Category: News

Andi Simon is a sixth grade STEM teacher at Southwest Middle School where she teaches project based learning. A STEM class is untraditional in that disciplines are integrated, utilizing an engineering design process to work on realistic and relevant problems. Students work in teams, building creativity and thinking skills. The teacher facilitates a design, build, test and improve process. Projects include robotics and designing mobile apps, which are very popular with the students. The future of STEM education is bright and is expected to have a positive impact on the work place.

Katlin Stanley is executive Director of the Kansas Land Trust (KLT). KLT works with land owners, communities and other conservation organizations to protect the national heritage of Kansas through volunteer conservation agreements. Less than 1.5 per cent of Kansas land is accessible to the public, one of the lowest amounts in the country. KLT is a private non-profit that works with land owners to preserve working lands, wild life habitat, and recreational spaces. The organization develops conservation easements that permanently protect those lands. KLT seeks to preserve biodiversity and wetlands, encourage connectivity to the natural world, and encourage sustainable food production. Presently 81 properties of some 41,000 acres are protected by conservation easements.

Heather Coates, Director of the Kaw Valley United Way Navigator Program, spoke about helping people in need access community resources. Navigators provide free individual help to community members who are seeking housing, health care, food assistance, transportation, utilities, child care and senior support. There are many people in our community who are unaware of available assistance or who struggle with the application process. Clients are helped to gather and complete documents and applications, and access local programs. Navigators are available in Shawnee, Jackson, and Douglas Counties .

Brooks Robertson, Statewide Prevention Coordinator with Headquarters Kansas, reported on the work of the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. The 988 phone number is staffed 24/7 by people trained with the immediate goal of helping the caller to be safe. Staff learn rapport building, being non-judgemental, reflective listening, deescalation, and setting boundaries and limits. People experiencing crisis, including depression or thoughts of self harm are urged to call the 988 number. Their call will be routed to one of five call centers in Kansas. Staff members may make mental health referrals, help develop a safety plan, or just talk. Texting, chatting and video connections are available. It is also possible to call on the behalf of another. The service does follow up contacts to make sure the caller is safe. Headquarters Kansas is largely funded by the State.

Bob Marsh is the General Manager of Great Blue Heron Outdoors (GBHO), a locally owned out door outfitter specializing in fly fishing, paddling, out door apparel, and camping gear. The store caters to a community centered around water, conservation and the out doors. GBHO has a coffee shop, serves alcoholic brews, maintains outdoor seating, offers out door classes, clubs and books river trips. There are very few fly fishing stores like GBHO as online sales and big bass stores dominate. Fly fishing is a calm, non competitive and eco friendly pursuit. A trip to the mountains is not required as there are many local settings for fly fishing. Bob maintains that the Great Blue Heron is a fitting metaphor for the store.