Future Ancestors

We are a student-led youth leadership and enrichment program composed predominantly of girls and young women of color. As Future Ancestors we learn by doing, developing projects rooted in our and other young people's passion for justice with the goal of serving and connecting our community.  

Future Ancestor leaders come from multiple high schools, colleges, and recent graduates. Our flagship event is the Race4Justice which requires a significant amount of fundraising, but our leadership program itself has been operating for its entire time without a budget. Moreover, we want to grow and expand our work. Your donation will help us:

• host more youth-led events for our community, including a youth summit;
• grow our membership;
• offer more training, connections, and resources to our participants;
• increase the impact and support we are able offer non-profits in our community;
• reduce barriers for young people to participate in our program;
• provide more enrichment experiences for participants (field trips, plays, cultural events);
• help more young people turn their ideas for justice and service into reality

History and Success: The Future Ancestors began in 2020 at the height of pandemic and racial unrest in our city. We asked, what can we has high school students do to keep the movement moving forward? Ultimately, we conceived of the Race4Justice, an event designed to honor the life of Breonna Taylor, to bring our community together to celebrate with music, art, poetry and more, and to raise money for local non-profits. The Future Ancestors just hosted their 4th Race4Justice in 2025.  Since our inception, we have partnered with 16 non-profits, raising and donating nearly $80,000 to their causes.  While we are proud of the Race4Justice as primary example of what we can do, at our core our program is about youth leadership and helping young people learn how to turn their dreams for justice into a reality. Impact so far:

• 30+ leadership and enrichment sessions for youth participants each year
• 4 community-wide Race4Justice events (300 to 400 participants each year)
• Supported 16 non-profits raising and donating an average of $5,000 each
• Participants from multiple schools and colleges
• Expanded community events (ChangeMakers with Speed Art Museum, Diaper Drive with VOA)

We have also presented at conferences, built connections with multiple organizations, and every year help young people grow in fundraising and networking; project management and time management; collaboration; marketing; public speaking and communication; leadership; community organizing, budgeting and event planning, and more. We need your help to grow our program and reach more young people. 

Mission: We fight for justice by positioning youth AS leaders NOW, and continuing to grow their capacity through leadership development, community engagement, enrichment experiences, and by removing barriers to involvement. We focus on elevating the voice and power of girls and young people of color.

Quotes from Previous Future Ancestors

“The Future Ancestors help me recognize the power and importance of my voice”

“One lesson I still carry today is to speak up, even when I’m in a room full of people with more power or higher positions.” 

“Being a part of the group has taught me my feelings and opinions matter”

“A lot of people talk about intersectional justice - but us? We took action. A major lesson I carry is this: actions speak louder than words. If you act with purpose, you’ll be heard more”

Quotes from About the Future Ancestors and Past Events

Lyndon Pryor, CEO and President of the Louisville Urban League - "This student-led event exemplifies everything this community needs in the aftermath of the killing of Breonna Taylor. Hope, healing, and justice, with some fun and fitness are exactly how we move forward." 

Krasel Morales - "This event makes me feel like the future is in good hands"

Sydney Harbin - “What a wonderful display and community. To champion health and justice in the memory of Breonna Taylor.” 

Sadiqa Reynolds, Past President and CEO of the Louisville Urban League - “After two years of trauma and unrest in our community, to see young people responding to the issues of today with such thoughtful and meaningful actions is remarkable. If there is any person in our community concerned about what the future looks like, they simply haven’t met the remarkable students who are Future Ancestors. My heart and soul were filled each time we had the opportunity to meet with them."

Lamont Collins, Roots 101 - “This is one the greatest experiences in Roots 101 lifetime working with young people that understand the importance of becoming a better ancestor. We’re better together.” 

David Horvath - "What a beautiful way to be community. Fun, entertainment, and exercise all while we support each other to make a better world."