Advocacy

I speak and write vulnerably on leadership, advocacy, healing, and systems change — particularly for women navigating visibility, transition, and power.

My leadership credibility was built by standing alongside women, many who had lost their ability to ask for help — women at the lowest points of their lives, often unseen, unheard, and carrying profound loss. Leading in that reality shaped how I understand power, responsibility, and truth, and it continues to inform how I show up publicly.

  • Black and white image of Donald Trump with an expressionally contemplative look, wearing a suit, white shirt, and red tie, with a small American flag lapel pin, against a red background with a silhouette of Kentucky and a thought bubble.

    How Red States Tiptoe Around Trump’s Wreckage

    UP for Women and Children, was quoted in The Washington Post on the impact of federal budget cuts on vulnerable communities in Kentucky, highlighting how shifts in funding threaten critical support for homeless women and families.

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  • Amy Meredith, UP for Women and Children Executive Director, being interviewed at an event with people mingling and tables in the background.

    Nonprofits Discuss Funding Challenges

    Featured in “Nonprofits Discuss Funding Challenges,” Amy adds her voice to the statewide conversation about sustainability and equity in the nonprofit sector — advocating for systems that support the people doing the work.

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  • Two women seated in armchairs engaged in a podcast recording session. One woman is reading from a paper, while the other listens. Behind them is a neon sign that says "RENEGADE" and a large lamp. The setting includes a coffee table with books, a small plant, and a mug.

    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.

    Thank you, Renegade Ventures Podcast!

    Listen Now
  • Group of people standing in front of the U.S. Capitol building in Washington, D.C., on a sunny day.

    Advocacy with National Women’s Shelter Network

    Represented 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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  • A historic stone church with tall, narrow arched stained glass windows, set against a blue sky with scattered clouds and tree branches with sparse leaves.

    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).

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  • A woman with long gray hair speaking during an interview, with colorful wall decorations and a sign in the background, identified as Amy Meredith, UP Center Founder, on a news broadcast.

    “Sheltering the Vulnerable” U of L News April 2019

    Featured in UofL News under “Sheltering the Vulnerable,” the piece highlights how University of Louisville alumni, in collaboration with university faculty and community partners, launched a safe daytime space for women and children experiencing homelessness — a project born from a needs assessment and fueled by trauma-informed care.

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  • Magazine cover with a headline 'One Time of Day They're Not Harassed' and a subheadline 'How this women’s day shelter is changing lives'. Includes a photo of Maggie Menderski from the Louisville Courier Journal and mentions USA TODAY NETWORK.

    "One Time of Day They're Not Harassed" Courier Journal October 2019

    The Courier Journal’s Maggie Menderski spent time at UP for Women & Children to capture the stories and challenges women face, producing the nonprofit’s first major feature and introducing its mission to the community.

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Recognition

  • ANNOUNCING: Business First’s 2025 Most Admired CEOs honorees

    ANNOUNCING: Business First’s 2025 Most Admired CEOs honorees

    Amy Meredith was named one of Louisville Business First’s 2025 Most Admired CEOs for her visionary leadership and impact in building UP for Women & Children, Louisville’s first day center for women, families, and marginalized genders experiencing homelessness.

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  • Award recognition graphic featuring a portrait of Amy Meredith, with text indicating she is the most admired woman in the community and sisterhood category for 2024, with decorative gold and black design elements.

    Today's Woman Most Admired Woman 2024 Nominee

    Amy Meredith was nominated by Today’s Woman Magazine as one of Louisville’s 2024 Most Admired Women, recognizing her leadership and advocacy for women and families in the community.

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  • Louisville Business Journal as a 2023 “Nonprofit Visionary Leader”

    Recognized by Louisville Business Journal as a 2023 “Nonprofit Visionary Leader

    Honored for visionary leadership and innovation in building UP for Women & Children — Louisville’s first day center for women, families, and marginalized genders experiencing homelessness.

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“True advocacy builds bridges - between systems, communities, and the people they exist to serve.”