Nardie White is a native of Louisville, Kentucky. He is a graduate of Shawnee High School, Jefferson Community College – Associate Degree Commercial/ Photography, West Kentucky Tech and Vocational School, Leadership Louisville’s Inaugural Leadership Network 2001, Leadership Louisville’s Bingham Fellows class of 2003.
His involvement with children began at the Salvation Army Boys and Girls in the Portland Community. He comes from a strong family with “Roots Deep in the Portland Community” that believes in togetherness, spiritual development and community commitment. He is the third son of Ms. Jimmie Lee White and was the husband of the Lovely Zambia Nkrumah who passed June 2010.
Nardie has worked as a community artist with the Jefferson County Public Schools, Shawnee Youth Council, NIA, Office of Youth Development, Wolfe County Arts Association, Kentucky Arts Council Artist in Residence, Office of Multicultural Ministries, W.T.Neal Civic Center, Blountstown Florida and McNeese State University in collaboration with Reynaud Middle School in Lake Charles, L.A.
He is a recipient of many outstanding awards, including: Metro Louisville M L King, United States Artists, Kentucky Governors Award in the Arts, Youth Service Workers Award, City of Louisville Office of Youth Development, Executive Directors Award, NEA Blackmon Award, Human Rights Commission, Black Achiever, YMCA Chestnut Street.
Nardie is the Director and Founder of the River City Drum Corp, a group of young men and women between the ages of two and twenty. Currently the RCDC has programs at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, Farnsley Middle School, Wheatley Elementary, Hazelwood Elementary, Roosevelt-Perry, Light Ministries, and Reynaud Middle School in Lake Charles, LA. His organization accomplishes its mission of youth development and community service by offering workshops to schools, businesses, community organizations and civic institutions. Additionally, RCDC performs throughout the country.
He has initiated collaborations with the Sankofa Dance Company of Baltimore, Maryland, McIntosh County Shouters of McIntosh County, Georgia, Wolfe County Arts Association, Hazel Green, Kentucky, Reynaud Middle School, Lake Charles, La., Barking Dog Dance Company, Louisville Pipe Band, Louisville Ballet, Sibi Diri Dance Company, Lexington, Kentucky, W.T. Neal Civic Center, Blountstown, Florida, Lula Washington Dance Theater, Los Angles, California, Mainz Committee, Mainz, Germany, and U of L Women’s Center, and YouthBuild in Louisville and Versailles, France.
Nardie encourages youth to be contributing and analytical thinkers for our community who use their talents to become successful using the tools of the: Seven Principals of the Nguzo Saba, 5 D’s Desire, Dedication, Discipline, Diligence, Determination, and the Grace of God…
Ed is currently enjoying retirement exploring artistic pursuits in photography, ceramics and traveling.