Leadership Kentucky Explores Louisville: Successes and Challenges in Kentucky’s Largest City
Written by Amanda L. Kool, Head of Legal, Sharebite, Inc.

The Leadership Kentucky Class of 2024 convened for its fourth session from September 18-20, in the dynamic and historic city of Louisville. As Kentucky’s largest city, Louisville provided a backdrop rich with history, achievements, and ongoing challenges, and we delved into learning more about healthcare, arts, law enforcement, and economic development across the state.

Day 1: Healthcare and West Louisville
Our session kicked off with a visit to the women’s campus of The Healing Place, a residential recovery program. We toured the facility and engaged with a resident panel, gaining firsthand insights into their mission of recovery and reintegration. Following a brief break, the class gathered for a healthcare panel, where our classmates Fadi Al Akhrass, Tiffany Benjamin, Pennie Berry, Lora Croley, Kevin Gessner, Daniel Jones, Marty Keith, Rick Wurth, and Nicole Yates shared their experiences within healthcare across the state and beyond.

Later, we delved into the transformations in West Louisville with a tour led by William E. Summers IV, class of 1987 alumnus and father of our classmate, Anthony Summers. The tour highlighted both the challenges and opportunities in this important and historically significant, yet underserved community, including visits to the impressive Norton Healthcare Sports and Learning Center and the brand-new Goodwill Opportunity Center.

Day 2: Arts, Culture, and Policing
Day two began with a warm welcome at the Kentucky Performing Arts Center from Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg and Deputy Mayor Dana Mayton. We were inspired by the words of Tori Murden McClure, a true pioneer as the first woman to row solo across the Atlantic Ocean and ski to the South Pole, among too many other accomplishments to list.

Our morning continued with a behind-the-scenes tour of the Kentucky Performing Arts facility by Chris Kaelin, VP of Operations, followed by a panel on the arts and culture sector's role in shaping Louisville’s community. The panel, featuring Kim Baker, Soozie Eastman, Kim Baker, DeVone Holt, Leslie Smart, and Savannah Barrett, focused on the power of arts to foster community and bridge divides and was moderated by Heather Bell, class of 2006.

Following a dance exercise and lunchtime discussion about the role of arts and culture in our communities, we shifted gears to a critical discussion on policing in Louisville. The panel included LMPD Police Chief Paul Humphrey, Deputy Mayor David James, Assistant US Attorney Elizabeth Jones Brown, and Louisville Metro Councilwoman and LKY 2020 alum, Paula McCraney. The panel discussed the Department of Justice’s investigation into the Louisville Metro Police Department and the ensuing Consent Decree process. This session offered profound insights into the complexities of law enforcement reform and community trust.

For Dinner, we headed to the Frazier History Museum and watched a short film before enjoying a buffet meal and bourbon tasting courtesy of Brown-Forman, as well as remarks from a number of Leadership Kentucky alumni and sponsors.

Day 3: Churchill Downs and the Kentucky Derby
Our final day began at Churchill Downs. After a warm welcome from Churchill Downs President Mike Anderson, we toured the iconic racetrack and explored the Kentucky Derby Museum. The visit concluded with a class panel on the banking sector, joined by Matthew DeMoss, Jason Howze, Jill Wilcox, John Huang, and Eyvette Sellers, which focused on the intersection of finance and community relationships.

A Final Note of Gratitude
On behalf of the Leadership Kentucky Class of 2024, thank you to our Louisville hosts and to the alumni who joined us to celebrate 40 years of Leadership Kentucky. Special thanks go to our sponsors and partners, including the Galt House, Kentucky Performing Arts, and Brown-Forman, for making this session possible. Louisville left us with a deeper understanding of our state’s largest city, and we look forward to continuing our Leadership Kentucky journey in Paducah next month.