Joan Brannon

Joan Brannon is one of KFTC’s Co-Executive Directors. Joan first joined KFTC’s staff team in 2021 as Organizing Co-Director. With over three decades of experience working to advance racial, economic and social justice, her work is integral to advancing KFTC’s Organizational Change Initiative. Joan is passionate about community building, addressing and healing racial trauma and using art to create social change. Joan is a native Kentuckian who believes deep listening, story sharing and radical acceptance are key strategies to bridging community divides. Joan’s activist/organizing background includes healing drum facilitation and documentary filmmaking. She founded DrummingWorks and has held leadership positions in non-profit and arts organizations, including the Lyric Theatre and Cultural Arts Center, West Louisville Women’s Collaborative, ArtsPower and the Kentucky Foundation for Women.