Derby Volume Publishers Letter

Amelia Frazier Theobald

Dear Louisville Voices & Readers, 

This letter is hard to write this month, considering I am waiting to find out whether my sweet cat, Renfield, who is in surgery, will make it through the night. You see, he’s not a normal cat. For the past 11 years, we have thrown an event in honor of his birthday and to celebrate mental health awareness. The last 10 years at Actors Theatre, as well as this last year with the Louisville Ballet, I have invited 50 to 60 close friends to celebrate life and the challenges that come with it. 

As I receive calls and text messages from those who understand the deep love for a fur baby, I am reminded that this city, when united for a good cause, can make anything happen, and the passion the people have here. There is a reason we have the greatest two minutes in sports in history, celebrated right here in the biggest city in Kentucky. 

That same spirit of compassion, creativity, and connection is what fills the pages of this April volume. 

This month, as our jockeys begin to grip the reins, one theme rises above all others: community as a force for healing, expression, and momentum. Whether through art, music, service, or storytelling, the people of Louisville continue to show up for one another in ways that are both powerful and deeply personal. This is a city of connection and helping hands, which we will need more than ever this Derby season as we navigate the New Derby Schedule. 

In our Monarch Artist Feature, Kathryn Brooks reminds us how art can feel like memory itself, something familiar yet constantly evolving. Her journey reflects what so many creatives in this city experience: a pull back to home, where authenticity is not only welcomed but celebrated. Louisville has always been a place where individuality thrives, where “keeping it weird” is not just a slogan but a lived reality. 

We also see this sense of purpose in the work being done across our nonprofit and philanthropic communities and the people who make a difference. Stories like the “Beargrass Thunder Asks Residents to Consider a More Native Approach to Their Lawns,” and Bill Wine’s Legacy highlight a humble but equally important truth: Louisville steps forward with solutions rooted in action and empathy. These are the moments that define a city, not just by how it celebrates, but by how it cares. Bill Wine was a huge part in capturing decades of our city’s history and will be greatly missed this Derby Season and future Derby Seasons. 

Across this volume, there is a true balance of strength and vulnerability. From artists and leaders to families and advocates, each story carries a spark of inspiration and perseverance. There is an understanding that challenges will come, whether personal, like the uncertainty I am facing as I write this, or collective, like the ongoing needs within our community. But there is also a shared belief that we do not face them alone. 

That is what makes Louisville special. 

It is the musicians who return home because something here feels right. 

It is the artists, storytellers, and leaders who continue to create, even when the path is uncertain. 

And it is in moments like this that love for something as small as a cat named Renfield can open your eyes to something as big as a city. 

As we step into Derby season and a time of celebration, I encourage you to look closely at the people and stories around you. There is beauty in the grand events, yes, but there is just as much in simple acts of kindness, the creative risks, and the support we offer one another. 

Thank you for continuing to be part of this community, for sharing your stories, and for making Louisville what it is. 

With gratitude, hope, and to the Many Voices of Louisville, 

Amelia Frazier Theobald

Publisher & CEO, The VOICE-TRIBUNE