♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ HI AND WELCOME TO "INSIDE LOUISVILLE" WHERE WE INTRODUCE YOU THE PEOPLE, PLACES AND THINGS THAT MAKE UP KENTUCKY'S LARGEST CITY.

THIS WEEK WE INTRODUCE YOU TO THE NEWEST PRESIDENT AND C.E.O.

OF THE MUHAMMAD ALI CENTER.

BELIEVE IT OR NOT, DEVONE HOLT IS THE FIRST LOUISVILLIAN AND FIRST KENTUCKY NATIVE TO TAKE THE HELM AT THE MUHAMMAD ALI CENTER.

IN FACT HE GREW UP JUST DOWN THE STREET FROM THE CHAMP'S CHILDHOOD HOME IN LOUISVILLE'S WEST END AND HE SAYS MUHAMMAD ALI WAS A GREAT HERO TO HIM AS A YOUNG BOY GROWING UP IN LOUISVILLE.

WE SAT DOWN WITH DEVONE HOLT AT THE ALI CENTER WHERE HE TALKED ABOUT BEING INSPIRED BY ALI AS A KID IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, HOW HIS CAREER HAS LED HIM TO THIS VERY MOMENT, AND HIS VISION FOR THE FUTURE OF THE MUHAMMAD ALI CENTER.

BUT FIRST, WE HEAR FROM SOME FAMILIAR FACES WHO WELCOMED HIM TO THE JOB.

>> I I AM RECOGNIZED ALL OVERTHE WORLD NOW BUT MY GREATNESS CAME AND STARTED IN LOUISVILLE KENTUCKY.

>> I'M SO EXCITED FOR THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT LAY AHEAD FOR THE CENTER.

FIRST WE HAVE A BRAND NEW C.E.O.

DEVONE HOLT WHO CAME TO US FROM GOODWILL INDUSTRIES AND HE IS FABULOUS.

IN A WORD.

HE HAS HIT THE GROUND RUNNING.

MUHAMMAD WAS HIS INSPIRATION AND IN HIS CHILDHOOD SO HE UNDERSTANDS HIS LEGACY.

HE HAS CONNECTIONS HERE AND I AM SO HAPPY THAT HE IS GOING TO LEAD US TO THAT NEXT STEP MOVING THE CENTER FORWARD AS WE TAKE MUHAMMAD ALI'S LEGACY GLOBAL.

>> I JUST WANT TO SAY CONGRATULATIONS AND WELCOME TO AS THE NEW C.E.O.

OF THE ALI CENTER.

ALI LEFT SUCH A GREAT LEGACY THAT SHOULD BE STUDIED AND SHOULD BE RECOGNIZED.

>> DEVONE, ROMAN LANE, TWO-TIME EMY AWARD WINNING SONGWRITER FROM LOUISVILLE RESIDING IN L.A.

I WANT TO COME BY AND CONGRATULATE YOU.

I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO THE CONTRIBUTIONS AND THE THINGS YOU PLAN TO BRING TO THE MUHAMMAD ALI CENTER.

CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU.

>> THIS IS COACH KELSEY HEAD MEN'S BASKETBALL COACH AT THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISVILLE.

I WANT TO SEND OUT A SPECIAL CONGRATULATIONS TO DEVONE HOLT, THE NEW C.E.O.

OF THE MUHAMMAD ALI CENTER HERE IN LOUISVILLE AND THE ALI CENTER IS ONE OF OUR CITY'S GREAT INSTITUTIONS.

IT REPRESENTS THE BEST OF WHAT LOUISVILLE IS ALL ABOUT AND OBVIOUSLY MUHAMMAD ALI WAS THE GREATEST OF ALL TIME.

THE FIRST KENTUCKIAN AND THE FIRST LOUISVILLIAN TO EVER BE C.E.O.

OF THE ALI CENTER.

CONGRATS, DEVONE.

>> DEVONE, WORDS CANNOT EXPRESS HOW EXCITED I AM TO SEE A FELLOW LOUISVILLE KID TAKE OVER AS THE C.E.O.

OF THE MUHAMMAD ALI MUSEUM.

THERE IS NOT ANOTHER MUSEUM IN THE WORLD THAT SHOWS HOW MUCH MUM MEANT NOT ONLY TO THE CITY OF LOUISVILLE BUT TO THE WORLD WITH HIS MEASURES OF LOVE.

YOU ARE PRETTY, YOU ARE A BAD MAN AND I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE YOU RUMBLE, YOUNG MAN RUMBLE.

CONGRATULATIONS!

>> I WANT TO CONGRATULATE DEVONE HOLT AS THE NEW C.E.O.

OF THE MUHAMMAD ALI CENTER.

BEING THE FIRST LOUISVILLIAN AND KENTUCKIANS TO HOLD THIS POSITION IS AN HONOR AND PRIVILEGE.

ADMINISTRATE MEANS A LOT TO ME AND OUR FOOTBALL PROGRAM AND WE TRY TO SHOWCASE THIS TO OUR PLAYERS AND RECRUITS.

GOOD LUCK DEVONE ON YOUR NEW POSITION.

>> MUHAMMAD WAS OUR AMBASSADOR TO THE WORLD AND THAT IS WHAT THE ALI CENTER ALLOWS US TO DO NOW AND TO HAVE A LOUISVILLIAN IN CHARGE, IT IS AWESOME.

CONGRATS DEVONE.

I CANNOT WAIT TO SEE WHAT DO YOU.

>> DEVONE HOLT IS THE NEWLY NAMED PRESIDENT AND C.E.O.

OF THE MUHAMMAD ALI CENTER, JUST BEEN ON THE JOB A FEW MONTHS NOW.

AND GREW UP RIGHT DOWN THE STREET FROM ALI'S CHILDHOOD HOME.

>> YOU KNOW, YOU DIDN'T REALIZE THAT YOU TOOK FOR GRANTED THAT THE CHAMP WAS IN YOUR OWN BACKYARD LIKE I DID, BUT AS YOU GREW UP, YOU REALIZE NOT EVERYBODY HAD ACCESS TO THE PLACES THAT MUHAMMAD ALI GREW UP, BUT I DID.

AND IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL, BEAUTIFUL PLACE TO BE GROWING UP IN THIS COMMUNITY.

>> OKAY, THIS AREA, TOO, IN THE PARKLAND NEIGHBORHOOD, 2th STREET, WAS JUST-- 28th STREET WAS JUST RECENTLY RENAMED DEVONE HOLT WAY.

SO WHAT IS-- WHAT WAS THAT EXPERIENCE LIKE FOR YOU?

>> IT WAS A SURREAL EXPERIENCE.

EVEN TODAY, IT STILL TAKES A LITTLE TIME FOR ME TO REALLY TRULY DIGEST THE IDEA THAT, AS A LIVING HUMAN BEING, I HAVE A STREET NAMED AFTER ME, BUT I WON'T LIE.

I DRIVE BY IT PRETTY OFTEN.

>> I BET YOU DO.

TELL ME WHAT IT WAS LIKE GROWING UP IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD?

>> YOU KNOW, GROWING UP IN WEST LOUISVILLE, IN THE 70s, WHEN I GREW UP, IT WAS A COMMUNITY FULL OF LOVE TO ARE ME, IT WAS COMMUNITY IN THE REAL SENSE OF THE WORD.

WE KNEW OUR NEIGHBORS, YOU KNOW, WE RODE OUR BIKES, WE PLAYED OUTSIDE.

WE PLAYED SPORTS.

AND WE REALLY ESPECIALLY BRACED THE COMMUNITY IN WHICH WE LIVED SO WE WENT TO BOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS.

WE WENT TO HANG OUT AT THE YMCA AND ALL OF THESE OTHER PLACES THAT MADE THE COMMUNITY A PERSONAL FOR US.

WE KNEW WHO LIVED IN THE HOUSE NEXT TO THE CORNER.

WE KNEW THE PEOPLE WHO LIVED AROUND THE BLOCK.

WE KNEW WHAT TIME THE SWIMMING POOL CLOSED IN SHINY AND CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL AND SO THOSE EXPERIENCES MADE THE COMMUNITY VERY, VERY INTIMATE FOR US.

>> AND IT IS STILL LIKE THAT TO THIS DAY, ISN'T IT?

I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE THAT ABOUT THE WEST LOUISVILLE AREA.

>> THERE IS A LOT OF INTIMATE RELATIONSHIPS BUILT AND ESTABLISHED IN WEST LOUISVILLE, WHICH IS WHY THERE IS STILL A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE A LOT OF PRIDE TO SAY THAT THEY COME FROM WEST LOUISVILLE.

YOU KNOW, WE'VE TAKEN OUR KNOCKS AND IT'S OBVIOUS THAT WEST LOUISVILLE IS ONE OF THE MORE UNDERRESOURCED COMMUNITIES IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

BUT THE REALITY IS, IT'S NOT FOR LACK OF LOVE IT'S NOT FOR LACK OF TALENT.

IT'S NOT FOR A LACK OF EXCEPTIONAL HUMAN BEINGS WHO LIVE IN THAT COMMUNITY.

AND THEY STILL MAKE THAT PLACE SPECIAL TO ME, WHICH IS WHY I STILL LIVE IN WEST LOUISVILLE.

I COULD LIVE A LOT OF OTHER PLACES, BUT I STILL CALL WEST LOUISVILLE HOME WHERE I LAY MY HEAD EVERY NIGHT.

>> THE REASON YOU HAD A STREET NAMED AFTER YOU IS BECAUSE OF YOUR INCREDIBLE WORK WITH GOODWILL.

AND THAT IS THE POSITION THAT YOU HAD BEFORE THIS, WHICH WAS CREATING A 120 MILLION-DOLLAR GOODWILL OPPORTUNITY CAMPUS THAT INCLUDED THE FIRST HOSPITAL IN QUEST LOUISVILLE-- IN WEST LOUISVILLE.

TELL US ABOUT THE CREATION OF THIS PROJECT.

>> YOU KNOW, IT WAS A BIG VISION THAT KEPT GETTING BIGGER AND BIGGER AND BIGGER.

AND IT SHOWED ME WHAT'S POSSIBLE WHEN YOU SURROUND YOURSELF WITH POSITIVE THINKING PEOPLE WHO COLLECTIVELY WANT TO DO SOMETHING IMPACTFUL AND THAT'S WHAT THE EXPERIENCE WAS LIKE FOR ME.

SO AT GOODWILL, I WAS CHARGED WITH THIS IDEA OF FINDING A NEW HOME FOR GOODWILL IN WEST LOUISVILLE AND I WENT AND FOUND A 20-ACRE SITE I.

WAS AN UGLY, UGLY SITE THOUGH, BUT IT HAD BEAUTIFUL POTENTIAL.

AND FORTUNATELY, THE TEAM SAW THE POTENTIAL AND WE WENT ALL IN TO ACQUIRE THIS 20-ACRE BROWN FIELD SITE THAT WAS AN EYE SORE IN THE COMMUNITY AND COMMITTED OURSELVES TO TURNING IT INTO WHAT I CALL A BEAUTIFUL BEACON OF HOPE.

SO THAT WAS A PLACE FOR US TO PUT THIS 120,000 SQUARE FOOT MULTIPURPOSE RESOURCE CENTER THAT GOODWILL OPERATES OUT OF AND IN THE PROCESS OF DESIGNING THAT BUILDING, NORTON HEALTHCARE, RUSSELL COX, CALLS AND SAYS THAT THEY, AFTER THE BREONNA TAYLOR MURDER IN THIS COMMUNITY, THEY WANTED TO BE PART OF THE SOLUTION TO HELP IMPROVE ISSUES IN WEST LOUISVILLE AND THEY SAID THE BEST WAY FOR THEM TO DO THAT WAS TO BE PRESENT.

AND SO THEY WENT LOOKING FOR SITES AND COULDN'T FIND A SITE BETTER THAN OURS.

AND SO WE COLLABORATED AND CAME TOGETHER TO CREATE WHAT IS NOW KNOWN AS THE NORTON HEALTHCARE/GOODWILL OPPORTUNITY CAMPUS WHICH NOW INCLUDES THE GOODWILL FACILITY AND THE NORTON HEALTHCARE HOSPITAL WHICH HAS BECOME A NATIONAL MODEL BECAUSE OTHER COMMUNITY DEVELOPERS HAVE FROM AROUND THE NATION ARE COMING TO LOUISVILLE TO SEE WHAT WE DID ON THE CORNER OF 28th AND BROADWAY.

>> WHAT IS IT LIKE FOR YOU TO SEE THAT IDEA REALLY COME TO FRUITION IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD?

>> WELL, I'LL TELL YOU, IT'S ESPECIALLY SPECIAL FOR ME BECAUSE NOT ONLY DID I GROW UP IN WEST LOUISVILLE, BUT I HAD PROFESSIONAL ROOTS IN WEST LOUISVILLE.

SO PART OF MY CAREER INCLUDED WORKING AS AN ADVOCATE FOR WEST LOUISVILLE.

WHEN I WENT TO WORK AT THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE G.L.I.

HERE IN TOWN, I BECAME THE CITY'S FIRST WEST LOUISVILLE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR.

AND THAT WAS IN THE EARLY 2000S AND I REMEMBER THEN BEING A PIED PIPER FOR WEST LOUISVILLE FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

AND I WOULD KNOCK ON DOORS AND HAVE BUSINESS CONVERSATIONS WITH PEOPLE ABOUT INVESTING IN WEST LOUISVILLE.

AND SOME OF THEM LITERALLY LAUGHED AT ME BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T SEE WHAT WAS POSSIBLE IN WEST LOUISVILLE.

THEY THOUGHT THE WEST LOUISVILLE THAT THEY SAW THEN WAS THE WEST LOUISVILLE THAT WOULD ALWAYS BE.

BUT I SAW SOMETHING DIFFERENT.

I SAW SO MUCH POTENTIAL FOR US TO INVEST AND RESTORE AND REVITALIZE A COMMUNITY THAT HAD ALL THE MAKINGS OF SOMETHING SPECIAL, BUT JUST NEEDED A LITTLE LOVE AND SO FOR 20 YEARS, I WAS ON A CRUSADE ADVOCATING FOR WEST LOUISVILLE AND SO IT WAS INTERESTING.

AFTER THE GOODWILL CAMPUS OPENED, THERE WAS A LAID HO WATCHED IT-- LADY WHO WATCHED THE CONSTRUCTION PROCESS AND SHE CAME TO ME AND SAID SHE THOUGHT IT HAPPENED RELATIVELY QUICKLY.

SHE SAID THIS IS AN OVERNIGHT SUCCESS.

IF YOU CALL A 20 YEAR RUN AN OVERNIGHT SUCCESS, IT IS EXACTLY THAT.

IT WAS NOT OVERNIGHT BUT IT WAS INDEED WORTH EVERY MOMENT WORKING TO MAKE SURE THE COMMUNITY WAS APPRECIATED, VALUED, AND WORKING NOW TO BE RESTORED.

>> IT WAS AN UPHILL CLIMB I'M SURE.

WHAT IS IT LIKE-- DO YOU THINK THIS IS A TURNING POINT, THE CREATION OF THAT?

A TURNING POINT FOR WEST LOUISVILLE AND LOUISVILLE IN GENERAL MAYBE.

>> I WILL TELL YOU THE EXPECTATION IS THAT IT WOULD SERVE NOT ONLY TO IMPROVE THE PEOPLE THAT CAME INTO THAT FACILITY BUT OPERATE AS A CATALYST FOR OTHER DEVELOPMENTS IN THE AREA.

IT'S ALREADY HAPPENING.

THE HOSPITAL CAME AS A RESULT OF GOODWILL'S INITIAL INVESTMENT.

I CAN TELL YOU THERE ARE OTHER IS LARGE ANNOUNCEMENTS THAT WILL BE MADE REALLY SOON IN WEST LOUISVILLE AS A RESULT OF THE INVESTMENT THAT GOODWILL AND NORTON HEALTHCARE HAVE MADE ON THE CORNER OF 28th AND BROADWAY.

I TRULY TRULY BELIEVE THAT IN ABOUT THREE YEARS FROM NOW, IF YOU LOOK AROUND THE AREA THERE AT 28th AND BROADWAY, YOU WILL SEE A VERY, VERY DIFFERENT COMMUNITY, ONE THAT HAS A LOT MORE RETAIL, A LOT MORE INVESTMENT AND A LOT MORE PRIDE FOR THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE THERE TO RECOGNIZE THAT THEIR COMMUNITY HAS JUST AS MUCH VALUE AS ANYONE ELSE'S.

>> I WANT TO CHECK IN IN THREE YEARS.

IT WILL STILL BE CALLED DEVONE HOLT WAY, RIGHT?

>> WE'LL MARK OUR CALENDARS.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT YOUR ROLE HERE AT THE MUHAMMAD ALI CENTER BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE ALL OF THAT REALLY HAS LED UP TO THIS POINT IN YOUR LIFE AND WHAT BETTER WAY TO REALLY BE AN ADVOCATE FOR SERVICE AND COMMUNITY AND ALL OF THE THINGS THAT THE CENTER IS ALL ABOUT.

>> IT'S A DREAM JOB.

IT TRULY IS A DREAM JOB FOR ME.

I LEARNED EARLY IN MY CAREER, I TOOK A JOB ONCE FOR MONEY.

HAD A COMPANY THAT THREW A TON OF MONEY AT ME.

GAVE ME AN INCREDIBLE BUDGET, TOLD ME TO HIRE WHO I WANTED TO HIRE AND RUN THE DEPARTMENT HOW I WANTED TO RUN IT.

AND THREE MONTHS INTO THAT JOB I REALIZED I WAS ONLY WORKING FOR MONEY AND I WAS MISERABLE.

I WAS ABSOLUTELY MISERABLE.

FORTUNATELY I LEARNED THAT EXAMPLE AND HAD THAT EXAMPLE EARLY ON IN MY CAREER, TO LEARN THAT I'M NOT PERSONALLY SOMEONE WHO IS ESPECIALLY MOTIVATED BY MONEY.

I AM ESPECIALLY MOTIVATED, HOWEVER, IN HELPING PEOPLE IMPROVE THEIR LIVES AND HELPING PEOPLE PURSUE GREATNESS AND FIND THE THING THAT WILL ALLOW THEM TO COME TO LIFE.

AND I HAVE DONE THAT THROUGH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

I'VE DONE THAT THROUGH EDUCATION.

I'VE DONE IT THROUGH WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.

AND NOW I GET A CHANCE TO DO THAT RIGHT HERE AT THE MUHAMMAD ALI CENTER, WHICH IS THE GREATEST DISPLAY OF GREATNESS THAT OUR NATION HAS SEEN BECAUSE IT IS THE HOME OF THE GREATEST OF ALL TIME, WHERE WE ARE SHOWCASING NOT ONLY HIS JOURNEY THROUGH HIS LIFE THAT WAS REALLY AN EXAMPLE OF GREATNESS, BUT IT ALSO IS A PLACE THAT HELPS OTHER PEOPLE FIND THEIR PATHWAYS TO GREATNESS AND HOPEFULLY, INSPIRES THEM TO FIND THAT RED BIKE MOMENT THAT WE TALK ABOUT WITH MUHAMMAD ALI WHERE THEY CAN START TO PURSUE THAT THING THAT LIGHTS THEM ON FIRE AND HOPEFULLY HELPS THEM CHANGE THE WORLD.

>> I KNEW THE CHAMP.

>> I DID YES.

>> TELL ME HOW HE INSPIRED YOU AS A YOUNG BLACK BOY GROWING UP IN LOUISVILLE.

>> I WILL TELL YOU GROWING UP IN WEST LOUISVILLE, KNOWING THAT THE CHAMP WAS FROM HERE WAS SPECIAL BECAUSE YOU WOULD SEE HIM ON TELEVISION AND THEN YOU WOULD HAVE THESE CONVERSATIONS WHEN YOU GO TO THE BARBER SHOP WITH ALL THESE GUYS WHO KNEW HIM , WHO KNOW HIM.

AND SO WOULD YOU HEAR ABOUT THOSE SPECIAL STORIES AND THESE EXPERIENCES THAT THEY HAD WITH THE CHAMP.

BUT THEN FOR ME, IT WAS SPECIAL TO SEE SOMEONE LIKE MUHAMMAD ALI WHO BREW UP-- WHO GREW UP WHERE I CAME FROM, TO STAND SO BOLDLY IN THE SPACES WHERE YOU WOULDN'T HAVE SEEN BLACK MEN SPEAK SO BOLDLY AND SO COURAGEOUSLY ABOUT WHO THEY WERE, ABOUT WHAT THEY WANTED TO BE, AND NOT ALLOWING THE WORLD TO DICTATE TO HIM WHO HE COULD BE OR WHAT HE COULD ACCOMPLISH.

THAT, TO ME, WAS UNHEARD OF.

NOW, TODAY, WE WATCH SOCIAL MEDIA AND WE SEE THESE CELEBRITIES AND ATHLETES SPEAK SO BOLDLY AND SO COURAGEOUSLY.

BUT THAT WAS VERY, VERY RARE BACK IN THE 70s AND 80s.

AND WE HAVE MUHAMMAD ALI TO THANK FOR THAT.

I LOOKED TO HIM AS A HERO BECAUSE I HAD NEVER SEEN SOMEONE NOT ONLY TALK THE TALK BUT WALK THE WALK.

AND HE DID IT NOT JUST AS A BOXER IN THE RING.

HE WAS ABLE TO STEP OUTSIDE THE RING AND HAVE JUST AS MUCH OF AN IMPACT, IF NOT MORE, WHEN HE LEFT THE RING.

AND TO ME THAT WAS UNIQUE.

AND I COULDN'T TAKE MY EYES OFF OF HIM ANY TIME I SAW HIM.

SO HE BECAME A HERO.

AND SO NOW TO HAVE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO WALK IN THE SHOES THAT HE LEFT US HERE AT THE MUHAMMAD ALI CENTER TO ME IS ONE OF THE MOST SPECIAL CAREER MOVES I COULD HAVE EVER MADE.

>> I WAS SHOCKED TO LEARN YOU ARE THE FIRST LOUISVILLIAN AND KENTUCKIAN TO HAVE A PERMANENT, THIS PERMANENT SPOT AS PRESIDENT AND C.E.O.

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN TO YOU?

>> WELL, TO ME, IT SAYS THAT THERE IS A NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS CENTER IS CONNECTED TO THIS COMMUNITY.

YOU KNOW, MUHAMMAD ALI IS A NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL TREASURE.

HE LITERALLY COULD HAVE DECIDED TO PLACE THIS CENTER ANYWHERE; BUT DECIDED THAT HE WANTED TO HAVE IT HERE IN LOUISVILLE BECAUSE THIS IS HIS HOME.

THIS IS WHERE HE GREW UP.

SO WE RECOGNIZE THAT, YES, HE IS AN INTERNATIONAL TREASURE AND PEOPLE COME LITERALLY FROM AROUND THE WORLD TO EXPERIENCE THIS CENTER.

BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT, AS THE FIRST LOUISVILLIAN IN THIS ROLE, THE FIRST KENTUCKY NATIVE TO SERVE AS C.E.O.

OF THE MUHAMMAD ALI CENTER, THAT WE WORK OVERTIME TO BUILD INROADS INTO OUR COMMUNITIES TO MAKE SURE THAT THE COMMUNITY VALUES AND APPRECIATES AND UNDERSTANDS WHAT THIS CENTER IS, WHAT ITS IMPACT IS ON THE WORLD AND MORE SPECIFICALLY, HOW THE COMMUNITY HAS THE POTENTIAL TO HELP US SHAPE WHO WE WILL BE AND HOW WE WILL SHOW UP IN INTERNATIONAL SPACES BECAUSE THIS IS THE PLACE THAT MUHAMMAD ALI LOVED THE MOST: HOME, LOUISVILLE KENTUCKY.

>> WHAT DO YOU THINK HE WOULD THINK OF THE STATE LOUISVILLE IS IN NOW?

YOU KNOW, SINCE THE BREONNA TAYLOR DEATH AND EVERYTHING THAT HAS HAPPENED IN THIS CITY SINCE HIS DEATH.

WE HAVE GONE BACKWARDS?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, HERE IS WHAT I WILL SAY.

MUHAMMAD ALI WAS A PROUD BLACK MAN, BUT HE WAS ALSO A PROUD CITIZEN OF THE UNITED STATES.

HE TOOK THAT SERIOUSLY AND WORKED AS A CONVENER TO BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER FROM DIFFERENT WALKS OF LIFE, DIFFERENT IDEOLOGIES, DIFFERENT RELIGIOUS PERSPECTIVES.

AND HE DID THAT MASTERFULLY.

HE DID IT EFFORTLESSLY.

AND SO I THINK IF WE LOOK AT OUR COMMUNITY NOW, AND OUR NATION QUITE FRANKLY, AND SEE HOW DIVIDED WE ARE, TO SEE HOW SO MANY OF US ARE ENTRENCHED IN OUR OWN RESPECTIVE CAMPS AND DON'T SPEND MUCH TIME TALKING TO PEOPLE WHO LOOK DIFFERENT THAN WE DO, WHO MAY THINK DIFFERENTLY THAN WE DO.

I THINK MUHAMMAD WAS WANTED US TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER.

AND THAT'S THE IDEA THAT I HAVE AS THE C.E.O.

IN THIS SPACE, IS TO USE THE NAME, THE BRAND, MUHAMMAD ALI AND THIS INSTITUTION, TO BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER WHO WOULDN'T NORMALLY SIT AROUND TABLES TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE CAN COLLECTIVELY WORK TO MAKE OUR COMMUNITY A BETTER PLACE.

>> I KNOW, I MEAN OBVIOUSLY YOU ARE A BIG VISION GUY, RIGHT?

>> I LIKE TO DREAM BIG.

>> I KNOW YOU ALREADY HAVE A VISION FOR WHAT THIS CENTER CAN BE OR MEAN TO THE CITY, THE STATE, THE COUNTRY, THE WORLD.

>> YES.

>> WHAT ARE SOME OF THE GOALS THAT YOU HAVE FOR THE FUTURE HERE?

>> ONE IS A FULL ON EMBRACE OF GREATNESS.

I WANT PEOPLE TO WALK AWAY FROM HERE TRULY INSPIRED AND NOT JUST LEAVE HERE AND GO OFF INTO THE WORLD WITH A DISCONNECT FROM US AT THAT POINT.

I WANT TO BE TETHERED TO THOSE MEN AND THOSE WOMEN, AND PARTICULARLY THOSE YOUNG PEOPLE IN A WAY THAT ALLOWS US TO HELP US MOLD AND PREPARE THEM FOR GREATNESS THAT THEY WANT TO PURSUE IN LIFE.

YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE BEST IDEAS ON HOW WE SHOULD LIVE AS HUMAN BEINGS COME FROM OUR YOUNG BOYS AND GIRS AND I WANT THEM TO COME HERE AND DREAM BIG AND I WANT US TO BE ATTACHED TO THOSE DREAMS THEY HAVE TO THINK ABOUT HOW WE CAN HELP THEM TURN THOSE IDEAS INTO REALITY.

AND THEN IN ADDITION TO THAT, I REALLY DO WANT US TO SERVE AS A LARGE SCALE BIG STAGE CONVENER FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE OPPOSING IDEAS, WHO HAVE OPPOSING THOUGHTS, TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE CAN COME TOGETHER AND FIND COMMON GROUND TO DO GOOD TOGETHER BECAUSE THE REALITY IS WE DO NEED ONE ANOTHER.

BUT THE MORE WE FIND OURSELVES SEPARATED IN THOUGHTS AND WORK AND DEED, THE LESS EFFECTIVE WE BECOME AND SO AS A BIG DREAMER, AS A BIG VISION PERSON, I KNOW THAT WE CAN ACHIEVE THOSE THINGS, BUT IT'S VERY RARE THAT WE ARE ABLE TO DO THOSE THINGS SEPARATE AND APART FROM ONE ANOTHER.

I WANT US TO BE ABLE TO COME TOGETHER, THINK BIG, DO BIG AND BE BIG IN THIS SPACE BECAUSE OF WHAT HUMAN SET THE STAGE FOR US TO HAVE HERE.

>> ONE OF HIS PASSIONS AND YOURS AS YOU MENTIONED, IS THE LEADING THE NEXT GENERATION.

AND YOU MENTIONED CHILDREN AND THE NEXT GENERATION AND PURSUING GREATNESS AND JUST INSTILLING IN THEM, FINDING THEIR OWN GREATNESS IN WHATEVER WAY.

AND WE DIDN'T EVEN MENTION YOUR CAREER AT JCPS AND HOW YOU HAVE, YOU KNOW-- THAT'S A BIG PART OF YOUR CAREER AS WELL.

TALK ABOUT HOW THIS CENTER CAN HELP MOLD THE NEXT GENERATION AND WHY THAT IS IMPORTANT TO YOU AND WAS TOE MUHAMMAD ALI AS WELL.

>> WELL, I THINK PART OF WHAT WE ARE ABLE TO DO IS GIVE A REAL EXAMPLE OF SOMEONE WHO DEFEATED THE ODDS.

A REAL EXAMPLE OF SOMEBODY WHO OVERCAME ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS AND CONTINUED TO SHOW THE WORLD THAT HE COULD DO WHAT HE SET OUT TO ACCOMPLISH.

AND SO MANY TIMES NOW YOU HAVE YOUNG PEOPLE WHO HAVE PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, POUR WATER ON THEIR HOPES AND DREAMS.

THERE ARE SO MANY PEOPLE THAT BACK AWAY FROM BIG VISIONS BECAUSE THEY'RE AFRAID OF WHAT SOMEONE ELSE MIGHT SAY.

WHAT WE WANT TO BE IS A PLACE WHERE THEY CAN FIND COMFORT IN THINKING BIG AND DOING BIG AND BEING IN THOSE SPACES WHERE PEOPLE ARE THAN COURAGING THEM-- ENCOURAGING THEM TO DO THAT BIG THING AND HELPING THEM CONNECT TO RESOURCES THAT ALLOW THEM TO DO THOSE BIG THINGS.

AND SO THIS IS A SPACE WHERE THEY WILL BE ABLE TO COME AND NOT JUST GET THE INSPIRATION FROM WHAT THEY SEE ON THE WALLS AND SEE IN THE SPACES, BUT THERE IS A STAFF HERE WHO IS TRAINED AND EQUIPPED TO HELP THEM PURSUE THOSE DREAMS AND WE ARE FORTUNATELY IN A PLACE WHERE WE HAVE ACCESS TO RESOURCES AND PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD WHO ARE READY AND PREPARED TO STEP IN AND HELP AND SUPPORT.

YOU KNOW, I HAVE BEEN IN THIS ROLE FOR NOT VERY LONG NOW AND I CAN TELL YOU THAT SHORTLY AFTER I STARTED, I WAS INUNDATED WITH PEOPLE FROM LITERALLY AROUND THE WORLD THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA, EMAILS.

I DON'T KNOW HOW SOME OF THEM GOT MY TELEPHONE NUMBERS, BUT THEY WERE ALL CALLING FROM DIFFERENT CORNERS OF THE EARTH TO SAY THEY WANTED TO SEE THIS PLACE SUCCEED AND THE WORK THAT WE DO HERE IS IMPORTANT AND WANT TO BE A PART OF IT.

AND SO I'M GOING BACK TO EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THEM, ASKING TORE THEIR-- ASKING FOR THEIR SUPPORT BECAUSE THE PERSON WHO MAY CHANGE THE WORLD MIGHT BE FROM LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY BUT THEY COULD BE FROM DUBAI, THEY COULD BE FROM SOMEWHERE IN THE U.K. WE WANT TO BE A PLACE OF INSPIRATION FOR PEOPLE NO MATTER WHERE THEY ARE.

WE ARE LEVERAGING ALL THE PLATFORMS THAT WE HAVE TO INSPIRE THEM, BOTH PHYSICALLY AND DIGITALLY.

>> AND SPEAKING OF WORK WITH YOUNG PEOPLE, THE HUMANITARIAN AWARDS ARE COMING UP, WHICH IS SUCH A BIG PART OF MUHAMMAD ALI'S LEGACY.

TELL US ABOUT THOSE.

>> WELL, IT IS OUR LARGEST FUNDRAISER OF THE YEAR FOR THE MUHAMMAD ALI CENTER AND AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO SHOWCASE OTHERS WHO ARE DOING GAME CHANGING WORK ALL AROUND THE WORLD.

WE RECOGNIZE AND ACKNOWLEDGE SIX YOUNG PEOPLE UNDER THE AGE OF 30 WHO ARE DOING IMPACTFUL WORK IN THEIR RESPECT IF I HAVE PARTS OF THE WORLD.

WE CELEBRATE THEM HERE AT THE MUHAMMAD ALI CENTER.

IN ADDITION TO THAT, WE HAVE A NUMBER OF OTHER ADULT HONOREES WHO WILL BE IN THIS SPACE WHO WILL ALSO BE RECOGNIZED FOR WHAT WE LIKE TO SAY IS CONTINUING ON THE LEGACY OF HUMANITARIAN SERVICE IN THE WAY THAT MUHAMMAD ALI DID RECOGNIZING THAT HE IS HIS BROTHER'S KEEPER AND WE WILL HAVE THE ADULT AWARD WINNERS HERE BECAUSE WE WANT TO RECOGNIZE THEM FOR THE WORK THAT THEY DO AS THEIR BROTHER AND THEIR SISTER'S KEEPER.

>> AND SO AS YOU HAVE THIS NEXT GENERATION COMING UP, THIS IS-- SOME OF THESE KIDS HAVE NOT BEEN ALIVE WHEN MUHAMMAD ALI WAS ALIVE.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

>> SO IT'S A WHOLE DIFFERENT CHAPTER.

HOW DO YOU INTRODUCE THESE YOUNG PEOPLE TO HIS LEGACY.

>> I THINK THE STORY ITSELF IS INSPIRING.

PART OF IT IS MAKING SURE THAT THE WORK THAT MUHAMMAD ALI DID INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF THE RING CONTINUES TO RESONATE WITH YOUNG PEOPLE BUT THEN THERE IS A BRIDGE TO BE BUILT.

WHAT I HAVE LEARNED IS THAT THIS YOUNGER GENERATION, THEIR GREATEST HERO HAS MUHAMMAD ALI AS THEIR GREATEST HERO AND SO THERE IS A CONNECTION TO BE MADE.

AND WE ARE WORKING TO MAKE SURE THE LEGACY CONTINUES ON HERE IN CENTER AND WE WANT TO CONNECT WITH OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN INSPIRED BY MUHAMMAD ALI TO CONTINUE TO HELP US TELL HIS STORY.

>> AND YOU ALL HAVE SO MUCH COMING UP, TOO, YOU ARE CELEBRATING THE 20th ANNIVERSARY COMING UP NEXT YEAR.

>> NEXT YEAR WILL BE STWEBT 20 YEARS OLD AT THE MUHAMMAD ALI CENTER.

THAT'S A BIG DEAL FOR US.

WE ARE STARTING TO BEGIN THE PLANNING PROCESS FOR THAT, TO CELEBRATE WHAT THAT MEANS AND THEN HOPEFULLY INTRODUCE TO THE WORLD WHAT THE NEXT 20 YEARS OF THE MUHAMMAD ALI CENTER WILL LOOK.

>> Michael: WHAT WILL THE NEXT 20 YEARS LOOK LIKE.

>> WELL, WE WILL REVEAL IT ALL AT THE 20th ANNIVERSARY SO STAY TUNED.

>> OKAY.

WE'LL TALK AGAIN THEN.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.

>> THANK YOU FOR COMING.

WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOU JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

>> AND IN CASE YOU MISSED IT, WE SAT DOWN WITH LONNIE ALI, THE WIDOW OF MUHAMMAD ALI AND CO-FOUNDER OF THE ALI CENTER.

SHE TOLD US ABOUT HOLT'S APPOINTMENT AND SO MUCH MORE.

YOU CAN SEE THAT EPISODE AND PAST EPISODES ONLINE AT ket.org/INSIDELOUISVILLE.

AND YOU CAN CHECK OUT OUR FACEBOOK PAGE.

YOU CAN FOLLOW US AT KET IN LOU.

THANKS FOR SPENDING TIME GETTING TO KNOW LOUISVILLE.

I HOPE WE WILL SEE YOU HERE NEXT TIME.

UNTIL THEN, MAKE IT A GREAT WEEK.

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