Each year, the Leadership Louisville Center’s Bingham Fellows program addresses a community-wide challenge based on importance, urgency, and the opportunity to forge meaningful impact. Interested executive and community leaders apply to participate in the year-long program to work with peers and develop solutions to create a place where we all thrive.
If Louisvillians are to flourish, to work, to feel safe, and to build wealth for generations to come, they need a stable place to call home. As housing costs are on the rise, the Leadership Louisville Center is announcing that the 2025 Bingham Fellows class will focus on addressing Louisville’s housing crisis for the working class.
Our economic vibrancy relies on attracting and retaining a talented workforce. Like many other cities, Louisville faces a shortage of housing units coupled with rising costs. Since 2021, median gross rent and median sale prices have risen 9.7% and 16.6% respectively. This increase in housing prices creates a challenge for workers to relocate or remain in Louisville, which in turn threatens our thriving business environment and the city’s trajectory for economic success.
Next year’s Bingham Fellows will examine the complexities of these issues while engaging with community leaders, experts, and stakeholders to develop innovative solutions. The cohort participants will focus on a variety of factors including:
- Financial incentives for developers
- Innovative homeownership programs
- Zoning regulations
- Barriers to housing access
- Advocacy and policy development
By concentrating on these areas, the Bingham Fellows are working to ensure Louisville is a safe and secure place for everyone to call home.
“For over 30 years, the Bingham Fellows program has been recognized as a national best practice in bringing together diverse voices to solve complex issues and drive change on critical economic and social issues. This year’s topic has come full circle for the program as the original class formed The Housing Partnership Inc., which brought together bankers, builders, government officials and civic leaders to build affordable housing in our region,” said Cynthia Knapek, President & CEO of the Leadership Louisville Center. “A stable home is fundamental to an individual’s well-being and overall quality of life. By tackling this complex issue, the Bingham Fellows will have the opportunity to make a significant impact on our community and create a more equitable and prosperous Louisville for all.”
The Bingham Fellows program is the advanced leadership program of the Leadership Louisville Center. Created in 1988 through a $500,000 endowment from the Mary and Barry Bingham Sr. Fund, the Fellows are social entrepreneurs who have the imagination and talent needed to gather critical resources and create social change.
The 2025 Bingham Fellows cohort will be the 33rd class of this prestigious leadership program. Applications for the program are being accepted through October 14, 2024 at www.leadershiplouisville.org/bingham-fellows/. Individuals who want to experience an unmatched practicum in change management and group dynamics while using their broad knowledge base and range of experience to move the needle on this important community issue should apply. Click here to nominate a candidate for the 2025 Bingham Fellows cohort.
The upcoming program year begins in January 2025 and ends in January 2026. For more information, contact Sara Bowman at (502) 753-1492 or sbowman@leadershiplouisville.org.