Western Kentucky University will host an event during Homecoming Week 2022 to honor the families of descendants of Jonesville, an African American community that once existed where buildings such as E.A. Diddle Arena and Houchens Industries-L.T. Smith Stadium stand today. The event is the first of many being planned by the Jonesville Reconciliation Workgroup over the next few years.

Honoring Jonesville: Our People, Our Community, Our Legacy will take place on Thursday, October 27, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the Kentucky Museum. It will feature the What Happened to Jonesville? Exhibit and reception and include remarks at 5 p.m. This event is coordinated by the Jonesville Reconciliation Workgroup.

President Timothy C. Caboni established the Jonesville Reconciliation Workgroup during the Spring 2022 semester. Members of the workgroup include WKU alumni, WKU employees, descendants of Jonesville, and individuals from the Bowling Green/Warren County community. The primary purpose of the workgroup is to appropriately address the issues that remain from the dismantling of the Jonesville neighborhood. 

In addition to families of Jonesville descendants being invited, the exhibit and reception are open to WKU employees and the public. Guests are invited to RSVP online at www.wku.edu/jonesville, where more information can also be found about Jonesville, the Jonesville Reconciliation Workgroup, and the fall 2022 exhibit and reception.

For information about the Jonesville exhibit, contact Brent Bjorkman at brent.bjorkman@wku.edu. For information on the Jonesville Reconciliation Workgroup, contact Saundra Ardrey at Saundra.ardrey@wku.edu. Details can also be found at https://www.wku.edu/jonesville/.