Lamont Collins: How We All Get Free Series

Join us for Iliff’s Pulpit+ Exchange Series, an inspiring series of in-person and virtual gatherings where clergy, lay leaders, activists, scholars, ministers, journalists, and community organizers come together to wrestle with the most pressing questions of our time. Together, we’ll explore powerful stories of hope, healing, and action—each rooted in a shared vision of justice and liberation.

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Lamont Collins, Founder and CEO of Roots 101 Museum, will be bringing 400-year-old shackles and other artifact memorabilia from the museum. Plan for an experiential evening.

Lamont Collins used to love arguing with his teammates about who the best professional athletes were. He often took the side of Black players like Bill Russell in these debates, and his white friends would sometimes come back days later saying things like, “I talked to my dad, and he said Bill Russell’s pretty good.” That’s when Lamont Collins realized, at just nine or ten years old, how important it was to tell his story.

Today, telling Black stories is exactly what he continues to do as the founder and CEO of Roots 101 African American Museum in downtown Louisville. He named it Roots 101 because, in higher education, the first class you take is 101. The museum serves as an educational journey from Africa to America.

Mr. Collins never really planned to start a museum. For decades, he was simply a collector with an impressive set of artifacts. The first item in that collection came courtesy of his mother, who worked at the local Armed Forces examination bureau. When a young Cassius Clay, later known as Muhammad Ali, showed up at the office, she obtained an autograph for her son. According to Mr. Collins, that autograph sparked his passion for collecting, and he’s been hooked ever since.

5:00 – 5:45 PM (MST): Light meal and connection

5:45 PM: Lecture begins, followed by Q&A and deep discussion

Location: In-person at Iliff or online via livestream. Unable to attend in person? Register to receive the livestream link.

Because change starts in community. This is a space to be challenged and inspired, while meeting others who share your passion for faith-rooted justice, equity, and collective liberation.

Come for one evening or all. Stay for the conversation. Leave with new energy, new insights, and a renewed sense of purpose.

Whether you’re a faith leader, community builder, or someone seeking meaningful connection, this is more than a lecture series—it’s an invitation to be part of a growing network of changemakers committed to building a more just and equitable world.

Know what’s Happening Next — before everyone else does.

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Host or Publisher Iliff School of Theology