The NAACP Louisville Branch stands in full support of the West Louisville Dream Team’s ongoing initiative to secure community ownership of the historic Nia Center.

For Immediate Release:

LOUISVILLE, KY — The NAACP Louisville Branch stands in full support of the West Louisville Dream Team’s ongoing initiative to secure community ownership of the historic Nia Center. Identifying the center as a vital economic and cultural anchor, the civil rights organization is calling on local government officials to close the remaining funding gap to protect the asset.

"The Nia Center represents more than a building — it represents access, opportunity, dignity, and the collective determination of our community to shape its own future," Raymond Burse, president of the NAACP Louisville Branch, said.

The Nia Center, located in West Louisville, has long served as a hub for small business development, baseline community resources, and cultural empowerment. 

To ensure its long-term stability, the NAACP is urging the Louisville Metro Government and the Metro Council to allocate the remaining public investment required to finalize the purchase by the West Louisville Dream Team.

The organization stresses that keeping the center under local, community-led custody is essential to preventing displacement and ensuring the space continues to serve West Louisville residents.

While the NAACP Louisville Branch noted it is not providing direct financial capital to the acquisition, Burse emphasized that the organization is putting its full institutional weight behind the campaign.

"We bring the strength of our voice, our legacy, and our commitment to justice," he said. "We stand ready to amplify the importance of this moment and mobilize our membership to ensure that the Nia Center remains in the hands of the people it was built to serve. Community ownership is power. Community ownership is stability. Community ownership is a legacy. And we are proud to stand with those fighting to secure it."

The NAACP Louisville Branch is calling on its members and West Louisville residents to remain engaged as the proposal moves before Metro officials. Further updates on mobilization efforts and public comment opportunities will be shared as the Metro Council reviews the investment request.

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