The Community Foundation of Louisville introduces their new President and CEO

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Courtesy: Gary Barragan

In a news conference held on Monday, August 17th, the Community Foundation of Louisville announces that Tawanda Owsley will step in the leadership role as Ron Gallo retires.

Owsley is a trusted community leader with nearly 25 years of philanthropic and leadership experience. Leading multimillion dollar fundraising campaigns and building strategic partnerships is her expertise. 

As President and CEO, she will advance the Foundation’s mission to lead generosity across the region.

Owsley is ready for the challenge.  She says, “I am deeply honored to accept the opportunity to serve as President and CEO of the Community Foundation of Louisville. This organization has a remarkable legacy of bringing people, ideas, and resources together to create meaningful change. I look forward to working alongside the Foundation’s board, staff, fundholders, donors, and community partners to expand opportunity, inspire generosity, and help build a stronger, future for Louisville and the region we call home.”

Tawanda will officially begin her role with the Community Foundation on September 14, 2026.

The Community Foundation of Louisville founded in 1984, mobilizes people, networks, and capital to spark meaningful change in and beyond Louisville. With nearly $1 billion in assets, over 2,200 charitable funds, and collaborations with hundreds of local partners.  The key priorities of the Foundation’s mission is to remove barriers to accessing capital and resources and to open opportunities for all. 

New Stage. A Renewed Legacy: Louisville Central Community Centers to Launch State-of-the-Art Grand Lyric Theater Through Family Arts Academy, Featuring The Curtis Family C-Notes  

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New Stage. A Renewed Legacy: Louisville Central Community Centers to Launch State-of-the-Art Grand Lyric Theater Through Family Arts Academy, Featuring The Curtis Family C-Notes  

LOUISVILLE, KY (August 2, 2026) — Louisville Central Community Centers, Inc. (LCCC) proudly announces the grand opening of the Grand Lyric Theater, marking a transformative cultural milestone in the heart of the Russell neighborhood. Located at 1300 W. Muhammad Ali Boulevard, the new venue represents the visionary redevelopment of

the historic Old Walnut Street campus—transforming a former industrial block into a vibrant community and cultural hub. The theater’s name honors the rich history of “Old Walnut Street,” a once-thriving African American commercial and cultural corridor impacted by 1960s urban renewal.

Event Highlights & Historic Opening

The Grand Lyric’s opening celebration will feature a “big impact week” of programs and events that bring together children, families, business and civic leaders, and cultural icons under a common banner of family and community development.  

Beyond the Ribbon: A Call to Action & Operational Sustainability

While the grand opening commemorates the successful completion of major capital development, LCCC is actively pivoting toward long-term operational sustainability. The organization is issuing a formal call-to-action for funding partners, stakeholders, performing artists, producers and community leaders to join a newly formed Operating Advisory

Group. This leadership collective will support the ongoing economic viability of the Grand Lyric Theater as a premier magnet for the arts and a catalyst for continued investment across West Louisville.

“This is more than a building; it is a renewed legacy,” states Dr. Kevin E. Fields, Sr., President and CEO of LCCC. “We are transitioning from an industrial past to a creative future, ensuring this theater serves as a stage for community empowerment for generations to come.”

Upcoming Cultural Programming: The Curtis Family C-Notes Residency

Building upon the momentum of its opening season, the Grand Lyric Theater is thrilled to announce an upcoming week-long residency featuring the acclaimed, San Francisco-based soul and funk family band The Curtis Family C-Notes (“C Fam”) from August 17 to August 22, 2026. Known for their vibrant multi-instrumental performances, appearances on America’s Got Talent (Season 16), and recognition as “The San Francisco First Family of Song,” the family group will headline a series of community events at LCCC.

The special week features:

Family Arts Camp (August 17 – 19): Engaging local youth and families in interactive workshops in creative arts, music programming, and entertainment industry essentials.

VIP Gala (August 20): Corporate and civic leaders will gather for a Midsummer Night’s Soirée, an exclusive evening of fine dining and entertainment, celebrating community partnership, arts education, and cultural enrichment.

Community Concert Series (August 21-22): Unforgettable live performances with the C-Notes and friends on the Grand

Lyric Theater stage showcasing their signature soul, funk, and R&B repertoire.

Community members, supporters, and media partners can learn more, register for camp sessions, secure gala access,

and purchase concert tickets through the official LCCC event portals:

• Family Arts Camp Registration

• VIP Gala Tickets

• Community Series & Ticketing

• Meet The Curtis Family C-Notes on YouTube

About Louisville Central Community Centers, Inc. (LCCC):

LCCC is a community-based nonprofit organization dedicated to providing comprehensive, family-centered services that foster self-reliance, economic development, and neighborhood revitalization in Louisville’s historic Russell neighborhood.

Media Contact & Inquiries: VIPP Communications, Email: pr at vippcommunications dot com.

Jubilation! Ambassadors on a Sacred Journey Comes to Louisville, Celebrating the Legacy of the Fisk Jubilee Singers

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Kentucky Center for African American Heritage to host national traveling exhibition September 18, 2026 –
February 28, 2027

LOUISVILLE, KY. [August 10, 2026] Jubilation! Ambassadors on a Sacred Journey, the traveling exhibition
celebrating the Fisk Jubilee Singers, will open at the Kentucky Center for African American Heritage on Friday,
September 18, 2026, and run through Sunday, February 28, 2027.

Organized by students at Fisk University in 1871, the Fisk Jubilee Singers set out on tour to raise money to
save their financially struggling school. Their performances of spirituals — songs born out of slavery and
passed down through oral tradition — introduced the world to a uniquely American musical form and secured
the university’s survival. The ensemble went on to perform for U.S. presidents and heads of state and remains
an active choir today.

The exhibition, created by the National Museum of African American Music (NMAAM) in partnership with Fisk
University, guides visitors through the origins, history, and lasting influence of the Fisk Jubilee Singers through
immersive audio-visual displays, archival recordings, and personal stories of the group’s original members.

Cheri Bryant Hamilton, Honorary Co-Chair, Fisk University, Class of 1972 says, “I’m so elated that Louisville
has the wonderful opportunity to host the Jubilation! Ambassadors on a Sacred Journey, the travelling exhibit.
It tells the story of the Fisk Jubilee Singers. As a proud alumnus and an honorary co-chair for the Louisville
exhibit, it’s more than a choir. The Jubilee Singers hold the history of resilience, and the amazing story of why
Nashville was named the ‘Music City’. I carry the spirit of my school with me, and now, with every step of this
exhibit, I feel it is a history lesson that comes alive with this interactive exhibit for everyone to experience. I
encourage everyone to come, take the tour, and come back often for other planned events and live
performances during the stay of the exhibit.”

Louisville’s stop carries a distinct local resonance: Simmons College of Kentucky, the Commonwealth’s only
Historically Black College and University in the Commonwealth of Kentucky, was founded in 1879 — just eight
years after the Fisk Jubilee Singers’ first tour, and out of the same post-Civil War push for Black higher
education.

“Jubilation! Ambassadors on a Sacred Journey is more than an exhibit — it is a living classroom. As a Fisk
alum, I know the transformative power of seeing our history honored with truth and brilliance.
This experience invites every student, every family, and every community to learn, reflect, and rise. It
strengthens the mind, affirms the spirit, and ensures that our heritage continues to educate generations yet to
come” says Rev. Dr. Daniel Corrie Shull, Honorary Co-Chair Fisk University, Class of 2009.

This exhibit tells the story of their journey, of their spirit, pride in culture and their remarkable creativity and
vocal skill.

“The Fisk Jubilee Singers demonstrated how faith, education, perseverance, and music could change the
course of history,” said Aukram Burton, Executive Director of the Kentucky Center for African American
Heritage. “Their voices preserved an invaluable cultural legacy while opening doors for future generations of
African American artists. We are honored to bring this nationally significant exhibition to Kentucky and share
their remarkable story with audiences throughout the Commonwealth.”

Jubilation! is $15 per person and open to the public Tuesday to Sunday, 10 am-4 pm at the Kentucky Center
for African American Heritage’s 17th Street entrance. Additional community programming will be announced
throughout the exhibition’s run.

About the Kentucky Center for African American Heritage:
The Kentucky Center for African American Heritage is a 68,000-square-foot cultural campus dedicated to
preserving, interpreting, and celebrating African American history, heritage, and cultural contributions in
Kentucky and throughout the African Diaspora through exhibitions, education, performances, and community

Media Inquiries: Contact VIPP Communications at jubilationkcaah at vippcommunications dot com.

New Stage. A Renewed Legacy: Louisville Central Community Centers to Launch State-of-the-Art Grand Lyric Theater Through Family Arts Academy, Featuring The Curtis Family C-Notes

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LOUISVILLE, KY (August 2, 2026) — Louisville Central Community Centers, Inc. (LCCC) proudly announces the grand
opening of the Grand Lyric Theater, marking a transformative cultural milestone in the heart of the Russell
neighborhood. Located at 1300 W. Muhammad Ali Boulevard, the new venue represents the visionary redevelopment of
the historic Old Walnut Street campus—transforming a former industrial block into a vibrant community and cultural
hub. The theater’s name honors the rich history of “Old Walnut Street,” a once-thriving African American commercial
and cultural corridor impacted by 1960s urban renewal.

Event Highlights & Historic Opening
The Grand Lyric’s opening celebration will feature a “big impact week” of programs and events that bring together
children, families, business and civic leaders, and cultural icons under a common banner of family and community
development.

Beyond the Ribbon: A Call to Action & Operational Sustainability
While the grand opening commemorates the successful completion of major capital development, LCCC is actively
pivoting toward long-term operational sustainability. The organization is issuing a formal call-to-action for funding
partners, stakeholders, performing artists, producers and community leaders to join a newly formed Operating Advisory
Group. This leadership collective will support the ongoing economic viability of the Grand Lyric Theater as a premier
magnet for the arts and a catalyst for continued investment across West Louisville.

“This is more than a building; it is a renewed legacy,” states Dr. Kevin E. Fields, Sr., President and CEO of LCCC. “We are
transitioning from an industrial past to a creative future, ensuring this theater serves as a stage for community
empowerment for generations to come.”

Upcoming Cultural Programming: The Curtis Family C-Notes Residency
Building upon the momentum of its opening season, the Grand Lyric Theater is thrilled to announce an upcoming week
long residency featuring the acclaimed, San Francisco-based soul and funk family band The Curtis Family C-Notes (“C
Fam”) from August 17 to August 22, 2026. Known for their vibrant multi-instrumental performances, appearances on
America’s Got Talent (Season 16), and recognition as “The San Francisco First Family of Song,” the family group will
headline a series of community events at LCCC.

The special week features:
Family Arts Camp (August 17 – 19): Engaging local youth and families in interactive workshops in creative arts, music
programming, and entertainment industry essentials.
VIP Gala (August 20): Corporate and civic leaders will gather for a Midsummer Night’s Soirée, an exclusive evening of
fine dining and entertainment, celebrating community partnership, arts education, and cultural enrichment.
Community Concert Series (August 21-22): Unforgettable live performances with the C-Notes and friends on the Grand
Lyric Theater stage showcasing their signature soul, funk, and R&B repertoire.
Community members, supporters, and media partners can learn more, register for camp sessions, secure gala access,
and purchase concert tickets through the official LCCC event portals:

  • Family Arts Camp Registration
  • VIP Gala Tickets
  • Community Series & Ticketing
  • Meet The Curtis Family C-Notes on YouTube
  • About Louisville Central Community Centers, Inc. (LCCC):
    LCCC is a community-based nonprofit organization dedicated to providing comprehensive, family-centered services that
    foster self-reliance, economic development, and neighborhood revitalization in Louisville’s historic Russell neighborhood.

For media interviews contact VIPP Communications at pr at vippcommunications dot com.

AFRICAN AMERICAN HERITAGE FOUNDATION INC. LAUNCHES COMMUNITY VISIONING INITIATIVE WITH FREE PUBLIC KICK-OFF EVENT

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Event Details: What: AAHF Community Kick-Off!

LOUISVILLE, KY- The African American Heritage Foundation invites members of the media to the AAHF Community Kick-Off! The Foundation celebrates 35 years of impact and this event will connect the Foundation to the community and complete phase 1 of the “Road to 35” strategic planning process. 

Date: Saturday August 1st, 2026 11:30am – 2pm

Location: Kentucky Center for African American Heritage, 1701 West Muhammad Ali Blvd. 

Activations: Drum call and performance with Akoben Rooted Drum Collective 11:45am Black Prosperity Magazine Launch with Black Azz Camping 12:00pm-2:00pmTiny Desk Art Show with Okike and Black ARTchive Inc. 12:00pm-2:00pmHeritage Passport with The Sis That Journals, Dallum Ventures, and Future Ancestors 12:00pm-1:00pm

Coverage Opportunities: Q&A after the event interview opportunities with SteVon Edwards and other community partners present community photo opportunities/ B-roll

The African American Heritage Foundation Inc. is dedicated to preserving and disseminating  the cultural traditions and accomplishments of the African American community.  Learn more at www.aahfinc.org