Sense of Place was established in collaboration with Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government with the mission of remembering and celebrating the history of Fayette County's rural Black hamlets. It has also directed its efforts to preserving and restoring Cadentown School, one of the country's few remaining Rosenwald Schools. This historic property, which includes a church and cemetery, will become a cultural center dedicated to this important part of Lexington's history.

Since its inception in 2022, the Sense of Place Steering Committee has been committed to preserving African American history in a specific, yet wide reaching way, in Lexington, Kentucky. Our efforts since the very beginning have been focused on impacting our community through two specific initiatives.

First, we seek to remember, celebrate, and honor the history of the over 20 rural Black hamlets (Black Freetowns) that developed in Central Kentucky following emancipation. These communities were places where rich spiritual traditions, educational opportunities, and enterprise developed and grew overtime. We are working to capture these stories from those closest to the source, residents and their descendants, recognizing not only that this history is alive and well today, but also that time is increasingly of the essence in order to preserve it for future generations.

The second phase of our effort is what makes this project innovative. We want to share this information with the public in a physical space that also helps tell the story. The Cadentown School, funded by the Rosenwald Fund, opened in 1923 and closed in 1943. Rosenwald organized the Rosenwald Fund to donate matching funds for the construction of rural model schools for African Americans. Of the 5 Rosenwald Schools that were erected in the 1920s, Cadentown is the only one that remains in Fayette County, and one of few remaining structures in the nation. The site also includes a church (formerly Cadentown Baptist Church) and cemetery. The property was owned privately until LFUCG acquired it in 2005. Preserving these structures, and then converting the space to a cultural center that explores African American history will have significant implications for our city.

We envision the creation of a tourist destination and educational center that captures the rich history that is in danger of being lost to posterity. We envision a destination where Lexington residents, tourists, and school children can be educated, inspired, and empowered by the people that came before them. We envision a community that has a new appreciation for the rich African American culture, community, and industry that emerged from emancipation. Ultimately, we envision giving voice to individuals whose stories have yet to be told.

• Cultural/Multi-Arts

SOP requests $5,000 to support the artistic design, fabrication, and installation of interpretive exhibits, display cases, informational panels, and multimedia presentations for the Cadentown Cultural Center, creating an engaging public experience that preserves and shares the history of Fayette County's rural Black hamlets and the Cadentown Historic Site.

SOP, established in partnership with the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government in 2022, is dedicated to preserving, documenting, and sharing the history of Fayette County's rural Black hamlets, communities founded by formerly enslaved African Americans following emancipation. These communities became centers of art, faith, education, entrepreneurship, and civic leadership, yet many of their stories remain undocumented and are at risk of being lost as elders and descendants pass away. Through oral histories, archival research, community engagement, and historic preservation, SOP is ensuring that these important narratives are preserved and made accessible for future generations.

The centerpiece of this effort is the restoration and adaptive reuse of the historic Cadentown School campus. Built in 1923 through the Rosenwald Fund, Cadentown School is the only surviving Rosenwald School in Fayette County and one of the few remaining Rosenwald School sites in Kentucky. Along with the adjacent historic church and cemetery, the property provides an authentic setting in which visitors can experience the history of African American education and community-building in rural Fayette County.

This request focuses specifically on the first steps of transforming the church into a dynamic educational and cultural destination through high-quality interpretive exhibits and visitor experiences. Grant funds will support the visual presentation of the stories collected through SOP's research by funding museum-quality display cases for historic art and artifacts, professionally designed interpretive panels, exhibit graphics, maps, timelines, photographs, and multimedia video presentations that bring the voices of former residents and their descendants to life.

Visitors will experience a thoughtfully curated journey through the history of more than twenty rural Black hamlets that once flourished throughout Fayette County. Exhibits will explore the founding of these communities after emancipation, their churches and schools, family life, farming traditions, businesses, civic leadership, and the resilience that enabled generations of African American families to thrive despite segregation and systemic barriers. Interactive video presentations featuring oral histories, historical photographs, and archival materials will provide opportunities for visitors to hear directly from descendants, creating powerful personal connections to the stories being shared.

The project will take place at the Cadentown Cultural Center, located in the historic Cadentown Baptist Church property in Lexington, Kentucky. Once restoration of the building is complete, the exhibit installation will transform the interior spaces into an immersive educational environment designed for visitors of all ages. The cultural center will serve multiple audiences, including Fayette County Public Schools, university classes, local residents, researchers, heritage tourists, and visitors interested in African American history and Kentucky's cultural heritage.

Implementation will be guided by the Sense of Place Steering Committee in collaboration with Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government, historians, exhibit designers, community stakeholders, and descendants of the hamlet communities. Content developed through ongoing oral history interviews and historical research will be translated into engaging visual exhibits that meet museum-quality standards while remaining accessible to diverse audiences. Professional fabrication and installation will ensure that artifacts are preserved appropriately and presented in a manner that enhances learning and long-term sustainability.

This project represents the next critical phase of SOP's work. While previous efforts have focused on documenting community histories, conducting research, preserving the Cadentown property, and planning for its future use, this request supports the public interpretation of that work. Rather than collecting history alone, SOP will make it visible, tangible, and accessible through permanent exhibits that allow visitors to engage directly with the people, places, and stories that shaped Lexington's African American heritage.

The completed exhibits will establish the Cadentown Cultural Center as a permanent destination for education, reflection, and community engagement. By combining authentic historic spaces with compelling visual storytelling, the project will preserve endangered histories, foster greater understanding of Lexington's diverse past, and ensure that the contribution

The Cadentown Cultural Center will provide lasting educational, cultural, and economic benefits to the Lexington community by preserving an important chapter of local history that has largely gone untold. Through professionally designed exhibits, multimedia presentations, and historical artifacts, visitors will gain a deeper understanding of the more than twenty rural Black hamlets that flourished in Fayette County following emancipation. These communities were centers of education, faith, entrepreneurship, agriculture, and civic leadership, yet their stories have often been overlooked in traditional historical narratives. By making these histories accessible, the project helps create a more complete and inclusive understanding of Lexington's past.

The cultural center will serve as an educational resource for students, teachers, researchers, and lifelong learners. School groups will have opportunities to experience local history in an authentic setting through curriculum-aligned field trips and educational programming that connect classroom learning with primary sources, oral histories, and historic artifacts. Visitors of all ages will engage with interactive exhibits that encourage reflection on resilience, community building, and the enduring contributions of African Americans to the growth and development of Fayette County.

The project also strengthens community identity by honoring the voices and lived experiences of families whose histories have too often remained invisible. Descendants of the hamlets have generously shared photographs, stories, and personal histories that will now become part of a permanent public exhibit. Preserving these narratives validates the experiences of generations of African American residents while creating opportunities for dialogue, understanding, and intergenerational learning across the broader community.

Beyond its educational impact, the Cadentown Cultural Center will become a unique heritage tourism destination that complements Lexington's existing historical and cultural attractions. As one of the few remaining Rosenwald School sites in Kentucky and the only surviving Rosenwald School in Fayette County, Cadentown represents a significant historic resource with the potential to attract visitors interested in African American history, education, and civil rights. Increased visitation will contribute to the local economy by encouraging tourists to extend their stays and support nearby businesses, restaurants, and cultural institutions.

Most importantly, this project ensures that irreplaceable stories are preserved before they are lost. As elders pass away and historic resources disappear, opportunities to document firsthand accounts become increasingly limited. By transforming research and oral histories into permanent exhibits, the Sense of Place Steering Committee is creating a lasting community asset that will educate, inspire, and serve future generations.

The Cadentown Cultural Center will be more than a museum. It will be a place of remembrance, discovery, and connection where residents and visitors alike can better understand the people and communities whose perseverance and achievements helped shape Lexington.

SOP uses a multi-channel communications strategy to engage residents, educators, historians, descendants of Fayette County's rural Black hamlets, and visitors. Information is distributed through our website, social media platforms, email newsletters, public presentations, and community events. We work closely with Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government, local historical organizations, neighborhood associations, and descendant families to expand awareness and encourage participation. As the Cadentown Cultural Center opens, we will partner with VisitLEX, Fayette County Public Schools, local universities, museums, and regional tourism organizations to reach broader audiences. Our branding emphasizes authentic storytelling, historic preservation, and community engagement, positioning Cadentown as a unique destination for heritage tourism and cultural education.

SOP serves a broad and diverse audience with a focus on preserving and sharing the history of Fayette County's rural Black hamlets. Primary audiences include descendants of the hamlet communities, African American residents, K–12 students and educators, university faculty and researchers, historians, and preservation advocates. The Cadentown Cultural Center will also serve local families, community organizations, and lifelong learners seeking a deeper understanding of Lexington's history. As one of the few remaining Rosenwald School sites in Kentucky, the center will attract heritage tourists, cultural travelers, and visitors interested in African American history, education, and civil rights. Our programs are designed to be accessible, inclusive, and engaging for audiences of all ages and backgrounds, fostering learning, dialogue, and community connection.

SOP celebrates the creative contributions of diverse artists by elevating the voices, craftsmanship, and cultural traditions of Fayette County's historic Black hamlets. The interpretive exhibits will feature oral histories, historic photographs, visual art, music, storytelling, and archival materials that reflect the lived experiences and creative expression of African American communities whose histories have often been excluded from traditional narratives. The project will engage exhibit designers, historians, artists, and descendants to collaboratively create authentic, community-informed experiences. By transforming these stories into compelling visual and multimedia exhibits within the Cadentown Cultural Center, the project ensures that Black artists, culture bearers, and storytellers are recognized, preserved, and shared with audiences of all ages, fostering appreciation for Kentucky's diverse cultural heritage.

SOP was intentionally formed as a cross-sector partnership, bringing together government agencies, historians, educators, cultural organizations, preservation advocates, artists, and community members to preserve and interpret the history of Fayette County's rural Black hamlets. The project is led in partnership with the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government (LFUCG), whose leadership has been instrumental in acquiring, stabilizing, and planning for the restoration of the historic Cadentown School campus and the adjacent Cadentown Baptist Church.

The project works closely with the University of Kentucky's Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, which provides expertise in oral history collection, preservation, and archiving to ensure that community stories are professionally documented and accessible for future generations. The Lexington History Museum serves as a key collaborator in historical research, artifact interpretation, and public engagement, helping connect the project to the broader history of Lexington and Fayette County.

Educational partnerships are central to the project's mission. Fayette County Public Schools and regional colleges and universities will utilize the Cadentown Cultural Center as a destination for place-based learning, allowing students to engage directly with local history through exhibits, oral histories, and guided educational experiences. These partnerships help expand curriculum opportunities while encouraging civic engagement and historical inquiry.

Arts collaborations include exhibit designers, visual artists, filmmakers, photographers, storytellers, and interpretive specialists who will transform historical research into engaging, museum-quality experiences. Their work will combine archival materials, oral histories, multimedia presentations, graphic design, and creative storytelling to make history accessible to diverse audiences. Descendants of the historic hamlets serve as essential cultural partners, contributing personal stories, photographs, artifacts, and lived experiences that ensure the exhibits authentically reflect the communities they represent.

The project also collaborates with preservation organizations, neighborhood leaders, faith communities, genealogists, and local historical societies to identify resources, expand community participation, and strengthen long-term stewardship of the site.

The goal of SOP is to preserve, interpret, and share the history of Fayette County's rural Black hamlets while creating meaningful opportunities for education, cultural engagement, and community dialogue through the arts. By transforming the historic Cadentown Cultural Center into an immersive interpretive space featuring exhibits, oral histories, multimedia, and visual storytelling, the project ensures that historically underrepresented voices become a permanent part of Lexington's cultural landscape. These goals directly support the Steering Committee's mission to preserve African American heritage, strengthen community identity, and connect residents and visitors through authentic stories, creative expression, and place-based learning that inspire understanding, inclusion, and civic pride.

SOP will evaluate the project through a combination of quantitative and qualitative measures to ensure that project goals are achieved and that the resulting exhibits provide meaningful educational and artistic experiences for the public. Progress will be monitored throughout planning, design, fabrication, and installation to confirm that milestones, timelines, and budget objectives are met.

The quality and creativity of the exhibits will be evaluated through review by the Steering Committee, exhibit design professionals, historians, artists, and community representatives, including descendants of the historic Black hamlets. Their feedback will ensure historical accuracy, artistic excellence, accessibility, and authentic representation of community voices.

Program success will also be measured through visitor participation, school and group attendance, public program participation, and visitor surveys that assess learning, engagement, and the overall visitor experience. Educator feedback will help evaluate the effectiveness of exhibits as teaching tools, while community listening sessions and stakeholder interviews will provide insight into how well the project reflects local history and strengthens community connections.

Project activities will be thoroughly documented through photographs, video, meeting records, exhibit design files, oral history recordings, artifact inventories, interpretive content, media coverage, and attendance records. Digital archives will preserve research materials and oral histories, while exhibit installation photographs and promotional materials will document project completion.

Evaluation findings will be reviewed by the Steering Committee and project partners to identify successes, address opportunities for improvement, and guide future programming at the Cadentown Cultural Center. This ongoing evaluation process will ensure that the project meets high artistic and educational standards wh

• Recommendation-SOP-LexArts.docx
• LFUCG-Letter-of-Support-A-Sense-of-Place-LexArts.pdf