Gaines' annual Lafayette Seminar offers an opportunity for Lexington community members, elected officials, and faculty and students to discuss such issues as the local economy, town and gown relationships, and the creation of successful public spaces. The Seminars are supported by the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Click the links below to view available seminars.
Past Seminars:
- 2025: City Stories: The People Behind the Policies
- Desegregation and Protecting African American History in Lexington, with Councilmember Shayla Lynch and Advocate Yvonne Giles
- Access Kentucky: "If I Can't Do It; It Ain't Worth Doing," with Access Lexington's Kristy Stambaugh and Advocate Jason Jones
- Lexington's Housing Crisis: How We Address Homelessness, with Councilmember Liz Sheehan and Advocate Ginny Ramsey
- Closing Remarks, with Hal Baillie, Office of City Planning
- 2024: Monsters, Myths, and the Metaphysical
- Monsters, Myths, and the Metaphysical Showcase
- Screening of cult classic Buffy the Vampire Slayer, followed by a moderated Q&A with Dr. Jeanmarie Rouhier-Willoughby
- Lecture, with Dr. Jeanmarie Rouhier-Willoughby: The Evolution of the Sexy Vampire
- Lecture, with Eleanor Haskins-Wagner: The Local Folklore of Mothman
- Themed refreshments provided by Chef Tanya Whitehouse, UK Food Connection
- Historic Lexington Ghost Walk, with Marley Knockers
- 2023: The Central Kentucky Slavery Project
- Keynote with Dr. Amrita Myers: Julia Chinn's Old Kentucky Home: Slavery in Central Kentucky
- Panel, with Shea Brown and Kathy Newfont: The Digital Access Project
- Panel, with Reinette Jones, Kopana Terry, and Jennifer Bartlett: Freedom on the Move
- Panel, with Crystal Gregory: The Material Studies Lab
- 2022: Dr. Pat Heist & Dr. Jarrad Gollihue: Mountain Moonshine
- 2021: Imani Perry: On Anthems
- 2020: Sena Jeter Naslund & David King: Literary Migrations: Kentucky Authors Writing Beyond Place
To see a list of past Lafayette Seminars, click here.