By Sheila AshThe Interdenominational Ministerial Coalition will host the annual community-wide Emancipation Proclamation Day worship service on New Year’s Day. This year’s theme is “On with Education.”The aim of the service is to emphasize the importance of obtaining a college education.Reverend Frank Smith, President of the Coalition, says local African-American leaders have set a goal of 15 thousand degrees by 2020, building upon Louisville’s “55,000 Degrees” initiative."That goal not only elevates the African-American higher education attainment rate, but it also closes the gap bringing the African-American attainment goal rate closer in range with the Caucasian goal rate as we see typically in major cities," he said.Smith says the Reverend Kevin Cosby, Pastor of St. Stephen Baptist Church will be the guest speaker. He says the service is open to the public. It will be at the Antioch Missionary Baptist Church at 2:00 pm.
Rick Howlett was midday host and the host of LPM's weekly talk show, "In Conversation." He was with LPM from 2001-2023 and held many different titles, including Morning Edition host, Assignment Editor and Interim News Director. He died in August 2023. Read a remembrance of Rick here.