Leadership Kentucky, Inc.

As you'll in this month's newsletter, it's been a busy, but AMAZING, couple of months. Aside from the informative and impactful sessions, we also celebrated more than $40,000 at our Golf Outing. We are so grateful to our generous sponsors and players for their support! And are ESPECIALLY thankful to event co-chairs Jeremy Jarvi and Abbie Gilbert, John Bevington with LG&E/KU, and the LKY Class of 2023. This day would not have been possible without them! https://lnkd.in/gtqmmvWR

Thank you to Pikeville Medical Center @pikevillemedicalcenter for rolling out the red carpet and welcoming our BRIGHT participants! Our day began with a panel of experts who educated us on several alarming cancer, diabetes, and heart disease statistics and how Eastern Kentucky compares to the rest of the nation. The panel shared the PMC vision that ‘where you live should not determine if you live’ and the impressive treatments and procedures they are utilizing to treat Eastern Kentucky residents so that they do not have to travel across the state for exceptional medical care. The class was then able to participate in the Pathways to Wellness health fair where they took part in blood pressure, glucose and BMI screenings and saw the effects of heart disease and tobacco. Our time at PMC concluded with a panel including an Oncologist, Endocrinologist and Cardiologist who shared with us some of their challenges in advocating for a healthy population and how they tailor their care plans to the residents of the area. Later, we drove to the Overlook and witnessed its beautiful view over Pikeville for a mix and mingle with alumni and sponsors. The night concluded with a historic recollection from Rusty Justice of the Cut Through Project and the Pikeville visionaries that have created a lasting legacy for the region. Thank you to our sponsors for making this session possible!

It is a truly full day for our New Executives to Kentucky! We are so grateful to our generous sponsors and courteous hosts for this action packed day in the Bluegrass.

The Class of 2024's Louisville session showcased hope and healing, heart and passion, horses and history. The responsibility for governing and protecting these incredible qualities lies with the Louisville Metro Government and Louisville Metro Police Department. Once again, we thank Mayor Craig Greenberg and Deputy Mayor Dana Mayton for speaking with us about the exciting economic development underway in the #derbycity! We were also joined by LMPD Chief Paul Humphrey, Deputy Mayor David James, Assistant US Attorney Jessica Malloy, and Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney and Chief of the Violent Crimes Unit Elizabeth Jones Brown. The panel was moderated by Paula McCraney, Louisville Metro Councilwoman and LKY 2020 alum. The discussion answered tough questions such as, "does Louisville have a gang problem?" We were also provided with an update on the Department of Justice consent decree, part of an effort to reform the LMPD. Community resilience is demonstrated through the ability to adapt to, withstand, and recover from adversity. We are grateful to the leaders of Louisville for spending time with us to discuss their efforts to move Louisville, and Kentucky, forward.

The ❤️ and passion that exists in Louisville was on full display for the Class of 2024 last week! We spent time with Kentucky Performing Arts exploring their beautiful space and even experiencing the feel of performing on stage in Whitney Hall. While there may be video of participants engaging in the art of the dance on stage, some things that happen in LKY stay in LKY. We also heard from a robust panel on the impact of the arts and culture in Kentucky. It included Secretary Lindy Casebier with the Kentucky Tourism, Arts & Heritage Cabinet; Soozie Eastman, President of 502 Film; Kim Baker, President and CEO of Kentucky Performing Arts and LKY Class of 2023; Devone Holt, President and CEO of the Muhammad Ali Center; Leslie Smart, Executive Director of Louisville Ballet and LKY Class of 2017; and, Savannah Barrett, Co-founder of Kentucky Rural-Urban Exchange and Exchange Director of Art of the Rural. The overwhelming message from the panelists was that the arts are not simply a feel good initiative, but a key driver of economic growth, educational performance, and positive community outcomes and they have the #receipts! We also spent some time with the indomitable Tori Murden McClure. She is an athlete, author, EMT, and former president of Spalding University who was the first woman and the first American to row solo across the Atlantic Ocean, which she did in 1999. If that weren't amazing enough, she was also the first woman and first American to ski to the geographic South Pole and the first woman to climb the Lewis Nunatak in the Antarctic. While she could view us mere humans as small, she is laugh-out-loud funny, engaging, and down to earth. We finished the day at the Frazier History Museum and enjoyed seeing #wheretheworldmeetskentucky. Did you know that Louisville is one of the world's largest producers of disco balls? Or that Kentucky is home to the ONLY city in the US built inside a meteor crater? So much cool Kentucky history to experience and enjoy!

It's not a visit to the Derby City without spending time at Churchill Downs Racetrack! Louisville is investing in a great deal of economic development and the racetrack is most certainly a part of that. The economic impact of #Derby week for the community is more than $400 million with over 400,000 patrons attending races and events that week. To put that in perspective, Mike Anderson, President of Churchill Downs, likened Derby week to hosting 6 Super Bowls in 7 days. Wow! While the sights and sounds of the Derby are fascinating, we were treated to an AMAZING tour of the facility including Club SI and the Woodford Reserve Paddock Club with incredible views of the newly renovated paddock. The intricate tile work and gorgeous detail of the ceilings could be easily missed on a busy day, so to see the facility today was a true treat! We finished our morning at the Kentucky Derby Museum to learn about the history of the "Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports." From the trainers and jockeys to the spirits and fashion, the Derby is a uniquely Kentucky experience.

The Leadership Kentucky Class of 2024 learned on its first day in Louisville that this is where hope and healing is found. Our time in the Derby City began at The Healing Place Louisville, a nonprofit recovery program that provides food, shelter, and clothing to nearly 1,000 men and women at no cost to the client. Because of the services provided to clients, The Healing Place saves Louisville Metro Government $31 million each year. Care is provided to clients by volunteer doctors and nurses alongside peer counselors who are alumni of The Healing Place programs. The class then heard from William Summers IV, the father of Class of 2024 participant Anthony Summers, about the exciting things happening in West Louisville. Two of those initiatives were stops made by our group - Goodwill Opportunity Center and Norton Healthcare Sports & Learning Center. The Goodwill Opportunity Center hosts an unprecedented collection of lifestyle enrichment services in the heart of one of Kentucky’s most underserved communities. The Norton Healthcare Sports & Learning Center sits on the Louisville Urban League Sports & Learning Campus, a 24-acre, multi-sport complex located in Louisville’s Russell neighborhood that opened in February 2021. The campus hosts local, regional and national indoor and outdoor track meets, other sporting events, concerts and a variety of other events. Both of these facilities are aimed at providing services and opportunities to an underserved community.

TODAY is the DAY! We are thrilled to welcome our players, guests, alumni, and friends to Eastern Kentucky University and The University Club at Arlington. Thank you again to our generous sponsors who have made today possible!

It's in the hole! Tomorrow is the 2024 LKY Golf Outing and we are thrilled to have the support of our Hole Sponsors - Piper | Smith, University of Louisville, U.S. Bank, and University of Kentucky. See everyone on the links tomorrow!

You can't have a day of golf without plenty of carts! Thank you to South Central Bank and Cherry Bekaert our cart and beverage cart sponsors for the 2024 LKY Golf Outing.