About

Russell is a historically Black neighborhood located in Louisville, Kentucky, just west of the central business district. The neighborhood boundaries are S. Ninth Street (east), W. Broadway (south), S. 32nd Street (west) and W. Market Street (north). Russell was once a vibrant and diverse hub of Black-owned businesses that served the neighborhood, created jobs and contributed to neighborhood resilience, and was a center of Black homeownership.

Redlining practices in the early 1900s and urban renewal efforts in the 1950s-60s decimated Russell’s residential and business community, destroying opportunities for generational wealth building. Since then, a host of facially neutral but racially discriminatory institutional and state actions and policy decisions have perpetuated these patterns, keeping families from preserving and building wealth. Over the past several years hundreds of millions of dollars in planned and underway investment are changing the neighborhood, and Russell is poised to experience a neighborhood renaissance. It is essential that these changes are paired with intentional and innovative strategies focused on Black wealth building and investment to prevent displacement of existing residents and businesses.

Russell: A Place of Promise launched in 2018 as a project incubated by Cities United and Louisville Metro Government with fiscal sponsorship by the Community Foundation of Louisville. Through RPOP’s incubation, these partners have provided a variety of resources to support our foundational development.

Fiscal sponsorship refers to a contractual relationship that allows an initiative or a project that lacks its own nonprofit status to advance charitable or other exempt activities with support from a nonprofit sponsor organization. The Community Foundation's fiscal sponsorship of RPOP has allowed us to seek and receive grant funding, manage grant dollars, and benefit from the support of an existing nonprofit organization as we have grown through our incubation period.

RPOP is working to launch out of incubation and in 2024 will incorporate as a nonprofit, defined and led by Russell residents.

Cities United's Contributions

Development of the Place of Promise (POP) framework and consulting with other cities interested in implementing similar strategies in their community

Access to a national network of Mayors, city leads, young leaders, and organizations working towards safe, healthy, and hopeful communities

Guidance in developing strategies informed and led by the people most impacted including community engagement approaches, organizing principles, and leadership development tools

Staff support, including processing payroll, providing benefits, and managing HR needs

Office space, supplies, technology, communication tools, and other materials

Louisville Metro Government's Contributions

Property, including up to 75 residential sites and the 5-acre property located at 3025 W. Madison Street, directly south of the Louisville Urban League's Norton Healthcare Sports and Learning Complex

Ongoing property management of these sites pending RPOP's ability to take ownership

Access to key LMG staff members working in areas connected to RPOP's work

Procurement, including access to LMG's purchasing power for technology, printing needs, and holding contracts or agreements related to properties that remain in LMG's ownership

Staff support, including processing payroll, providing benefits and managing HR needs

Miscellaneous resources including access to mapping services and similar data tools

Community Foundation of Louisville's Contributions

Managing RPOP's grant funds and donations in dedicated accounts

Processing invoices and holding contracts and insurance related to RPOP's work

Providing a staff contact who serves on RPOP's Advisory Board and supports RPOP's administrative needs

RPOP's 4 Roles

Connectors
We connect residents, faith leaders, community based organizations, and small businesses to resources for stability and growth.

Organizers
We organize existing resources to best support residents, faith leaders, community based organizations, and business owners in their individual and community wealth building goals.

Gap Fillers
We fill in the gaps residents, faith leaders, community based organizations, and small business owners have identified to reach a collective vision of Black wealth for Russell.

Accelerators
We advance the efforts led by residents, faith leaders, community based organizations, and small business owners to learn, build, lead, and grow Black wealth in Russell.

Past Advisory Board

RPOP's Advisory Board was made up of Russell residents, business owners, community members, and partners. During RPOP's incubation, the Advisory Board participates in meetings and decision making and supports community engagement.

Ruth Daniels
Russell Resident

Rene Douglas
‍Louisville Metro
Parks and Recreation
Former Russell Resident

Kevin L. Dunlap
REBOUND Inc.

Jackie Floyd
Russell Resident

Mary Grissom
Community Foundation of Louisville

Haven Harrington III
‍Russell Resident
Russell Business Owner

Alice K. Houston
HJI Solutions
‍

Cecoiya Johnson
‍Byck Elementary School

Lafesa Johnson
Former Russell Business Owner

Lyndon Pryor
‍Louisville Urban League

Paul Resch
‍
Blacksmith Ironworks

David Shadburne
‍
Park Community Credit Union

Staff

Cassandra Webb
Director of Place of Promise Initiative (Cities United), Russell: A Place of Promise Co-Lead

Theresa Zawacki
Russell: A Place of Promise Co-Lead

Doneah Marshall
Administrative Support Specialist,
Cities United

Daphne Walker
Communications Outreach Specialist, Cities United

Board of Directors

Naela Imanyara Serakali, Co-Chair
Commonwealth of Kentucky,
Russell Resident
‍

Frank McNeil, Co-Chair
US Department of Housing and Urban Development,
Russell Resident

Dr. Gabe Jones, Treasurer
University of Louisville,
Russell Resident

Colby Bentley
Real Estate Development,
LDG

Jackie Floyd
Elderserve Inc.,
Russell Resident

Zahara Gully
Norton Healthcare,
Russell Resident

Charlene Kimbro
Jefferson County
Public Schools,
Russell Resident

Antonio Readus
Student,
Russell Resident

“Nzingha” Beverley
Sweeny-Sheppard
Russell Business Owner

Richard Ballard
REVERT Program Director, Louisville Affordable Housing Trust Fund (LAHTF)

Jasmine Reed
Director of Human Resources, Mercer Transportation

Martina Surma
Director of Homebuyer Education, The Housing Partnership, Inc.

Promise of People

We believe the people of Russell are assets to their community and our city. They are whole, creative, and capable of maintaining partnerships that lead to equitable investments and build increased levels of Black wealth and ownership. Russell residents not only occupy positions on our team, but their opinions, desires, and necessities are reflected in all decisions as a result of a high degree of community outreach and engagement.

Promise of Place

Our place-based investments are a foundation of our connection with and accountability to the people of Russell. We believe investments in Russell must add more value to the community than they extract. As an organization committed to building Black wealth, we must fairly balance risks and rewards among all stakeholders, starting with residents, and give options for multiple types of ownership to guard against displacement.

Wealth Building Pathways

Our Vision of building Black wealth through investment without displacement includes sharing decision-making and leadership with residents; connecting individuals and families to resources leading to homeownership and traditional and nontraditional business ownership; building pathways and opportunities to strengthen existing Black-owned businesses; creating innovative connections to career-track jobs; and community ownership of neighborhood assets.

Housing
RPOP partners to build new housing to increase homeownership in Russell and to provide home repairs for existing homeowners to preserve their ability to pass their homes to future generations. RPOP works to preserve affordability in Russell so existing residents can remain in the neighborhood and benefit from its growth.

Small Business
RPOP hosts a monthly small business breakfast to share resources and foster networking for Black business owners and entrepreneurs and offer a small business accelerator that pairs business-101 curriculum taught by an all-Black faculty with financial support in the form of a friends and family-style investment.

Workforce & Job Placement
RPOP partners to explore innovative programs, policies and practices aimed at creating a more equitable and just economy.

Community Ownership of Neighborhood Assets
‍RPOP believes that all its investments in Russell should provide multiple options for resident ownership. RPOP's flagship project, a 5-acre development at 30th and Madison Street, will offer commercial and residential opportunities for residents, provide missing goods and services, and offer space for relaxation, recreation and restoration in a space designed by and for the community.

Partners