Felicia Garr
The Community Education Coalition has named a new leader of Black and biracial youth initiatives in the community.
Felicia Garr, will co-create strategies to serve Black and biracial youth and their families and establish partnerships with local stakeholders to promote “diversity, equity and inclusion in service to student success.”
She will also be one of the featured guest speakers at the African American Pastors Alliance’s Rev. Martin Luther King Breakfast, which will be held at The Commons in downtown Columbus at 7:30 a.m. on Monday. The event is free and open to the public.
“I’m looking forward to getting to know the Black and biracial students and their families better in order to be of greater service,” Garr said in a statement regarding the new position. “It is essential that the relationship between the Black and biracial population and the community of Bartholomew County be intentional if it is going to truly become equitable. The good news is I have the heart, and I have the passion for doing the work. And I like the question: ‘What is it we can do together that none can do alone?’”
Garr is from Louisville and previously worked for Goodwill Industries of Kentucky, where she was the internship and job development specialist for the young adult opportunity campus and KentuckianaWorks.
She has a bachelor’s degree in mass communication with a focus in broadcasting from Eastern Kentucky University and is a first-generation college graduate.
Additionally, Garr has worked in television, education and the construction industry. She also led initiatives to increase Black student enrollment by 15% at Morehead State University.
CEC officials said she was hired “for her passion for helping others and her ability to collaborate with education, community and employer partners in service to student outcomes.”
Cummins, Inc, contributed to the creation of Garr’s role, providing a grant in 2022 to fund the initiative and establish the position as part of its Cummins Advocating for Racial Equity (CARE) efforts.
“This new position is an excellent opportunity to help launch a collaborative, community-facing initiative that is responsive to the voices of Black and biracial youth and their families in Bartholomew County,” said Kathy Oren, CEO of the Community Education Coalition. “This important work will continue to make a positive impact for years to come. The role Felicia plays is pivotal to helping build better futures for all of Bartholomew County.”
