Jim Embry

Jim Embry  is director and founder of Sustainable Communities Network in Lexington, KY.  Jim Embry's most familiar phrase is "and what about our future?" His most familiar action is to quietly "get busy" with the work to be. In 1960 his mother became president of the Congress of Racial Equality(CORE) chapter in Covington KY and Jim as a 10 year old became one of the youngest members nationally.  It was within CORE picketing, sitting-in, wading-in, and protesting  that Jim began a lifelong mission and passion for social change and community activism. While in high school Jim became the KY state youth chairman of the NAACP, helped organize for the March on Frankfort in 1964 led by Dr. M L King and served on the local commission that drafted the first open housing ordinances in Covington, KY.  While attending the University of Kentucky Jim helped found and served as president of the Black Student Union that ushered in many significant campus wide racial justice initiatives.