LOUISVILLE, KY – June 4, 2025 – The Louisville Urban League (LUL) announced the launch of A Healthier Path Forward, a new program funded by a significant grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF). This initiative aims to address the pressing issue of childhood obesity in Louisville, particularly in the West End, a predominantly Black community served by LUL.

“We are incredibly excited to share this transformative opportunity for the community,” said Lyndon Pryor, President and CEO of the Louisville Urban League. “Kentucky ranks third in the nation for childhood obesity, and we recognize that these challenges are rooted in structural inequities. ‘A Healthier Path Forward’ is designed to find and fund entrepreneurs and innovators who are tackling the upstream structural barriers contributing to this issue.”

The immediate health implications for obese youth are substantial, encompassing risk factors for cardiovascular disease such as high cholesterol and high blood pressure, alongside musculoskeletal issues like bone and joint problems, sleep apnea, and significant psychosocial challenges including social stigmatization and diminished self-esteem [1]. Beyond immediate concerns, childhood obesity is a potent predictor of adult obesity, dramatically increasing the lifetime risk for severe chronic conditions. These include type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, several types of cancer, and osteoarthritis [2]. The early onset of these conditions in childhood means a longer duration of illness and greater cumulative health complications throughout an individual’s life.

The economic ramifications of this epidemic are profound. Obesity costs Kentucky an estimated $1.2 billion in healthcare expenditures annually [3]. Nationally, the direct healthcare costs of obesity reached $480 billion, with childhood obesity alone accounting for $2.9 billion [4]. Beyond direct medical costs, the indirect economic toll is considerable, manifesting as job absenteeism and reduced productivity, which can cost employers approximately an additional $506 per obese worker per year [5]. The cumulative impact of these costs significantly strains individuals, families, and the state’s healthcare system. 

A Healthier Path Forward emphasizes community engagement, actively involving Black-led community organizations and West End residents throughout the process. Community meetings will begin this month, and Ebony O’Rea has been appointed as the program lead. O’Rea explained that the program will involve defining the problem statement with direct participation from the West End community, inviting innovator proposals in September, and tracking progress on a public dashboard. The first of many conversations will take place at the Louisville Urban League on Monday, June 16, 2025, 2:00-3:30 PM and 5:30-7:00 PM.

“We are committed to ensuring meaningful, equitable participation and that the benefits of the selected solutions genuinely reach the communities they are intended to serve,” O’Rea said.

The program will award six innovator teams $200,000 grants each, totaling $1.2 million for the first deployment phase. The best solutions will be eligible for further funding to expand.

“The Louisville Urban League has a passion for entrepreneurs and community organizations, and we are excited to be able to invest in six incredible organizations from across the country,” Pryor added. 

Louisville-based venture capital firm Render Capital is engaged to support the national search for scalable startups. “Render invests in entrepreneurs who solve real-world problems,” said Patrick Henshaw, founding Managing Director of Render Capital. “Louisville’s West End is already a hotspot for innovators working on challenges related to health equity, and working with the LUL is an amazing opportunity to keep this momentum building by ensuring these innovators have the resources they need to pilot their ideas.”

Potential partners and individuals can get involved by

• Distributing and completing the community survey to West End residents; 
• Partnering with LUL to community conversations; and
• Investing further in the program so that the selected innovators can expand and scale their projects. 

Innovators and entrepreneurs are encouraged to apply during the open call for applications this Fall. The business community can join the effort by serving on applicant review panels, mentoring the six funded teams, opening their facilities or supply chains for pilot tests, contributing pro bono expertise or matching funds, and promoting success stories through their channels.

A Healthier Path Forward represents a significant stride towards addressing childhood obesity and its systemic roots in the West End community. By fostering innovation, community engagement, and strategic partnerships, this program aims to create lasting change and equitable health outcomes for future generations in Louisville.

For more information, contact Ebony O’Rea, Project Lead at the Louisville Urban League ([email protected]) or Rebecca Rice, Director of Product at Render ([email protected]). 

Individuals can take the survey using the following link: surveymonkey.com/r/FPFQNRF.

View the presentation.

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[1] Magnitude of the Problem – Cabinet for Health and Family Services, accessed June 1, 2025, https://www.chfs.ky.gov/agencies/dph/dmch/needsassessment/101409ObesityChildren.doc 

[2] Kentucky child nutrition workers battle obesity, hunger – Spectrum News, accessed June 1, 2025, https://spectrumnews1.com/ky/louisville/news/2023/11/06/school-lunches-obesity

[3] Magnitude of the Problem – Cabinet for Health and Family Services, accessed June 1, 2025, https://www.chfs.ky.gov/agencies/dph/dmch/needsassessment/101409ObesityChildren.doc 

[4] 03 04 2021 Kentucky Obesity Fact Sheet.pdf, accessed June 1, 2025, https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/CommitteeDocuments/303/13158/03%2004%202021%20Kentucky%20Obesity%20Fact%20Sheet.pdf 

[5] An Evaluation of Childhood Overweight and Obesity Screening and Management in the Primary Care Setting – UKnowledge, accessed June 1, 2025, https://uknowledge.uky.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1137&context=dnp_etds 

About the Louisville Urban League
The Louisville Urban League assists African Americans and those at the margins in attaining social and economic equality and stability through direct services and advocacy. For more information, go to lul.org or follow us on Facebook, Twitter  (@louisvilleUL), or Instagram (@LouUrbanLeague).

About Render Capital 
Render Capital is an investment firm dedicated to fostering economic growth and innovation in the region. Through strategic capital deployment and active support, Render Capital empowers promising startups and growth-stage companies, driving job creation and building a more dynamic entrepreneurial ecosystem in Louisville and across Kentucky. Learn more at https://www.render.capital