A Four-Part Conversation Series on Racial Justice that will focus on Housing, Education, Policing and Health
The Courier Journal, Muhammad Ali Center and Frazier History Museum have teamed up to curate a timely and significant community conversation series on racial justice that will focus on Housing, Education, Policing and Health. Each of the four programs is intended to break down the causes of social injustices and to encourage creative solutions for amending them. Programs will run monthly, September-December, and alternate between the Frazier History Museum and Muhammad Ali Center. The first of these, Racial Reckoning: Housing will take place on Thursday, September 30th at the Frazier History Museum from 7 to 8 pm.
This program series ties in directly with the individual and collective missions of each partnering organization with a goal of reaching more people and tackling the transformative work that needs to be done.
“The Courier Journal is honored to be partners in creating and facilitating this important dialogue with our community surrounding education, housing, policing and health,” said Courier Journal Executive Editor Mary Irby-Jones. “This work aligns with our newsroom’s goal to better understand and cover our Black community and the issues that negatively impacts them.”
The Courier Journal has addressed these issues in-depth with their Beyond Breonna Series and continues to in ongoing stories. The Frazier History Museum will open its West of Ninth: Race, Reckoning and Reconciliation Exhibit in September, and currently on display through February 2022 at the Muhammad Ali Center is its exhibit, Truth Be Told: The Policies That Impacted Black Lives.
Museum exhibitions that are successfully paired with community programming add another layer of understanding and interpretation of our history and the world around us, and can prompt discussion and new ideas for shaping our future.
Rachel Platt, Director of Community Engagement at the Frazier History Museum said, “We began these discussions as part of our Bridging the Divide programs, and are so pleased to partner with the CJ and the Ali Center to bring these important conversations to a larger audience. We are hoping not just for talk, but action within our community to bridge the divides of injustice, and help shape a better future for everyone.”
“Promoting respect, hope, and understanding have always been central to the Ali Center’s mission,” said Jeanie Kahnke, Senior Director of Public Relations and External Affairs at the Muhammad Ali Center. “By collaborating with like-minded community partners, we are better able to offer opportunities to listen and learn, and to brainstorm and share ideas that will improve the lives of all of us—not just some of us—who call this community home.”
Structure of the Racial Reckoning Program Series:
Each program will include community members with their own stories to tell, expert moderators who will guide us through history, policy and present day, and panelists who will help give context to each topic, provide calls to action and simple steps we can take to make a positive difference for our community.
Racial Reckoning: Housing will be Thursday, September 30th at the Frazier History Museum and will include the following participants:
Moderator:
- Trent Findley, Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Metro United Way
Panelists:
- Storyteller Ed White, Founder of Louisville’s River City Drum Corps
- Jecorey Arthur, Metro City Council District 4
- Jackie Floyd, Russell Resident and Lead Community Outreach Specialist for Russell: A Place of Promise
- John D. Borders Jr., Attorney
- Celine Mutuyemariya, Community Organizer and Housing Justice Advocate
Upcoming Dates and Topics:
- Housing, September 30 at the Frazier History Museum
- Education, October 28 at the Muhammad Ali Center
- Policing, November 18 at the Frazier History Museum
- Health, December 2 at the Muhammad Ali Center
Individuals can register online through the Ali Center or Frazier Museum’s website. Suggested donation is $10.00.