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Tom Harper is a local Realtor with a love for homes in the older neighborhoods. He is a member of the Lawrence Modern Group, which was formed to raise appreciation of mid century and modern architecture in Lawrence and to promote preservation efforts. The group maintains a web site and sponsors home tours, lectures, and commemorations. The KU School of Architecture had a Modernist influence on graduates which resulted in a number of unique home and building designs around town. The group is credited with saving several historical structures from demolition. Tom has a social welfare background and has been a Realtor for some twenty-five years.

Girl Scouts has a proud history of providing personal development opportunities for girls. The movement was started in 1912 by Juliette Gordon Low in Savanna, Georgia with eighteen girls. She wanted girls to build friendships and explore possibilities. Girl Scouts has grown to encompass some two million members and offers a variety of personal development and skill building activities. Lori Hanson, a representative and troop leader for North East Kansas and North West Missouri District, spoke about Girl Scout activities and her own experience with the organization. Girl Scouts is a learning organization that promotes environmental stewardship, life skills, civic engagement, leadership, friendship building and fun. Girls go to summer camp, do service projects and enjoy travel opportunities. They learn business skills from their famous cookie sales. The organization supports Hidden Valley Camp, a unique resource for Girl Scout activities.

Representatives of United Way of Kaw Valley (UWKV) spoke of the many projects and activities sponsored by the storied organization. Judy Riling, Director of Donor Engagement, and Kathy Smith, Vice President of Douglas County Initiatives, described the organization’s impact and focus on a whole family approach to assistance. There is a particular concern for households just above the poverty line who do not qualify for government assistance and yet are struggling. UKWV invests in early education, financial stability, substance abuse, racial equity and basic needs. Working with public and private partners they seek solutions to community problems. Some UWKV programs include a volunteer matching service, a volunteer tax assistance program, a Christmas Bureau, the junior leader reading program, and a community resource navigator. Volunteers and donations are critical the UWKV’s success.

Landon McClintock‘s parents were officers in the Salvation Army and he and his wife Megan hold leadership positions in the Douglas County Salvation Army. The couple first worked in a drug rehab center in Chicago. The Salvation Army is an international christian church with a mission to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and meet human needs without discrimination. The organization operates a busy food pantry and a mobile outreach vehicle. They provide case management for struggling families, and rent and utility assistance. Their work is guided by a local advisory board and volunteers are relied upon to help deliver services. They have a new location that will make it possible to deliver more services, however, some major structural improvements are necessary. Landon indicated that needs are increasing in the community.

Kaitlyn Peine is the Community Health and Wellness Agent for K-State Research and Extension (KSRE) in Douglas County. She works with a number of community programs, including SNAP-ED. This is a United States Department of Agriculture Program funded grant directed to State government and KSRE. SNAP-ED is intended to prevent nutrition and activity related chronic disease by assisting low resource Kansans. The program promotes good nutrition, food economy, physical activity and improving food handling and preparation. Kaitlyn was recently involved in a focus group that addressed food insecurity in Douglas County, that is, an experience of uncertainty and anxiety over the availability of food. Some 20 per cent of county residents experience food insecurity. Information gathered from the focus group participants will be used to address the problem in a Community Health Improvement Plan.