Date: Saturday, April 4, 2026
Time: 8:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Location: The Campbell House, 1375 S Broadway, Lexington, KY 40504
2026 Central Kentucky Black Family Conference
Stronger Together: Strengthening Our Bonds
The 2026 Central Kentucky Black Family Conference, convened by Project Ricochet and community partners, is a one-day, intergenerational convening designed to strengthen the health, safety, and resilience of Black families across Central Kentucky. Grounded in the belief that community well-being is built through relationships, trust, and shared responsibility, the conference brings together families, youth, advocates, service providers, artists, and policymakers to engage in culturally rooted dialogue, education, and action.
Key objectives of the conference include:
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- Providing a space for Black families to connect and collaborate on health and wellness strategies
- Addressing health disparities and promoting health for all
- Empowering the community through education, advocacy, and collaboration
- Inspiring unity and solidarity to build resilience and advance well-being in the Black community
Participants will gain practical insights and resources to empower themselves and their families to prioritize health and well-being. Workshops led by experts and community leaders will cover topics such as:
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- Preventive care
- Maternal and child health
- Chronic disease management
- Mental health
- Tobacco cessation
- Nutrition
- Violence Prevention
Anchored by the theme Stronger Together: Strengthening Our Bonds, the conference integrates public health, economic stability, maternal health equity, youth leadership, and violence prevention into a unified, community-centered experience. Rather than treating these issues in isolation, the conference reflects how they intersect in real family and community life, shaping opportunity, safety, and long-term stability.
The day features a main-stage plenary with nationally recognized leadership, family-centered panels on wellness and economic mobility, a dedicated Justice Served: Pathways to Peace youth track focused on healing-centered violence prevention, and a Maternal Health Doula Training & Certification intensive designed to strengthen the community-based perinatal workforce. Cultural grounding through history, music, and spoken word reinforces the conference’s emphasis on identity, belonging, and collective care.
The conference culminates with the AATCLC No Menthol Poetry Event, an evening of youth-led spoken word, cultural resistance, and tobacco prevention rooted in trusted community spaces. Through poetry and performance, young people confront predatory menthol marketing while affirming health, autonomy, and creative power.
More than a single-day event, the Central Kentucky Black Family Conference is a catalyst for sustained engagement. A shared Call to Action supports ongoing collaboration, youth empowerment, health education, and systems navigation beyond the conference walls. Together, participants recommit to strengthening the bonds that protect families, elevate youth voice, and build healthier, more connected Black communities.