Topic is “It Takes a Village – Mobilizing Community for Student Success”
The class will gather for the first time at the project launch for the 2018 Bingham Fellows on Jan. 17
Louisville, Kentucky (January 16, 2019) – From a very competitive pool of candidates, forty-two community leaders have been selected to participate in the Leadership Louisville Center’s Bingham Fellows Class of 2019. The topic for the 2019 Bingham Fellows will be: “It Takes a Village – Mobilizing Community for Student Success.” The 2019 topic is a critical issue for our community and the class will explore ways that the community and businesses can positively impact student achievement and seek solutions to current barriers to success.
As with every Bingham Fellows program year, the class is made up of a talented group of local leaders with a broad knowledge base and range of experience on the topic. Beginning February 7, participants will be asked to tap into their imagination and talent, gathering critical resources to create social change. They will experience an unmatched practicum in change management and group dynamics to move the needle on this important community issue. Throughout the program year, the class will meet with topic experts, learn from national best practices, and work together to give this issue visibility and momentum for positive change.
The class will gather for the first time at an orientation on January 17, followed by the project reveal of the Bingham Fellows Class of 2018, who will announce their projects around the topic, “A Safe and Thriving City: Strengthening our community’s ability to prevent violence.” This event will be held at the Muhammad Ali Center from 4:30-6:00 p.m.
Members of the Bingham Fellows Class of 2019 are (see photo roster):
Felicia Alfred, St. Benedict Center; Kim Allgeier, Louisville Zoo; Jessica Beal, Psy.D., Passport Health Plan; Jackie Beard, Norton Healthcare; Cassie Blausey, Jefferson County Public Schools; Lindy Casebier, Louisville Visual Art; Marland Cole, Louisville Promise; Dana Collins, Middleton Reutlinger; Colin Crawford, UofL Brandeis School of Law; Joe DeSensi, Ed.D., Educational Directions, LLC; Elizabeth Dinkins, Ph.D., Bellarmine University; Jackie Ford, Girl Scouts of Kentuckiana; Timothy Hagerty, Frost Brown Todd LLC; Deana Epperly Karem, GLI; Ben Keeton, RunSwitch PR; Jennifer Keisling, LG&E and KU Energy; Kathy Knotts, The Gheens Foundation; Phani Konduru, Humana Inc.; Toni Konz Tatman, Jefferson County Public Schools; Councilman Kevin Kramer, Louisville Metro Council; Walt Kunau, retired teacher; John Lincoln, YMCA of Greater Louisville; Emine Mandadi, Kindred Healthcare; Shawn Moore, Black Community Development Corporation; Sabeen Nasim, UPS; Carol Nord, Ph.D., Nativity Academy; Ashley Parrott, Louisville Metro Government; Sue Perram, Brown-Forman Corporation; Neil Quinlan, ARGI Financial Group; Victor Rice, Amazing Child Care Learning Center Corporation; Lisa Stephens, Humana Inc.; Meghan Stevens, Papa John’s International, Inc.; Andrew Trager-Kusman, Republic Bank; Chris Walsh, Ed.D., Spalding University; Steven Ward, Studio Kremer Architects; Tanner Watkins, Dinsmore & Shohl LLP; Kellie Watson, Louisville Metro Government; Karen Wilhite, Adecco; Patricia Williams, Louisville Central Community Centers; Alan Young, Jefferson County Teachers Association/Jefferson County Public Schools; Xiao Yin Zhao, World Affairs Council of Kentucky & So. Indiana; and Elizabeth Zimmerman, Ph.D., New Leaders.
More about the 2019 Topic:
For so long our community has been aware of the challenges faced by our kids, from arriving to school ready to learn to staying engaged as they advance towards graduation and the workforce. Now is a critical time to rally together to impact student success. Factors small and large affect achievement – from equity and achievement gaps, and graduating students ready for careers, to the daily struggle with attendance. How could businesses and concerned citizens be part of the solutions for issues like these? The 2019 Bingham Fellows will explore ways that the community and businesses can positively impact student achievement and seek solutions to current barriers to success.
About the Bingham Fellows program:
The Bingham Fellows program is the advanced leadership program of the Leadership Louisville Center. Created in 1988 through a $500,000 endowment from the Mary and Barry Bingham Sr. Fund, the Fellows are social entrepreneurs who have the imagination and talent needed to gather critical resources and create social change. Side by side with peers,
participants work to develop dynamic and innovative solutions to our community’s most pressing challenges. Now beginning the 27th class in 2019, the Bingham Fellows have an impressive track record of providing community issues with visibility and momentum.
The Fellows don’t ponder what might be. They roll up their sleeves, shine a spotlight on an issue, and put new ideas to work. Their recent impact includes projects such as the West Louisville community development organization OneWest, regular Café Louie conversations with elected officials at Louisville Free Public Library locations, a sustainable model for neighborhood ‘Little Free Libraries,’ a talent attraction and retention program now managed by Greater Louisville Inc., and formation of the Kentucky Indiana Exchange, a regional leadership coalition. The impact of the Fellows goes back to the 1990s with the creation of The Housing Partnership, construction of the Presbyterian Community Center, growth of local farmers’ markets, and numerous other positive outcomes.
About the Leadership Louisville Center:
The Leadership Louisville Center is the region’s most valuable resource for leadership development and civic engagement. With a purpose to inspire and equip leaders to be better and do better, it has graduated over 10,000 through its civic programs since 1979. The Center is recognized as a national best practice and is known for its dynamic programming and strong community connections. Programming includes five social impact leadership programs (Leadership Louisville, Focus Louisville, Ignite Louisville, Bingham Fellows and Encore Louisville), leadership skills training courses presented through the Leadership Green Room, and events designed to connect leaders and motivate positive change. Learn more at www.leadershiplouisville.org.
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