Louisville - Town Hall

By Sister Robbie Pentecost, OSF

October 1, 2014

 “Hotel Louisville,” as locals refer to it, was our last stop of the day. We arrived, unloaded our luggage and proceeded into the lobby. While it certainly resembled a regular hotel (and it is), it is also a training ground for people who are homeless. On some of the floors there are rooms that serve as transitional housing. Some of the upper floors are reserved for guests – thus they serve as an opportunity for those in training to practice their skills. They also work with a local community college that provides classes and assists the trainees in getting their GED. We enjoyed our evening meal in the café before joining the crowd at the Town Hall we held in this same building.

Our evening was a typical Town Hall event and gave participants an opportunity to share in small groups on a round of questions provided by the Nuns on the Bus. Sr. Simone referred to these as “buzz questions,” and they certainly proved her right. The tables were buzzing with energy, concern, hopes and ideas for the future. The question that drew a lot of buzz was, “Who in your family do you find it difficult to discuss politics with and why?” While all congressional representatives and senators were invited to join us, Congressman John Yarmouth was the only attendee. 

Perhaps the highlight for many of us was the response to a question raised about hopes from a young high school woman. She spoke about having two surgeries on her knee and how her parents’ insurance company would not pay for it. Yet now under the Affordable Health Care Act, her surgeries have not been a burden for her parents. There was certainly a pause in the audience as this young girl spoke about the impact this new law is having on families. What a reminder of why I am on the bus.