Backside Learning Center

Description

The Backside Learning Center (BLC) is located at Churchill Downs in Louisville, KY. We support men and women who work in the barn area, or backside, of Churchill Downs as well as their families through educational and social services. The Backside population is largely comprised of migrant laborers from Central and South America. This population doesn't have much access to formal education and often our clients haven't ever had the opportunity to attend classes on a regular basis. It is also difficult for our students to build a solid community due to frequent relocation from track to track. We are a volunteer-based organization dedicated to providing our clients access to a library and computer lab as well as ESL, citizenship, art, computer and music classes. All classes have rolling admission to accommodate the transient lifestyles of the population we serve. Our doors opened in June of 2004 thanks to the advocacy of a few visionaries within the Kentucky Derby Museum and Churchill Downs who identified the need to provide educational opportunities and other resources to backside workers. Seeded with an initial grant from Louisville Thoroughbred owners and breeders Richard, Elaine, and Bert Klein, and Bill Casner with WinStar Farm, this initiative began with the renovation of the old racing offices, which still house the BLC. In 2008, an 800-square-feet expansion took place, which was fully funded with in-kind support. Originally the Klein Family Learning Center and Win