The Visionary Behind the Sanctuary: Honoring Amy Meredith

Building a place where the “One time of day they’re not harassed” became a daily reality for Louisville’s women and children.

The Visionary Behind the Sanctuary: Honoring Amy Meredith

Building a place where Louisville’s women and children are seen, safe, and celebrated.

In 2017, Amy Meredith saw a gap in our city that others ignored: the dangerous vulnerability women face on the streets during the day. Today, we honor the founder who turned a radical vision into a lifeline for thousands.

"The One Time of Day They’re Not Harassed"

When the Courier-Journal profiled UP for Women and Children, they captured the essence of Amy’s mission in one haunting realization: for women experiencing homelessness, the daylight hours are often the most dangerous.

Amy recognized that while night shelters offered a bed, the "daytime gap" left women and children wandering streets, parks, and libraries—exposed to constant harassment and exhaustion. She didn’t just want to provide a service; she wanted to provide a sanctuary. Under Amy’s leadership, UP became that "one time of day" where the weight of the world could be set down at the door.

A Seven-Year Journey of Dignity

What started as a grassroots vision in 2017 grew into a seven-figure pillar of the Louisville nonprofit community. Amy’s legacy is measured not just in the bricks and mortar of the day center, but in the lives reclaimed within its walls. She established Louisville’s first and only trauma-informed day shelter specifically for women and children, providing the basic human dignities—showers, laundry, mail services, and a phone—that serve as the first steps toward stability. Through her uniting partners philosophy, she ensured that women weren't just receiving charity, but were being connected to housing, healthcare, and employment.

A Note from the Founder

"The leadership lessons that changed me most weren't found in conference rooms... They were found in the moments I stood alongside women who had lost their ability to ask for help—women at the lowest points of their lives, often unseen and unheard." — Amy Meredith

Leading with Compassion and Conviction

As a 2025 Louisville Business First Most Admired CEO, Amy’s leadership style has always been people-first. She combined a background in Justice Administration and Psychology with a fierce protectiveness for her community. Though she has transitioned from her role as Executive Director to pursue writing and consulting, her DNA remains in every corner of UP. She taught us that to truly help someone, you must first acknowledge their inherent worth.

Carry the Torch Forward

Amy built the foundation; now it is up to us to sustain the house. Join us in honoring Amy’s years of service by ensuring that no woman or child in Louisville has to spend their day in the shadows. Support the mission Amy started by donating or volunteering today.