Meet a Woman Who Knows Louisville Like No One Else!
Few people know Louisville quite like Rebecca Fleischaker. A Louisville native and longtime community advocate, she's spent nearly three decades helping move the city forward, most recently as Executive Director of Louisville Downtown Partnership. Image: Rebecca Fleischaker
Few people have their finger on the pulse of Louisville quite like Rebecca Fleischaker. Before taking the reins as Executive Director of Louisville Downtown Partnership, the Atherton High alum spent 22 years helping to shape local policy under three different mayors. Today, sheβs using her wealth of experience to bring together the River Cityβs movers, shakers, and citizens to spark positive change. Whether promoting public art or supporting local businesses, Rebecca is proving that civic leadership is about more than politics β itβs about connection, community, and helping her hometown shine.
After earning your undergraduate degree at Miami University, you landed in Washington, DC for a few years before returning to your hometown. What lured you back?
I always knew I wanted to come back home. I come from a big blended family, including a twin brother, and I wanted to be close to them. After being away, my appreciation for Louisville grew, and I wanted to be part of helping make it a great city.
After more than 20 years in Metro Government, youβve dedicated your career to public service. When did you know that was your calling?
I worked as a bank teller one summer during college and met a lot of people from varying socioeconomic backgrounds who sometimes shared their life stories with me. I cashed whole paychecks; I helped a blind person sign their check; I helped make transfers of tens of thousands of dollars. Knowing how different we all are made it important to me to find something that brings us together. I really loved the feeling of helping someone and sending them off with a positive and caring interaction.
What excites you most about your position at Louisville Downtown Partnership?
I love being able to tout our city and to help people find solutions. Coming from the cityβs Economic Development Department, this organization and job were a perfect segue into continuing to do these things. Seeing people respond to changes in downtown and invest their time and money participating in events or building businesses provides so much inspiration.
Whatβs a recent moment that reminded you what makes Louisville special?
The Muhammad Ali Center brought back the Day of Compassion as part of its annual Ali Festival, held the first week of June, around the anniversary of his death. It celebrates his legacy by bringing hundreds of volunteers out for a day of service. Itβs heartening to see so many people wanting to help do good things for our community.
What is one thing Louisville residents can do right now to help the city thrive?
Be a good neighbor. Step outside your own bubble in person and lend a hand, smile, and say hi; be aware that we all have our own stories and are here for a short time on this earth together.
What are some things in Louisville that you wish more people had on their radar?
Seeing people react to and engage with the increasing amount of public art around Downtown makes me happy, whether itβs a Downtown Tunes piano, a CitySpot, a new mural, or one of our many temporary public art installations. People have more positive experiences when they stumble upon whimsical surprises as they walk between the office, attractions, or hotels. Itβs inspiring to see all the creativity in this city come to life in unforeseen places.
I also wish more locals knew about the plethora of attractions we have in our own city that we donβt visit enough. Itβs the reason we host the Hometown Tourist Celebration every year. Anyone with a valid Kentucky ID can get half off admission to dozens of Downtown attractions. Some restaurants and hotels offer discounts as well. Itβs a perfect time to try something new!Β
If you didnβt work in public and community service, what would you be doing?
My original plan was to be a prosecuting attorney. I wanted to fight bad people in the courtroom. So in a different way, I am helping our community by advocating for and celebrating the good.Β
Whatβs your favorite Louisville neighborhood to spend an afternoon in?
I love walking or driving through Cavehill Cemetery. Thereβs lots of Louisville and Kentucky history, but itβs also very peaceful β an oasis in the middle of the city.
After work, where might we find you?
At a concert or baseball game.
Whatβs your best piece of advice?
To approach people and situations assuming the best intentions. I have found more solutions and common ground that way.
Lightning Round
Whatβs your go-to coffee order, and where is it from? Americano with one pump of lavender and lots of almond milk. From anywhere locally owned.
Whatβs a Louisville restaurant dish you canβt get enough of? Havana Rumbaβs steak chimichurri.
First place you take out-of-towners when they come to visit? Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory
A podcast you never miss? SmartLess
Last great book you read? Erik Larsonβs The Splendid and the Vile
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Beth Clayton
For over 20 years, Beth Clayton has either been working in a newsroom or pitching one. A natural storyteller and word nerd from the moment she could pick up a pencil, she earned her journalism degree from Butler University and spent the next decade as a writer, reporter, and editor. She now lives in Louisville, KY with her husband, three kids, and a very bad dog, and loves immersing herself in old lady hobbies such as houseplants and macrame.