IDEAS xLab Names Hannah Drake and Josh Miller as Co-Executive Directors
Louisville, KY — January 14, 2025 — IDEAS xLab, a nationally recognized nonprofit harnessing the power of art, storytelling and community collaboration to impact public health, is proud to announce the appointment of Hannah Drake and Josh Miller as Co-Executive Directors.
This new leadership structure reflects the organization’s ethos of collaboration, liberation and equity, and vision of a world where art is a foundational guiding force in creating and sustaining a just society.
Hannah Drake and Josh Miller bring an extraordinary blend of vision, experience, and passion to their new roles. Their combined 30-year tenure as artists centering social justice issues including public health, LGBTQ+ rights, and racial justice has been recognized nationally and reached global audiences.
As artists and co-founders of (Un)Known Project – IDEAS xlab’s primary initiative— Drake and Miller have worked with artists, organizations and community members to unearth and honor the names and stories of enslaved Black people through public art, art installations, performances, and Augmented Reality experiences. They have demonstrated a shared ability to create transformative work that bridges past and present while igniting critical conversations about racial healing and reconciliation that our nation desperately needs.
“The appointment of Hannah Drake and Josh Miller as Co-Executive Directors marks an exciting new chapter for IDEAS xLab,” said Dr. Ricky Jones, IDEAS xLab Board Member. “Their innovative leadership and commitment to equity-driven work will undoubtedly propel our mission – and (Un)Known Project - to new heights.”
“Stepping into new ways of leadership takes boldness and willingness to challenge the status quo. Oftentimes the easy route is to do what has always been done instead of thinking through new leadership paradigms. What is important in this work is that we work together to build something that will impact generations. True leadership is not about commanding others, but it is about uplifting those around us so that they believe in the mission and are willing to carry that mission forward. My goal as a leader is to empower others to find their strength, voice, and potential, fostering a community of leaders rather than followers,” said Hannah Drake.
“Leadership is not a solo act; it's a dynamic collaboration rooted in trust, shared vision, and the strengths we each bring to the table. As co-executive directors, we’re modeling a new way forward for arts organizations — one that values collective wisdom and collaborative decision making,” said Josh Miller. “A co-leadership model amplifies the impact of our work, allowing us to lead with authenticity and vulnerability. For me, our partnership is deeply personal and powerful. It’s a reflection of the journey Hannah and I have been on together, and a testament to the belief that our best work happens when we lead together, embracing our differences and holding each other accountable in the pursuit of transformative change and racial justice."
Josh Miller co-founded IDEAS xLab with now-husband Theo Edmonds in 2013. Hannah Drake began working with the organization in 2014, and joined the team in 2016. IDEAS xLab celebrated its 10-year anniversary in 2023. Their work has been featured in publications such as the textbook, Trauma Informed Placemaking, research articles, and various media outlets including The New York Times and NPR.
Learn more about IDEAS xLab at www.ideasxlab.com
Photos by Kriech-Higdon Photography
About:
Hannah Drake (she/her) is a blogger, podcast host, activist, TEDx speaker, public speaker, poet, and author of 11 books. She serves as the Co-Executive Director of IDEAS xLab and co-founder of (Un)Known Project, which seeks to discover the hidden names and stories of Black people who were enslaved in Kentucky and beyond. She writes commentary on politics, feminism, and race, and her writing has been featured online at Cosmopolitan, the Washington Post, the Bitter Southerner, the Lily, Harper’s Bazaar, and Revolt TV. Drake received an Arts Leadership Award from Fund for the Arts in 2024. Drake was named a Soros Equality Fellow and recognized by Today’s Woman magazine as the Most Admired Woman in the Arts. Drake was honored as a Kentucky Colonel, the highest title of honor bestowed by the Kentucky governor, recognizing an individual’s outstanding service. In 2023, she was inducted into the Kentucky Women Remembered exhibit, a permanent tribute in the State Capitol honoring women who have made profound contributions to the state’s history. Drake holds a bachelor’s in communications from the University of Colorado and was granted an honorary doctorate in humanities by HBCU Simmons College of Kentucky.
Josh Miller, MBA (they/he) is a queer changemaker, public speaker, multi-disciplinary artist, and outdoor explorer. They are the co-founder + Co-Executive Director of IDEAS xLab and the co-founder of (Un)Known Project. Miller received an Arts Leadership Award from Fund for the Arts in 2024, a Soros Equality Fellowship in 2022, and is a 2x TEDx speaker who has been described as a "force in our community.” Their work has been featured by The New York Times, The Aspen Institute, and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Miller received the 2022 Nonprofit Visionary Leader Award from Louisville Business First and was selected for Business Equality Magazine’s Forty LGBTQ+ Leaders under 40 and Louisville Business First's Forty under 40. Miller holds an MBA from Indiana University and an undergraduate degree in art administration and business administration from Bellarmine University. Their participation in fellowships such as the Colorado Collective Leadership Initiative, CBCA Leadership Arts, and the National Leadership Academy for the Public’s Health highlights their dedication to community-driven innovation and public health.