Owensboro Welcomes RUX for our Second 2023 Community Intensive
The RUX cohort spent a weekend in Owensboro + Daviess County!
The second Community Intensive of 2023 took place in Owensboro + Daviess County from July 28-30.
The Owensboro Community Intensive picked up where RUX left off in Louisville, sharing the stories of our individual and collective experiences as Kentuckians while meeting neighbors and exploring hidden gems in the host community, learning about the city's cultural and culinary traditions, refugee and immigrant support programs, African American history and leadership, green spaces, and agriculture.
55 Kentuckians from 22 counties arrived at on the Kentucky Wesleyan College (KWC) campus on July 28, reconnected in homerooms, and spent time individually growth mapping, thinking about goals & intentions for the weekend. We then travelled by the Downtown Trolley to the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame + Museum, where we kicked off our time in the BBQ Capital of the World - with a dinner from Old Hickory BBQ and vegetarian options from Nona’s Market. We then had a conversation moderated by Dr. Stacy Edds-Ellis (Greater Owensboro Leadership Institute) about Owensboro’s past, present, and future, with local leaders Olga McKissic (Western Academy at The Neblett), Chad Benefield (WBKR), Candance Castlen Brake (Greater Owensboro Chamber of Commerce), and Joe Berry (Public Life Foundation of Owensboro). After our time at the museum, we enjoyed music through the local Friday After 5 initiative and explored the riverfront & the city.
Saturday began with an optional yoga session led by Julie Moore, before the cohort convened for storycircles. We took the trolley to the Owensboro Regional Farmers’ Market, where we explored the market and enjoyed locally-sourced breakfasts. We then travelled to First Christian Church (FCC), where we learned about the Carol Mark’s community garden with RUX alum and Owensboro host committee member Laura Farmer.
At FCC with the International Center (IC) of Owensboro, we heard from local refugees + immigrants about their resettlement process in Owensboro, entrepreneurship opportunities, and ideas for the future. We are deeply grateful to Skye Benidayta (IC Case Manager and Burmese refugee), Edris Akbari (IC Afghan Liaison and Afghan Humanitarian Parole), Hortense Kalambayi (IC Case Manager and Congolese refugee), Joseph Mutengelwa (IC Case Manager and Congolese refugee), and Diane Ford (IC of Owensboro Executive Director), for sharing their morning with us. We are also grateful to Pamir Afghan Cuisine for the delicious lunch!
The trolley then took us to the H.L. Neblett Community Center, where we had a narrative stage about Owensboro’s African American leadership, with panelists Jessie Carter (Local Artist, Owensboro Art Guild), Crashaunya Hartsfield (Hart and Soul Beverages), Rafe Buckner (Northwest Neighborhood Alliance), Tim Davis, and Marshall Sanders (The Party Space Place), discussing their experiences in local organization + entrepreneurship while moderated by Mark Brown (Kentucky Arts Council). After this conversation, we closed out the afternoon at the Western Kentucky Botanical Garden, where we took in the beauty of the gardens and had homeroom seminars, where the cohort discussed the weekend’s readings & experiences thus far. We then took a break, resting back at the KWC campus, before having dinner with our fellow cohort members and watching some basketball + checking out the sights at the 50th Annual Dust Bowl.
On Sunday morning, the cohort began with abundant futures, a program for RUX members to brainstorm + problem solve their own local issues + projects. The cohort then enjoyed a tasty lunch catered by The Cottage, before carpooling to Riney Farms for a community conversation with local agricultural leaders. We got to hear from Jim Gilles (Hill View Farms), Joan Hayden (Hayden Farms + Hayden Electric), Keith Riney (Riney Farms), Cole Hamilton (2023 Young Farmer Association’s Member of the Year), + Chloe Ebelhar (FFA, student) and we would like to thank RUX cohort member Cheryl Burks-McCarthy (Daviess County Extension) for moderating. We then took a hay ride around the farm and closed out the weekend. After our close out, some RUX members headed to Holiday World + Splashin’ Safari for extra summer fun!
These community events were developed by RUX staff and our local host committee in partnership with Owensboro Health, the Marilyn & William Young Foundation, the Public Life Foundation of Owensboro, the Greater Owensboro Chamber of Commerce, WBKR, Holiday World, the International Center of Owensboro, Riney Farms, The Cottage, Pamir Afghan Cuisine, the Kentucky Arts Council, the City of Owensboro, Western Kentucky Botanical Garden, First Christian Church, the H.L. Neblett Community Center, and Western Academy at The Neblett. We also want to thank our funding partners, including Art of the Rural, the National Endowment for the Arts, the Public Life Foundation of Owensboro, the Marilyn & William Young Foundation, Lawrence & Augusta Hager Educational Foundation, and Owensboro Health. Thank you all for making this weekend happen!
