Global Roots Louisville , Inc

Global Roots Louisville (GRL) was established to coordinate cultural events and programs for the growing number of African refugees settling in Louisville.

In 2026, we began operating under the name Global Roots Louisville to reflect the expansion of our reach over the years to Louisville’s broader refugee and immigrant community. We also coordinate events like health fairs and back-to-school events to serve the diverse residents of Louisville’s Iroquois neighborhood, home to our office and community center.

Global Roots Louisville (GRL) is grassroots organization dedicated to our mission of empowering Louisville's immigrants and refugees by providing culturally responsive services, expanding access to education, wellness, and economic opportunity, and leading community-driven initiatives that promote stability, integration, resilience, and long-term success. 

For many refugees and immigrants in Louisville, their journey doesn't begin when they arrive here—

another journey has just begun.

Families often face language barriers, limited access to employment, and unfamiliar systems that can make it difficult to fully participate in their new community. 

GRL bridges those gaps with compassion, cultural understanding, and practical support.

We serve more than 6,000 people each year, offering programs in five key areas.

• Education and Youth:  Mentors & Meals provides homework help, enrichment activities, mentorship, and a meal for 35-50 students each day after school. We also provide youth mental health workshops and services. Teens Teach Tech engages immigrant teens to teach basic digital literacy skills to adults in the community.
• Health & Well-Being:  GRL provides mental health workshops and services, community health navigation assistance, and substance use and overdose prevention programs for youth and adults.
• Workforce and Small Business Support:  We provide job readiness training, job search assistance, resume support, and hands-on training to prepare participants for employment in Louisville’s high-demand industries.
• Basic Needs Support:  GRL offers English as a Second Language (ESL) classes, meal delivery for homebound refugees/immigrants, and assistance navigating often complex social systems (housing, education, healthcare, food stamps, financial assistance, etc.)
• Cultural and Community Connections:  We host and participate in cultural events to teach the broader community about the diverse cultural groups that call Louisville home and to ensure that those groups maintain their cultural heritage.

At its core, Global Roots Louisville is more than a service provider—

it is a place of connection, dignity, and opportunity.

Your support helps ensure that our refugee and immigrant neighbors have access to the tools, relationships, and resources they need to succeed. Together, we can build a more inclusive Louisville where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.