What leadership looks like in action:
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Bouncing Back from Job Loss
Losing my job was one of the hardest pivots of my life — but it also became one of the most clarifying. In this Bold Journey interview, I talk about the lessons that helped me evolve from founder/CEO to author, speaker, and leadership mentor.
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Homelessness During the Holidays — Amy Meredith | With Arms Wide Open Podcast
In this episode of With Arms Wide Open, Amy Meredith — Cofounder & CEO of UP for Women & Children — shares what life is really like for women and families experiencing homelessness during the holiday season, why the holidays can be especially difficult, and how communities can show up with compassion and solutions.
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Honored as a 2025 Most Admired CEO
Recognized Recognized for leadership rooted in purpose, resilience, and community.
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Podcast Feature: Why Would You Write That?
I joined the Why Would You Write That? podcast for a conversation on leadership, storytelling, and the courage to tell the truth. We explored what compels us to write the stories we carry — the heart behind Where the Light Breaks Through, the power of claiming your narrative, and why telling the truth (even the uncomfortable parts) is one of the most radical acts of leadership.
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UP for Women and Children executive director Amy Meredith to step away
Over the past eight years, Amy has guided UP from its earliest concept to a thriving, sustainable organization recognized for its impact on women and families. In 2026, she will step down as Executive Director, ensuring the organization continues to thrive under new leadership.
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Authored under the leadership of Amy Meredith, Co-founder and Executive Director, UP for Women & Children
The 2025 Gratitude Report reflects more than a year of milestones — it’s a portrait of progress, resilience, and collective care. Since opening in 2018, UP for Women & Children has grown from a grassroots idea into a sustainable, seven-figure organization serving women and families.
This report tells that story and celebrates what’s possible when vision and community come together.
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Louisville groups receive millions to combat homelessness
UP for Women & Children and partner organizations were included in the $4.5M Coalition for the Homeless funding awards, as reported by Spectrum News.
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UP for Women and Children Celebrates its 7th Anniversary with Congressman Morgan McGarvey
In its 7th year, UP crossed the seven-figure mark, scaling services and impact for women and children experiencing homelessness — as reported by WLKY.
This milestone reflects sustained growth, serving over 2,200 individuals and expanding vital programs.
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Renegade Podcast
Amy transformed her personal and professional experiences into a mission to combat homelessness in Louisville. Drawing from her early involvement in her family's manufacturing and import business. Hear her powerful story and how UP for Women and Children came to life.
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Nonprofits Discuss Funding Challenges
Local advocate Amy Meredith collaborates with the Louisville Nonprofit Coalition and Kentucky Nonprofit Network to amplify nonprofit voices at the local and state level, advocating for fair funding, policy reform, and sustainable support for women, families, and vulnerable communities.
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Advocacy with National Women’s Shelter Network
Representing UP for Women & Children with the National Women’s Shelter Network in D.C., advocating for federal support for women and children experiencing homelessness.
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Christ Church Cathedral in Louisville opens shelter for homeless ahead of winter storm
Partnering with Christ Church Cathedral, the UP team developed policies and procedures that made it possible to launch a winter shelter, adding 15 extra beds per night during extreme cold — an initiative supported under Amy Meredith’s leadership (WDRB).
Leadership Philosophy
I work with founders, CEOs, and leaders in transition who are building stability, navigating responsibility, and preparing for what comes next. My approach to leadership is grounded in clarity, integrity, and long-term sustainability—not performative success.
I believe leadership begins in the nervous system, not the org chart.
I believe stability is built quietly, long before it’s visible.
I believe leaving well is as important as leading boldly.
I believe integrity is choosing consistency over approval.
I believe structure is a form of care—for people, institutions, and families.
I believe creative work is not optional for leaders; it is how we process truth.
I believe health is not a side project—it is the foundation that carries us.
I believe clarity, self-trust and living alcohol free are strategic advantages.
I believe leadership requires knowing when to hold responsibility without control.
I’ve learned the hardest work happens when no one is clapping.
And I believe it is possible to lead with discernment, compassion, and truth—without burning yourself down to prove it.
Leadership in Practice
Leadership, for me, has never been about the spotlight—it’s about building what didn’t exist and creating systems that last.
I had the privilege of leading UP for Women & Children from an idea sketched on paper into a thriving, seven figure organization centered on dignity, belonging, and care—a true place of safety and connection for women and families.
What you’ll see here reflects the work of a team, a community, and a shared commitment to integrity and accountability—and how that same philosophy continues to guide my next chapter.
“I build systems that endure -structures that create stability, clarity, and impact long after the spotlight fades.”
At the Kentucky State Capitol with members of the Kentucky Nonprofit Network, advocating for policies that strengthen community systems and sustainability.