Ashland for Change
Ashland for Change
Back to FinalistsAshland for Change
Mission Statement
Ashland For Change is a community-led organization geared toward educating others on societal inequalities and discrimination toward minority groups. Ashland For Change is seeking community and governmental changes to become a more progressive Appalachian city.
Name of Public Space
The Port of Ashland
City, State
Ashland, KY
Website
Organization Overview
Ashland For Change was founded in the summer of 2020, following the acts of police brutality and race-based crimes. Our founders sought to bring about change in our small eastern Kentucky town. Our main goal is to educate the public on the hardships minority groups face, while promoting diversity and equality in our community. Our organization hosted its first event in June 2020, which was a peaceful protest that made a statement against racism and hatred. The event had hundreds in attendance. In our two years of operation, we have hosted multiple landmark events in the City of Ashland, including the city’s first Juneteenth celebration, Latin Night Live, Martin Luther King Jr.-themed trivia night in partnership with a local business, and other historic events for our city. We have also partnered with multiple schools and community organizations to provide training and educational opportunities for a variety of audiences. Our organization is well-suited for the Levitt AMP grant as we have already brought diverse cultural events to our community, and would love to bring additional musical experiences to our city as a result of the grant. We have hosted events with hundreds of people in attendance, so our organization is prepared to take on the planning of a series of concerts in our town.
Proposal Details
How will your town or city benefit from a Levitt AMP [Your City] Music Series and how will the series reflect the three main goals of Levitt AMP: 1) Amplify community pride and the city’s unique character; 2) enrich lives through the power of free, live Music; 3) illustrate the importance of vibrant public Places?
Our main goal and priority if awarded a Levitt AMP Grant is to encourage and promote creativity by bringing diverse culture and sound to our Tri-State area. Our little piece of Appalachia is bursting with talent and home to a surprising number of famous musicians including Ashland natives, Naomi and Wynona Judd and Billy Ray Cyrus. While we are very grateful to be deeply rooted in the country music genre, we believe our city would benefit from the opportunity to experience new music and cultures through the art of live music entertainment. The Levitt AMP Ashland Music Series will amplify community pride and character by showcasing genres historically prevalent to minority races, enrich lives through the power of live music by providing ample transportation opportunities to include those who are underserved, and illustrate the importance of vibrant public places by highlighting the work of local artists whose work can be featured on stage and by way of murals located throughout the downtown flood walls and buildings.
Explain how the Levitt AMP [Your City] Music Series will play a role in enlivening the selected public space and surrounding areas.
The Levitt AMP Ashland Music Series will enliven the selected public space by highlighting the underused community park located within The Port. The park is roughly four years old and many residents are still unaware of its existence as the view of the park is initially blocked. As previously mentioned, The Port has hosted several large acts, but the stage for the concerts is always set on the water. These events are also ticketed with an average price starting at $50.00 per ticket, plus fees. Considering these factors, the performances at the riverfront are not inclusive for the entire community. Bringing a free, diverse music series to the park at The Port combined with our efforts to intentionally include underserved communities will bring new energy and creativity to our park. It is our mission to provide opportunities that educate our community on the importance of inclusivity and racial equality and we believe in the power and science of music connecting people for that cause. A grant award from Levitt AMP will help us provide a quality concert experience to our community and draw attention to the riverfront park at The Port.