RUX finishes out the Intensive Season in Morehead
From July 18-20, 47 leaders from across the state of Kentucky visited Morehead to experience the thoughtful agenda curated by local change-makers.
Photos by M. Tyler McDaniel
The 2025 RUX cohort in Morehead.
For over a year now, Morehead Host Community Coordinator Emma Marriner and a Host Committee of Morehead locals have been working to craft a weekend of place-based experiences to showcase the best of Morehead’s art, culture, economy, and leadership and to dive deep into the complexities of the community.
The RUX Community Intensive begins in Morehead.
Upon arrival, RUX-ers gathered at the Adrian Doran University Center at Morehead State University to build on RUX leadership training curriculum that they began to explore together in Campbellsville this spring. In the evening, the group traveled to Morehead Methodist Church for a Community Conversation on housing featuring local leaders Kelly Petronella (Doves of Gateway Inc.), Tom Manning-Beavin (Frontier Housing), Rodney Fouch (Morehead City Planner and Administrator), and Marilyn Smith (Gateway Homeless Coalition Inc.) and moderated by Reverend Nancy Gowler (First Christian Church of Morehead), and special guest Mayor Laura White Brown. This was followed by a community meal prepared by Fodder Pop-Up Kitchen.
To round out the evening, the cohort took an optional trip to the Hound Lounge for ice cream to enjoy music by Thomas Albert and John Ryster accompanied by a Q&A regarding the local traditional music scene.
Saturday morning, the cohort gathered bright and early for more Currency of Connection programming on Morehead State University’s campus. This was followed by a Narrative Stage at the Morehead Conference Center on LGBTQ+ Experiences of Belonging in Rowan County. The panel was moderated by Mark Brown (Kentucky Arts Council) and featured local panelists Eli Banks (MoreLove), Jackson Campbell (First Baptist Church of Morehead), and Donna Fossett (MoreLove). This was accompanied by lunch from local coffee shop and bookstore, the Fuzzy Duck.
Saturday afternoon, RUX-ers made their way to the Kentucky Folk Art Museum and the Morehead Railroad and History Museum to soak up local culture and history. They rounded out the day with free time to explore Morehead’s downtown tourist district and enjoy dinner on their own.
Sunday, the cohort concluded their final Intensive Weekend of the season with Currency of Connection programming, a big congratulations (and some teary goodbyes) to the 22 Cohort Members who graduated RUX, and some Fazoli’s for lunch!
Our second year cohort members finish commemorate their completion of the program.
We want to give a big thanks to all of the folks who helped make our Morehead Community Intensive Weekend possible including local hosts and sponsors: Morehead-Rowan County Tourism, the Fuzzy Duck, Fazoli’s, the Morehead Conference Center, Morehead State University, the Morehead Methodist Church, Fodder Pop-Up Kitchen, the Kentucky Folk Art Museum, the Morehead Railroad and History Museum, and more!
We’d also like to thank our funding partners: National Endowment for the Arts, W.L. Lyons Brown Foundation, Fund for the Arts, Kentucky Arts Council, Kentucky Foundation for Women, Kentucky Performing Arts, and the many businesses, orgs, and individual Kentuckians who support our work.
