NCJW National Council of Jewish Women

The National Council of Jewish Women, Louisville Section (NCJW)

1250 Bardstown Rd.
Louisville, KY 40204-1333
(502) 458-5566
E-mail: office@njcwlou.org
Web site: http://www.ncjwlou.org | http://shopnearlynew.org

The National Council of Jewish Women, Louisville Section (NCJW), is the oldest and largest women’s organization in Jefferson County. NCJW volunteers work through service, advocacy and education to improve the lives of women, children and families. Currently NCJW supports many community service projects in Louisville including the Jewish Resource Center at the Jewish Community Center, California Area Family Development Center (an inner city day care center), ElderServe, Maryhurst and Gilda’s Club summer camp for children whose lives have been touched by cancer.

Many of the programs NCJW has developed have gone on to become independent social service agencies, such as CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates), KYA (Kentucky Youth Advocates), Bridgehaven, ElderServe, and YMCA Safe Place Services, which was developed with the help of the Junior League and the YMCA.

In 1994, NCJW began its award-winning, nationally recognized Court Watch program to monitor domestic violence litigation in Jefferson County. As a result of years of research and education gained through the program, various local judges and attorneys verified the need for a separate courtroom or docket to handle domestic violence and family court issues. Thus, the Family Enhanced Supervision Docket was born and now serves as a national model for other cities. Both the Court Watch and Supervision Docket programs are now being studied and copied in other communities across the country.

NCJW is also extremely active in advocacy issues in the local, state and federal legislatures, and has representatives on numerous civic organization boards such as the Jewish Community of Louisville’s Jewish Community Relations Council, 4Cs (Community Coordinated Child Care) and Maryhurst. NCJW has often been asked to testify on such issues as domestic violence, reproductive rights and childcare. Past and current NCJW members hold high government positions and are influential in local, state and federal legislative matters.

The NCJW Nearly New Shop, Louisville’s oldest and largest resale store, sells clothing for infants, children and adults as well as vintage garments, collectibles and items for the home. The shop is open six days a week. Every fall, Nearly New puts on a two-day “Fashion Encore Event,” and each spring a “Spring Fling Event.” These events attract thousands of bargain-hunting shoppers from 11 different states. The section also sponsors the Shopping Spree program, which raises significant funds each year to support various NCJW projects.

From creating the first summer kindergarten in 1897 and the first free lunch program in public schools in 1914, to the opening of NCJW ParkSide, a senior adult daycare in 1986, and the expansion of the Domestic Violence Intake Center in 2009, NCJW continually focuses on the needs of this community.

The National NCJW organization, which has over 100,000 members in 200 sections throughout the United States, was founded in 1893. The Louisville Section, founded in 1895, has a membership of close to 1,000 women and men, thinkers and doers in our Louisville area.

Sue Paul, President

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