Experienced.
Committed.
Invested.
Your Neighbor.
Meet Betsy
Betsy Ruhe has been a Southend resident for more than 20 years.
Working with special needs children, Betsy received her Bachelor’s degree from University of Louisville , Master’s from Bellarmine and certificate in Learning and Behavior Disorders. In addition, she also earned a Master’s in Sustainability from University of Louisville in 2017. A teacher with Jefferson County Public Schools, Betsy retired this last year.
Community Involvement: Betsy has been a community activist and volunteer. She has been on the Board of the Beechmont Neighborhood Association since 2011 and also serves on the Parks Advisory Council. She is active in the Olmsted Conservancy, and Friends of Iroquois Park and is a member of the Jefferson County Retired Teachers Association and Kentucky Retired Teachers Association.
Betsy is the founder of the Orchards of Beechmont and Sustainable South Louisville. In 2013, Betsy began working with the State to donate the vacant lot at 4501-4509 Third Street for it to be developed into a public orchard and gathering space. The paths are being laid and the trees will be planted this fall of 2021.
Betsy fully supports the rights of workers to unionize. Unions give workers a unified voice to address concerns and provide fair representation.
She was a member of Jefferson County Teacher's Association (JCTA), Kentucky Education Association (KEA) and National Education Association (NEA) during her teaching career.
Betsy is a Problem Solver
When Betsy sees a problem, she follows through to find a solution.
She initiated a Walkability Study which led to significant upgrades on Phillips Lane making it safer for visitors to the Fairgrounds and Convention Center and ADA compliant.
If you have enjoyed the benches along Rundill Road in Iroquois Park, this is another project for which you can thank Betsy. While earning a certificate in social marketing in 2020, Betsy completed a Study of Litter in Iroquois Park that addressed both causes and possible solutions. As a result, funding was allocated to complete a plan for “comfort stations” that included trash cans and benches at strategic points.
Upon meeting many of her neighbors, she is frequently greeted with, “Are you the one who…...?” The answer is usually “Yes.”
Betsy’s Endorsements
Better Schools Kentucky (Jefferson county Teacher’s Association)
Kentucky AFL-CIO
Greater Louisville Central Labor Council
Moms Demand Action
Louisville Women's Political Caucus
International Union of Painters and Allied Trades
Plumbers & Pipefitters Local 502
Communication Workers of America
Teamsters Local 783
C-Fair (Fairness Campaign)
Kentuckians For The Commonwealth