Vision - We envision a world where art is a foundational guiding force in creating and sustaining a just society.

Mission - We recognize that art is storytelling and we proactively seek to unearth and honor community stories that transform people, spaces and cultures.

IDEAS xLab Team

**Josh Miller** (they/he)
*Co-Founder, Chief Executive Officer*
*josh@ideasxlab.com*

Hannah Drake (she/her) Chief Creative Officer — **Hannah Drake** (she/her)
*Chief Creative Officer*
*hannah@ideasxlab.com*

**Steven Michael Carr** (he/him)
*Development & Operations Director*
*steven@ideasxlab.com*

**Damita Adams** (she/her)
Events Coordinator
damita@ideasxlab.com

About Us

IDEAS xLab 2023 Annual Report by Josh Miller

IDEAS xLab is a dynamic artist-run nonprofit based in Louisville, KY - and working nationally that uses the art of storytelling and community collaboration to impact public health.

We are queer, Black and female artists leading collaboration-based efforts including (Un)Known Project and ongoing work with Louisville Metro Department of Public Health & Wellness focused on creating a Lead Free Louisville. Our team offers workshops and keynotes focused on inclusion and creating a culture of belonging.

Our HEAL Community Approach supports communities in their drive toward positive health outcomes and impact through music and drumming circles, open mic poetry slams, visual art exercises, writing workshops, creative experiences, and more.

Through our partnership with Culture Leads, we are working to understand the impact of (Un)Known Project in Louisville, KY and on visitors who engage with it.

Read the Health Impact Assessment on our HEAL Community Approach.

Our Funders

We are grateful for the generous support and thought partnership of our organizational funders listed below, along with the many private donors who selflessly give of their time, talent, and treasure to support our work.

Awards & Recognition

Nonprofit of the Year Awards
2023: Chamber of St. Matthews
2019: Derby Diversity & Business Summit. The award exemplifies outstanding excellence and achievement in improving diversity for People, Processes, or Products & Services that have had a positive impact on the workforce, supply chain, community, or quality of life.

HEAL Community Approach recognized as international good practice by UCLG Culture 21 (2018) Louisville was a candidate for the third "UCLG Mexico City – Culture 21 International Award" (November 2017 – May 2018). The jury requested that the Committee on Culture promote IDEAS xLab’s HEAL Community Approach as one of the good practices to be implemented through Agenda 21 for culture. Click here to learn more.

Pyramid Award of Excellence in the Art of Vision (2014) from Center for Nonprofit Excellence. This award honors a nonprofit organization that has: developed a collective vision that inspired action; connected that vision to its mission and/or to community priorities; demonstrated the community benefits of that mission.

Our History

IDEAS xLab has evolved over the years from an art exhibition program (2012), to a creative chamber of commerce (2013-2014), a for-profit LLC with a nonprofit arm, and into it's current form - a dynamic 501c3 nonprofit focused on arts-based, culturally-responsive change initiatives designed to positively impact health and wellbeing.

BOARD

Kirsten Hawley
Brown-Forman

Michael Carson
YMCA of the USA

Whitney Mattingly (Board Treasurer)
Operations Consultant

ADVISORS

Theo Edmonds, JD,MHA,MFA
Directing Co-Founder, Imaginator Academy
Research Associate Professor | Master of Humanities & Master of Social Science Programs, University of Colorado Denver
(Co-founder IDEAS xLab)

Chris Radtke
Louisville artist with IDEAS xLab 2013-2020

Karan Chavis
Louisville community member

Jean Dolan
Nike

Ayelet Aldouby
Curator with IDEAS xLab 2013-2018

Colleen Keegan
National Arts Advisor