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Donald Lassere Stepping Down as Muhammad Ali Center President and CEOWill be Relocating to his Hometown Roots and Has Accepted the Position of President and CEO of the Chicago History Museum
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Donald Lassere, President and CEO of the Muhammad Ali Center is stepping down from his leadership role after almost nine years and is relocating to his hometown of Chicago, its Board and Leadership announced today.
Mr. Lassere has accepted a new position as President and CEO of The Chicago History Museum and is moving due to prioritize family demands.
The Muhammad Ali Center will launch a national CEO search and soon name a temporary leader who will oversee the day-to-day management of the Center and its organizational transition.
During Mr. Lassere’s tenure at the Ali Center, he expanded the breadth and scope of its educational programs, fostered creative partnerships and museum experiences, and reinforced the Center’s role in the community as a “gathering place” for peace, diversity, and respect—all of which helped raise awareness of Muhammad Ali’s legacy and the mission of the Ali Center.
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The Muhammad Ali Center is Part of Microsoft’s “Legacy Project": A Powerful Virtual Experience for K-12 Students and Communities During Black History Month
Learning and celebrating Black History has never been more important than right now. To this end, the Muhammad Ali Center is pleased to announce that it is one of just a handful of attractions around the country that was chosen for inclusion in Microsoft’s Legacy Project, a virtual museum experience, which is transporting exhibits into students’ homes or classrooms all across North America.
Microsoft’s partnership with the Ali Center and other museums, historical landmarks, cultural centers, athletes, and civic influencers worldwide includes a month-long series of FREE immersive and interactive experiences for K-12 schools and communities to learn about and celebrate Black History. This opportunity is available through February 28, 2021.
Microsoft’s goal for this first-of-its-kind Legacy Project is to re-envision Black History’s narrative and to shine a bright light on the outstanding accomplishments African Americans have made and are continuing to make right now. Those who access the Ali Center’s virtual presentation will learn about policies that impacted Black communities. Online participants, no matter where in the nation they reside, will be enlightened by Muhammad Ali’s fight against systemic racism through the Center’s “Truth Be Told” exhibit.
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"I Am America" Racial Justice
Virtual Programming Series
This virtual series was created to explore the most pressing racial justice challenges of the day. Named after Muhammad Ali’s famous quote, “I Am America. I am the part you won’t recognize,” this unique program offers critical analysis of the history and intersectionality of social justice issues, while offering action steps for those wanting to create positive social change.
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I AM AMERICA: This IS America
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2021 :: 10:30 - 11:30 AM EST On the day of the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, President Joe Biden (then President-Elect) stated in his address to the nation that “this was not America.” Our esteemed panel will challenge this declaration. Our panel will examine the deep historical role that race and racism have played, and continue to play, in our political landscape and our country as a whole. Our panelists will discuss the importance of owning up to our history, and the dangers that occur when we fail to hold ourselves accountable.
Featuring:
- Ricky L Jones: Chair, Pan African Studies Dept., University of Louisville
- Torie Weiston-Serdan: CEO, Youth Mentor Action Network
- Shawn Dove: Founder, Corporation for Black Male Achievement
Moderated by: Donald Lassere, President & CEO, Muhammad Ali Center
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This program is a part of the "I Am America" Racial Justice Series.
To learn more about "I Am America," visit our website HERE.
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AARP Kentucky is Sponsoring Ten Small Businesses to Participate in the Ali Center's Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Anti-Racism (DEIA) Training
AARP Kentucky has pledged to sponsor 10 small businesses to take part in the Ali Center’s DEIA training programs. These programs are created for businesses and organizations interested in educating their employees while fostering equitable and inclusive community-building. These programs are offered virtually. The $7,000 sponsorship will reach nearly 300 employees. If you know someone who can benefit from this program, please share the information with them. Thank you AARP Kentucky!
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January Highlights for Two Great LegendsThere are two heroes of ours who had birthdays during the month of January:
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (on January 15th); and Muhammad Ali (on January 17th).
Here’s how we marked those days:
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"The Greatest GiveBack"
The Muhammad Ali Center and Metro United Way partnered once again on “The Greatest Giveback” to mark what would have been Muhammad’s 79th birthday and to honor his legacy of service. This two-week initiative was designed to “TKO” the needs in our community through Time, Kindness, and Offering. Due to the Pandemic, this year’s event had to be held mostly virtually, but we still had a knockout initiative that helped provide:
- 2,904 Personal Care Kits that supported 25 agencies in 7 area counties;
- 10 Birthday Kits;
- 35 “Go Away Germs” Kits that supported 35 Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS) NTI hubs; and
- 100 Winter Accessory Kits
None of this would have been possible without our Presenting Sponsor, YUM Brands!
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Teaching Black History and Culture: An Online Workshop for EducatorsPresented Live from the Muhammad Ali Center on Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
Teaching Black History and Culture, an online workshop for educators hosted by the Thomas D. Clark Foundation, was presented live from the Muhammad Ali Center on Monday, January 18, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. This professional development day for Kentucky educators took place via Zoom all day long; and combined webinar, video, and livestreaming.
Almost 500 educators from across the state participated in this free workshop, which took a significant step in attempting to teach Black history in a truthful and honest way. The workshop was also presented live from the Southgate School in Northern Kentucky, a historically Black school in Newport that’s now a museum.
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Private Event SpaceAre you looking for the perfect venue for an upcoming private event? Maybe a wedding? Corporate reception? Sales Meeting? The Muhammad Ali Center has the perfect option to meet your special event needs! Located between historic Main Street and the Ohio River in downtown Louisville, Kentucky, the architecturally captivating Muhammad Ali Center offers beautiful river views, modern design, built-in audio/visual capabilities and urban appeal. The Center’s entire facility is ADA compliant. We offer both inside and outside options. Take a tour of our venue choices without ever leaving your home in our “360 Gallery!”
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Ali Center StoreWhile our on-site store is still temporarily closed, we have a great selection of products from which to choose on our online store! From masks to mugs, tees to books, games to gloves, and scarves to stainless steel water bottles, we’ve got you covered!
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The Muhammad Ali Center is a 501(c)(3) organization led by a volunteer Board of Directors made possible by the generosity of individual, corporate and foundation donors like you!
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