Kristian Little Stricklen’s tenure as president of the Madam Walker Legacy Center has ended after five and a half years leading the historic venue, following a leadership shift by the organization’s board of directors.
Stricklen, an Indianapolis native who assumed leadership of the cultural institution in April 2021, confirmed her departure in an official statement released on Facebook on Oct. 22.
In a follow-up statement submitted to the Indianapolis Recorder, Stricklen clarified that leaving her post was not her personal preference.
“While leaving the Walker was not my choice, new leadership and the board have decided to go in a different direction,” Stricklen told the Recorder. ” I respect their decision and wish them the best. I will focus on my family and look forward to serving this city to the best of my ability.”
The leadership change arrives as the historic venue prepares for its centennial celebration in 2027. The organization previously announced updates to its board leadership in September 2026 as part of its strategic alignment ahead of the 100-year milestone.
Reflecting on her time at the helm, Stricklen highlighted the deep personal significance of stewarding the institution named in honor of Madam C.J. Walker, America’s first self-made female millionaire.
“Growing up in Indianapolis, I admired Madam C.J. Walker’s legacy,” Stricklen wrote in her initial statement. “As an African American woman leading the institution that bears her name, I understood this was more than a job. Madam Walker built an empire in a city where women who looked like her were told what they could not do. She responded by creating jobs, wealth and opportunities for thousands of African American women. Carrying that legacy forward was a privilege, and I am grateful to everyone who shared in that work.”
When Stricklen took over as leader in 2021, the Walker Center had recently reopened after extensive renovations. Per the organization’s website and previous press releases, during her five-and-a-half-year presidency, the organization achieved several major financial, structural, and operational milestones:
- Expanded the programming budget from $40,000 to $1.2 million.
- Raised more than $1 million annually for three consecutive years.
- Sold two organizational real estate properties to eliminate outstanding debt and establish a permanent endowment.
- Secured nearly $1 million dedicated to expanding the building’s rooftop venue.
- Increased staff capacity to support expanding community programming and operations.
- Averaged approximately 70,000 annual attendees across Walker events, including nearly 3,500 local youth each year.
- Elevated the venue’s national footprint through major cultural partnerships, including hosting the filming of Mike Epps’ Netflix special, an NBA All-Star concert, a USA Swimming Trials podcast, and collaborative projects with The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis and Disney Imagineering.
- Welcomed Indianapolis native Mike Epps and legendary music producer Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds as honorary board members.
Stricklen expressed gratitude to the center’s staff, board members, funders and the Indiana community for supporting the institution throughout her presidency.
“Madam Walker’s legacy belongs to us all, but for African American women, it is profoundly personal, a living testament to what is possible,” Stricklen said. “That legacy transcends any one person or position, and I will continue to honor it through my work and commitment to this city.”
Representatives at the Madam Walker Legacy Center did not respond to requests for comment on the executive transition at the time of this reporting.
Contact staff writer Noral Parham at 317-762-7846. Follow him on X @3Noral.
Noral Parham is the multimedia and senior sports reporter for the Indianapolis Recorder, one of the oldest Black publications in the country. Before joining the Recorder, Parham served as the community advocate at the MLK Center in Indianapolis and as a senior copywriter for an e-commerce and marketing firm in Denver. He is also a business owner.
