Building on Culture of Health Legacy Through Storytelling, Investment, and Community Design
Nearly a decade after receiving the prestigious Culture of Health Prize from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Louisville is launching a new campaign— Advancing Racial Equity—to deepen its commitment to justice, belonging, and health equity for all. This multi-faceted effort underscores a powerful message: everyone has a role to play in advancing racial equity.
The Advancing Racial Equity campaign uplifts the stories and impact of Louisville-based efforts, and through video storytelling, public art, and participatory events, the campaign showcases how initiatives like Invest Louisville, (Un)Known Project, and Parks For All are transforming the city’s landscape.
Building on a Legacy of Health Equity
Louisville’s 2016 Culture of Health Prize recognized the city’s innovative work advancing health through collaboration, creativity, and equity. In the years since, local leaders and residents have worked to address persistent racial disparities, especially following the murder of Breonna Taylor and the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on Black communities. These events exposed painful truths and underscored the need to invest more deeply in justice, healing, and the neighborhoods most affected by disinvestment.
Advancing Equity Through Three Anchor Initiatives
The Advancing Racial Equity campaign centers on three collaborative efforts that emerged from this legacy:
Invest Louisville (Community Foundation of Louisville): A mission-driven, local investment pool designed to move philanthropic capital into historically marginalized Built in partnership with A Path Forward organizations, Invest Louisville prioritizes funding for affordable housing, entrepreneurship, and community land development—expanding the tools communities have to build generational wealth and to practice self-determination.
(Un)Known Project (IDEAS xLab): A nationally recognized public art and storytelling initiative that uncovers and honors the names and stories of enslaved Black people in Louisville and beyond. Through immersive installations, performances like Broken Wings Still Fly, and an augmented reality experience, the project creates spaces for learning, healing, and reconciliation with place and history, especially in a time when accurate historical education is under
Parks For All (Parks Alliance of Louisville): A 15-year equity-based plan to ensure every neighborhood has access to high-quality parks and green spaces. Developed through community visioning, the initiative is addressing over $177 million in deferred park maintenance and empowering residents—especially in West Louisville—to shape the future of their neighborhoods through design, programming, and environmental
Storytelling as a Tool for Change
Rooted in the belief that narratives shape what we see as possible, Advancing Racial Equity uses storytelling to reveal how equity work is happening every day across Louisville’s communities—and how more people can get involved. From honoring Black elders through public art to investing in community business and parks, these stories invite residents to become co-creators of a just future.
To explore the initiative further, visit https://www.parksalliancelou.org/advancing-racial-equity.