Louisville, KY — The Louisville Urban League hosted the community for A Healthier Path Forward Community Awards Celebration on Thursday, February 19, 2026, 5:00 PM at the Muhammad Ali Center. The event recognized the five project teams selected for the A Healthier Path Forward initiative, which addresses childhood obesity and promotes healthy outcomes in West Louisville. 

A Healthier Path Forward is the Urban League’s community-powered innovation challenge in partnership with Render Capital and funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Kentucky ranks among the highest states in childhood obesity, with disproportionate impact in predominantly Black and low-income neighborhoods. Our solution to confront these disparities includes: centering community voice, supporting Black-led organizations, and elevating innovators who understand the problem through lived experience. 

The winning project teams are: Attane Health, EnVue Health, Feed Louisville, Park Duvalle Community Health Centers, and Rae’s Roots Mobile Market. Each team will receive funding to pilot their solutions locally, with opportunities for additional investment based on impact and evaluation outcomes. 

“Childhood obesity is not simply about individual choices—it reflects the systems that shape access to health, opportunity, and resources,” said Lyndon Pryor, President & CEO of the Louisville Urban League. “We are excited to celebrate innovators who are stepping forward with community-rooted solutions that have the power to transform those systems and build a healthier future for our children.” 

Attendees included community leaders, partners, funders, and residents who have helped shape the initiative from its earliest stages. The evening featured project spotlights, remarks from LUL leadership, and recognition of the collective effort behind advancing health equity in West Louisville.

“We are committed to uplifting bold ideas that may be overlooked by traditional funding streams,” said Ebony O’Rea, Program Manager for A Healthier Path Forward. “This event is about celebrating community-driven innovation and the people working every day to remove barriers and create lasting change.” 

The five winning project teams will each receive a $200,000 grant to begin their pilot projects. These innovators are committed to demonstrating measurable impact and will regularly report to the Louisville Urban League and the community on their progress. After a results-driven 18-month evaluation period, one or two projects will be selected to receive an additional $425,000 investment to scale systems-level impact. We encourage the entire community to follow each project, track the changes, and join us in helping remove long-standing barriers to health in West Louisville.

About the Louisville Urban League
The Louisville Urban League assists Black people 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, Instagram, or Threads.

About the 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