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The day before election day, Jessamine County organizers are hosting a nonpartisan event intended to bring community members together regardless of their political ideologies.

This event is sponsored by ABLE Kentucky, which stands for Advocacy Based on Lived Experience.

According to its mission statement, ABLE is an organization of, by, and for Kentuckians impacted by felony disenfranchisement, incarceration, addiction, or any combination thereof. ABLE seeks to build trust and increase civic engagement amongst those with this lived experience while, at the same time, building bridges of understanding and advocacy within our local communities.

From 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 6, at the Nicholasville Town Center at 101 South Main Street, attendees can drop in and participate in conversations and enjoy food items and beverages supplied by ABLE.

According to Tipton Moody, the event’s organizer, this early-evening gathering is an opportunity for members of the community to come together to talk about whatever they care to talk about, get to know one another, celebrate the right to vote, and express concern for those who can not.

“There will be no politicking, nobody asking for money, nobody asking for votes. It’s just a way that people in the community can come together in a social setting in a friendly way, talk about things that are important to them, and find common ground on the things they might disagree on. And leave the things they disagree on at the door,” he said.

Elected officials have also been invited, including Mayor Alex Carter and Commonwealth Attorney Andy Sims, who have confirmed their attendance. Also invited are the Jessamine County Judge-Executive David West, the county Magistrates, and the county’s five state legislators- Rep. Kim King, Rep. Dan Fister, Rep. Killian Timoney, Rep. Matt Lockett and Sen. Donald Douglas.

“ABLE wants to build a bridge in the community, those who’ve been disenfranchised in the community, those who have been disengaged to the community, one with one another and two with the elected officials who make decisions that impact our everyday lives. And it all begins at the ballot box, so what better way to celebrate all together than right before election day,” Moody said.

Please contact Tip Moody at (859)363-6362 or tipton@able-ky.org if you plan to attend.

“It’s to celebrate the Kentucky values that unite us rather than the political ideologies that separate us. Because after all, our commonwealth motto is ‘United we stand, divided we fall,” Moody said.