UPDATE: LEO Weekly was able to speak with one of the two Louisville women who are currently stuck in Jamaica as a category five hurricane roars across the country.
“My birthday’s on Thursday, and I want to go home.”
That’s what Courtney Allen, a physical trainer, JCPS substitute teacher, and board member of Change Today, Change Tomorrow, told LEO Weekly over a FaceTime video on Tuesday, Oct. 28, as a category 5 hurricane roared through Jamaica.
Two Louisville women who have spent years serving their community are now in urgent need of help after being stranded in Montego Bay, Jamaica, due to Hurricane Melissa.
Airport closures throughout the island prevented Allen and her partner, Johnique “Johni” Ison, assistant director of the Resource HUB at Jefferson Community and Technical College, from going home.
“You never thought you would experience something like this,” Allen said. “…We were scheduled to leave tomorrow (Oct. 19), but the airport shut down on Sunday which gave us a fright.”
Both women are dealing with missed income while paying for unforeseen accommodation and food expenses, and their resort has persisted in charging daily lodging fees.
“I can’t wait to get some dinner soon,” Allen told LEO during the hurricane. “Tuna fish and goldfish just doesn’t cut it.”
According to a release from Taylor Ryan, founder of Change Today, Change Tomorrow, Ison and Allen have a long history of being leaders in the Louisville community, helping families, students, and projects that promote health equity and food availability.
Allen said in her interview that “Johni” has been her calm through the entire experience.
“We’ve been watching (everything) first hand, full fledged. She is my calm. She’s kept everyone posted about how things are coming in.”
To assist with their emergency costs until they can safely return home, a campaign called “Bring Our Sisters Home: Support Johni & Courtney” has been started. To help two of Louisville’s most devoted community leaders, the public is urged to donate and spread the word about the campaign.
“I’m still treating this trip like it’s my birthday, regardless of what happens.”
This article appears in Oct. 1-31, 2025.