UK Gaines Center to host Lafayette Seminar on Public Issues

The University of Kentucky’s Gaines Center for the Humanities invites the public to the 2025 Lafayette Seminar in Public Issues, featuring Lexington Vice Mayor Dan Wu as moderator of “City Stories: The People Behind the Policies.”

The event will be 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Thursday, April 17, at the Lexington Central Public Library’s Farish Theater. Attendees will gain insights into the successes and challenges of community leaders working to create a healthier Lexington.

“The Lafayette Seminar is a signature event for bringing together members of the campus and the community around pressing issues for the city we share,” Gaines Center Director Michelle Sizemore said. “We're looking forward to generative conversations coming out of our three panels.”

The panel schedule includes:

1-2 p.m. — Desegregation and Protecting African American History in Lexington

Councilmember Shayla Lynch and advocate Yvonne Giles will discuss efforts to preserve African American history in Lexington. Giles, known as the “Cemetery Lady,” has been instrumental in protecting African American cemeteries and has received numerous awards for her dedication to historical preservation.

2-3 p.m.— Access Kentucky: “If I Can’t Do It, It Ain’t Worth Doing”

Kristy Stambaugh, leader of Access Kentucky, will join advocate Jason Jones to discuss his work in disability advocacy. Jones has spent more than 16 years ensuring disability rights in employment and is a co-founder of the Kentucky Congress on Spinal Cord Injury.

3-4 p.m. — Lexington’s Housing Crisis: How We Address Homelessness

Councilmember Liz Sheehan and advocate Ginny Ramsey will explore solutions to Lexington’s homelessness crisis. Ramsey, co-founder of the Catholic Action Center, has helped provide millions of meals and shelter for thousands of individuals since 2000.

4-4:30 p.m. — Closing remarks: Translating Advocacy into City Planning

Hal Baillie from the Office of City Planning will discuss how policymakers and advocates influence Lexington’s urban planning efforts.

The Lafayette Seminar is free and open to the public. Preregistration is encouraged at www.eventbrite.com/e/city-stories-the-people-behind-the-policies-tickets-1200354525699. 

Supported by the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Lafayette Seminar has previously covered topics such as the local economy, university-community relations, public art and urban development.

For more information, contact the Gaines Center at 859-257-1537 or email Associate Director Chelsea Brislin at clbris4@uky.edu.

About the Gaines Center for the Humanities

Founded in 1984 through a generous gift from John and Joan Gaines, the Gaines Center serves as a hub for innovative education at the University of Kentucky. The center fosters a deep appreciation for the humanities, integrating creative and academic pursuits to enrich student and faculty experiences.