LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Young girls are sharing their stories of growth, healing and self-worth through an exhibit at the Kentucky Center for African American Heritage.
Black Girls, Butterflies and the Magic of Dreams showcases artwork, writing and personal reflections created by participants in 300FOR300, a program dedicated to empowering young girls through creative expression.
For Gabrielle Woolridge, seeing her work displayed publicly was a powerful moment.
“Seeing myself in a museum for the first time was incredible,” Woolridge said. “My parents were proud, I was proud of myself and everything just felt magical.”
The exhibit emphasizes reflection and self-love, including letters written by participants to their younger selves. Kennedy Smith said the exercise helped her process tough experiences.
“Little Kennedy has been through a lot of traumatic experiences, but writing that letter made it all go away, like a snap of a finger,” Smith said. “For once, you finally feel safe.”
The artwork is the result of 300FOR300, a program founded in 2020 by writer Chastity Dotson.
Dotson said she started the initiative after witnessing the national protests following the killing of Breonna Taylor, just after landing her first professional writing job.
She felt empowered by having the ability to create with a platform and audience to change the narrative.
“I saw what was happening with the protests around Breonna Taylor, and I wanted to do something,” Dotson said. “I wanted to transfer the feeling I had, that joy through expression, to the girls here.”
What Dotson initially envisioned as a short-term project soon became a permanent commitment, leading her to move to Louisville to focus on the program full-time.
“I was just someone who had never been here, but I set aside my life for the well-being of this community and these girls, and it was worth it,” Dotson said. “I didn’t come back because it was easy. I came back because there were dreams on the line.”
Participants said the program provides a space where they feel heard and valued. Eden Lacey said the opportunity to express herself through art has been meaningful.
“Being Black and young, you feel like you’re not really heard,” Lacey said. “The fact that she’s doing this gives a lot of people a voice.”
Six years after its founding, the program continues to grow. This marks the first time artwork from 300FOR300 has been publicly exhibited.
Aukram Burton, executive director of the Kentucky Center for African American Heritage, said the exhibit highlights the importance of supporting young people.
“This exhibit is an example of what we need to be doing in our community to support and uplift our young people,” Burton said.
Participants hope their stories encourage others to speak up and seek support when needed. Nyah Stewart said sharing her message is just as important as creating the art.
“If you need to talk to somebody, talk to somebody,” Stewart said. “If you don’t say anything, people won’t know what you’re thinking. Growing up is hard, but you get through it.”
