LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Louisville leaders Yvette Gentry and Darrell Griffith will receive the 2026 Martin Luther King Jr. Freedom Award, Mayor Craig Greenberg announced Tuesday.
The awards will be presented at the annual Keepers of the Dream event on Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026, at The Kentucky Center.
“I am proud to present the 2026 Martin Luther King Jr. Freedom Award to two outstanding community leaders who have exemplified the ideals of Dr. King,” Greenberg said in a news release.
Gentry, a Louisville native and U.S. Army National Guard veteran, made history in 2020 as the first woman to serve as interim chief of the Louisville Metro Police Department. She has also led nonprofit initiatives and is recognized citywide for her commitment to equity and justice.
Griffith, a retired professional basketball player, starred at the University of Louisville and played 11 years with the Utah Jazz. He led UofL to its first NCAA championship in 1980 and was inducted into the College Basketball Hall of Fame in 2014.
The annual Keepers of the Dream event is free and open to the public. This year’s theme, “Beyond the Dream,” features a short play with music, dance and spoken word.
For details, visit Kentucky Performing Arts online.
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