Home » Lexington Black Prosperity Initiative names 3 Grassroots Leadership Award honorees

Lexington Black Prosperity Initiative names 3 Grassroots Leadership Award honorees

LEXINGTON, Ky. — The Lexington Black Prosperity Initiative is once again celebrating Black community members who are leading positive change with its 2023 class of Grassroots Black Leadership Awards honorees.

This award was initiated in 2021 to celebrate and invest in individuals on the frontlines leading the vital work of addressing racial equity, disparities in the Black community, and social justice across Lexington. Award winners receive an unrestricted stipend of $5,000 in recognition of their efforts at the grassroots level to affect change in our community.

“The Lexington Black Prosperity Initiative is honored to recognize these grassroots leaders who are addressing racial equity, disparities in the Black community and social justice across Lexington,” said Dr. Tiffany Daniels, D.C., LPBI advisory board co-chair.

The 2023 Grassroots Black Leadership Awards go to the following recipients:

Shawn Ka’Ron Bumpase, Kentucky Black Pride

Shawn Ka’Ron Bumpase

Shawn Ka’Ron Bumpase is the founder of Kentucky Black Pride, an organization that  promotes unity, pride, self-awareness and positive visibility within Kentucky’s Black LGBTQIA+ community. An activist for Transgender and Queer People of Color (TQPOC) for decades, he is dedicated to mentoring young TQPOC to strengthen their physical and mental health, educate their families and support networks, and demonstrate unlimited possibilities for this community.

“I’m very honored to receive a Grassroots Black Leadership Award. I live in a confused world, where discrimination meets at the road of intersectionality, and my work to help and advocate for the health and well-being of Transgender and Queer People of Color is usually done behind the scenes.” 

Kayla Chambers-Reed, The African American Ballet Troupe

Kayla Chambers Reed

Kayla Chambers-Reed, a pre-engineering and SCAPA student at Lafayette High School, is the founder of The African American Ballet Troupe. A ballerina since age 3, Kayla noticed she was often the only dancer of color in her classes. She started The African American Ballet Troupe in 2022 to help close the racial equity gap in the performing arts and increase diversity in ballet. By providing free ballet classes for traditionally underrepresented and underserved youth, the AABT has already brought ballet into several different Lexington schools and neighborhoods and provided hundreds of children with free dance classes and opportunities to perform for the Lexington community.

“The African American Ballet Troupe strives to make ballet lessons and performances accessible to the Black community. We believe that the work of the African American Ballet Troupe is not only enriching the Black Community, but the overall Lexington community as well.”

Latarika Young, Fayette Education Foundation

Latarika Young

As a passionate advocate and connector, Latarika Young is dedicated to promoting equity and bridging gaps in Lexington’s Black communities. She is an active member of the Fayette Education Foundation Board of Directors, carrying out its mission to ensure educational excellence and foster equity for all students in Fayette County Public Schools. She also serves as a technology advisor to the Black Male Working Academy, Inc. (BMWA), which strives to unlock the potential for excellence within African American males through education, motivation, and activation.  A product of Lexington’s north side, Latarika’s dedication to servant leadership is made clear by her work as a volunteer and board member of the North Lexington YMCA, and her decade-long service on the Bryan Station High School IT Academy Advisory Board mentoring students at her high-school alma mater.

“Being a servant leader in Lexington and doing my part to help our community move forward is something that’s always been very important to me and my family. I take immense pride in witnessing the success of my community.”

Click here for more Kentucky business news.
Click here to Advertise and build your brand!