Abeer Sikder
Host, Local Global Leaders PodcastAbeer Sikder (he/they) is a proud Kentuckian, Bengali American, dog daddy, everlasting educator, and lifelong learner. He is deeply committed to leadership development, public policy, and community empowerment.
Abeer hosts the monthly Local Global Leaders podcast for WUKY and National Public Radio (NPR), where he spotlights changemakers across the Commonwealth and explores how Kentucky contributes to the global stage. He is the Chief Operating Officer (COO) for AllPeople Marketplace and Co-Director of New Leaders Council Kentucky. As an active civic voice, is a member of the Board of Directors for the Unitarian Universalist Church of Lexington, the Access Lexington Commission, and Kentuckians For the Commonwealth.
Previously, Abeer was the Kentucky State Manager for Save the Children Action Network. He was also a Senior Policy Analyst for The Council of State Governments, where he authored over 20 publications. His career began in the classroom as a Math Teacher in Memphis, Tennessee, through Teach For America.
Abeer holds a Juris Doctor from George Washington University Law School, completed graduate coursework at the Johns Hopkins School of Education, and earned a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from the University of Louisville.
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PodcastsAngie Cruse-Tinch (she/her), Chief Executive Officer of Special Olympics Kentucky, discusses disability inclusion, women’s empowerment, and athletic competition. -
PodcastsSilas House (he/him), acclaimed novelist, journalist, professor, and activist, discusses class divisions, Appalachian activism, and intersectional storytelling. -
PodcastsRobert Blythe, the Mayor of Richmond, Kentucky, discusses the power of faith, civility, and confessions. -
PodcastsMindy Haas (she/her), the Executive Director of the Jewish Federation of the Bluegrass, discusses community building, political empowerment, and Jewish identity. -
PodcastsSally Hamilton, Chief Administrative Officer of Lexington, KY, discusses city administration, diverse leadership, and effective collaboration. -
PodcastsEmma Curtis (she/her), District 4 Councilmember of the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council, discusses identity, filmmaking, and creativity. -
PodcastsMaddie Duff (she/her), Student Body President at the University of Kentucky, discusses neuroscience, Appalachia, and dog discipline. -
PodcastsAngela Evans (she/her), the Fayette County Attorney in Kentucky, discusses social work, public service, and the pursuit of justice. -
PodcastsAshley Smith (she/her), Executive Director and Co-Founder of Black Soil KY, discusses her success in agribusiness, event management, and cultural responsiveness. -
PodcastsNoel Osborn (she/her), Director of Development for CivicLex and Co-Director of New Leaders Council Kentucky, discusses her passions for fundraising, civics, and diversity.
