Jean Porter (BF ’14, LL ’05), former managing editor, The Courier-Journal

by Jean Porter, Bingham Fellows Class of 2014 –

I had a stressful job, but I long ago tossed out any thought that my Bingham Fellows 2014 class days would be easier than going to work. It’s intense from start to finish every time we get together, but in a really great way. This week was no exception. We started at Neighborhood House in Portland, where we heard director Pam Rice share moving stories of the work done there since 1896, then took a tour of Portland, led by developer Gill Holland. (Speaking of intense, have you met this guy?) and heard from Caroline Heine of SeedKentucky.

We started the day with project presentations; we have eight possibilities right now, which eventually will be whittled by about half. Lots of great ideas; a little stress, I think, about the whole “whittling” idea, but we’re trusting the Bingham Fellows process.

As always, just being with my classmates was energizing; I guess that’s how we survive the go-go-go nature of class days.

By the way, after our session ended on Thursday, I drove a few blocks away to the Strawberry Jamm Festival at Redeemer Lutheran church on River Park Drive. My future daughter-in-law had a booth there, and her invitation reminded me that as a Bingham Fellows class member, I need to get out into west Louisville more than just for classes. So I’m glad I went. I had the best strawberry smoothie I’ve ever had, heard great music, watched a salsa lesson (but did not dance!) and met some great people. Just another reminder of what’s behind our class mission. We’re the same. We need to get to know each other better.