prepare for easing of restrictions this week.

"We had just had our 1 year anniversary party before we got shut down. It was devastating. One of the great things that’s come out of it is we’ve had to rework how we operate."

https://www.fleetfeet.com/s/lexington (https://www.fleetfeet.com/s/lexington)

Our Nonprofit Highlight is Lexington Habitat for Humanity. Brandalin Foster, Communications Coordinator, joined us to discuss their challenges as the volunteer engine that drives their famous owner builds has been eliminated.

"We know the longer this goes on, the more the pandemic will also become a housing emergency."

https://www.lexhabitat.org/ (https://www.lexhabitat.org/)

https://www.facebook.com/lexhabitat/ (https://www.facebook.com/lexhabitat/)

Mary Quinn Ramer is the President of VisitLex. Her position as Director of Tourism for Lexington gives her great insight into how the hospitality industry is affected by the pandemic. She brought us up to speed on the landscape and shared some interesting ways they're highlighting Lexington and all it has to offer. Mary Quinn also highlighted Nourish Lexington, an initiative to utilize the skills and talents of furloughed hospitality workers to prepare meals for those in our community who need immediate access to food.

Donate, volunteer, or learn how to receive Nourish meals at http://foodchainlex.org/index.php/nourishlexington/ (http://foodchainlex.org/index.php/nourishlexington/)

Our Nonprofit Highlight is the Children's Advocacy Center of the Bluegrass. Winn Stephens, their Executive Director, highlights their mission of reducing the trauma experienced by child victims of sexual abuse. Children across our community have less time with lifelines like teachers and coaches who can help identify abuse. If you suspect abuse, call (877) 597-2331. To learn more or to donate, visit www.kykids.org.

This week's theme is Feeding Lexington. We welcome Rick and Tonya Parsons to share their inspiring story of grassroots action. They asked a few friends to help feed the UK Emergency Room staff in mid March, and that small act has blossomed into an active group of 600+ members on Facebook that has provided over $10,000 of meals to our front line workers at the UK Hospital ER.

Elsewhere in the community, God's Pantry Food Bank has been and continues to keep our neighbors fed. Misty Beard, their Community Engagement and Communications Manager, highlights their service in 50 counties in Central and Eastern Kentucky and partnership with more than 400 food pantries and meal programs. They have seen a significant rise in need during the COVID-19 pandemic, and Misty talks to us today about how they are continuing to provide food and meals to those who need it and how they are navigating these unusual times.

Tyler Jury and Clay Simpson founded Clayton and Crume, a leather goods company, out of their dorm room. Several years later they have a factory and retail space in Louisville, KY. They stopped production due to the pandemic and decided to try their hands at producing medical face shields. Less than a week later they began hiring to manufacture face shields for frontline medical workers in Kentucky. Tyler joins us to share his inspiring story.

Our nonprofit highlight is a fantastic overview of Kentucky nonprofits by Danielle Clore, the Executive Director/CEO of the Kentucky Nonprofit Network. Danielle discusses ways the KNN is supporting Kentucky nonprofits during this challenging time, and ways the community can give back and help your local nonprofits. She also discusses the upcoming Kentucky Gives Day on May 12th, so please check it out!

KY Gives Day https://www.kygives.org/ (https://www.kygives.org/)

KNN https://www.kynonprofits.org/ (https://www.kynonprofits.org/)

Medical Face Shields: https://www.vanguardmedsupply.com/ (https://www.vanguardmedsupply.com/)

Dr. Kraig Humbaugh, the Commissioner of Health for our Lexington-Fayette County Health Department, discusses what the Health Department is doing to help Lexington stay well. He gives a great breakdown of physical (not social!) distancing, discusses our healthcare system, and give our citizens advice and encouragement.

We also highlight, Greenhouse 17, a fantastic local advocacy agency committed to ending intimate partner abuse in families and our community. They're still operating to help survivors of intimate partner abuse and Executive Director Darlene Thomas let's us know how they're working and how Lexington can help.

Links to learn more about and help Greenhouse 17:

24 HR Crisis Line 1-800-544-2022

Updated Wish List: https://greenhouse17.org/support-us/our-wish-list/ (https://greenhouse17.org/support-us/our-wish-list/)

Buy Their Products: https://greenhouse17.org/shop/ (https://greenhouse17.org/shop/)

Flower CSA Shares: https://greenhouse17.org/our-farm/flower-csa/ (https://greenhouse17.org/our-farm/flower-csa/)

Kroger Rewards: https://www.kroger.com/i/community/community-rewards (https://www.kroger.com/i/community/community-rewards)

Amazon Smile: https://smile.amazon.com/gp/chpf/about/ref=smi_ge_ul_lm_raas (https://smile.amazon.com/gp/chpf/about/ref=smi_ge_ul_lm_raas)

We're joined by Dan Wu, Owner of Atomic Ramen. Dan discusses the reality of owning a local restaurant and closing due to the pandemic until further notice. He's spent his time being a resource to the community, first through Lex Unite (https://www.lexunite.com/ (https://www.lexunite.com/)), a project to support Lexington small businesses. More recently he has helped lead the Lee Initiative (https://leeinitiative.org/#lex (https://leeinitiative.org/#lex)), a relief program for restaurant workers that provides free meals and home staples out of the Great Bagel's Boston Road Location.

From the Lee Initiative:

Restaurant Workers Relief Program

Due to the closure of restaurants in our area we have an urgent need for assistance for the thousands of restaurant workers who find themselves suddenly without work, without a paycheck and without a support system.

Independent restaurants are at the center of the vibrant growth in America. For the past decade, we have relied on the stellar hospitality of the Bluegrass to create amazing local dining opportunities. But now restaurant workers need your help more than ever. If we don’t take a stand and do something now, there will not be an independent restaurant industry to speak of when the coronavirus crisis is over.

Starting on March 26th, in partnership with https://www.instagram.com/makersmark/ (@makersmark) and https://www.instagram.com/leeinitiative/ (@leeinitiative) https://www.instagram.com/chefedwardlee/ (@chefedwardlee), we will turn https://www.instagram.com/GreatBagel/ (@GreatBagel)’s Boston Road location into a restaurant workers relief center with https://www.instagram.com/LexUnite/ (@LexUnite) (https://www.instagram.com/greatbagel/ (@greatbagel), https://www.instagram.com/branded78_/ (@branded78_), https://www.instagram.com/atomicramen/ (@atomicramen), https://www.instagram.com/whiskeybearbar/ (@whiskeybearbar) and https://www.instagram.com/tuktuklex/ (@tuktuklex)). We are operating for restaurant workers who have been laid off or had a significant reduction in hours and/or pay. We are offering help for those in dire need of food and supplies. Each night, we will pack hundreds of to go dinners that people can come to pick up and take home. Dinners are offered on a first come first serve basis. Limit 1 per person unless there is an emergency situation.

We will also have essential supplies on hand. We will limit how much any one person can take of these supplies but they will be handed out free to those in need.

We will continue to offer this program until we can no longer financially support the program. Donations can be made to our efforts at LeeInitiative.Org

Details of the program are below:

LexUNITE https://www.instagram.com/lexunite/ (@lexunite)

Great Bagel Boston Road (our service location) https://www.instagram.com/GreatBagel/ (@GreatBagel) - Dinner pick up address:

Great Bagel and Bakery

3650 Boston Rd https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/108/ (#108)

Lexington, KY 40514

Please pull up outside to designated spaces and wait in your vehicle. -This program will be offered 7 days a week until otherwise notified.

- Pick up time is 5:00 to 7:00 daily

To support this program and our restaurant community donate to LEEInitiative.org

Anne-Tyler Morgan, Attorney at McBrayer, talks SBA Loans, Healthcare, and More

Ms. Morgan is an expert in healthcare, employment, and public policy