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Gina Meier-Hummel, Executive Director of O’Connell Children’s Shelter, spoke about the work of caring for children removed from the home. Gina presides over a residential ranch facility and two residential homes and 50 staff members. These children and their families are at risk for a variety of reasons and the Shelter provides wrap around services to provide stability. Services include employment assistance, mental health counseling and referral, food assistance, tutoring, foster care, and emergency shelter. There is also a garden program and a new kitchen. Gina has 31 years of experience working with at risk youth and previously served as Secretary of the Kansas Department for Children and families.

Shannon Kimball is a fourteen year member of the Lawrence District School Board and a Government Relations Specialist for the Kansas Association of School Boards. Shannon has made a career in education law and does legislative advocacy and training with local school boards. She described how public education is being threatened on the state and federal levels. These threats are a result of culture wars, the voucher movement, micromanaging, funding reduction, and deliberate destabilization. Shannon cited statistics to counter the argument that the Department of Education is a bloated bureaucracy. Citizens need to be informed of these threats and understand the value of public education to our communities.

Kirsten Shook is the Program Manager for Work For Success in Topeka and Lawrence. Work For Success is a free program of Mirror, a non profit private corporation founded in 1972. The organization provides personal and professional development for the under employed, the unemployed and individuals released from incarceration. Services include teaching life skills, employment skills, peer support, financial literacy, parenting skills, fitness and health, referrals and advocacy. Help is also provided for transportation, securing housing and ID documents. Technology training and substance misuse programs are also available. Kirsten also works with District 5710 Action Against Human Trafficking Club.

Alex Lindsey is the founder of West Bottoms Whiskey Company in Kansas City, established in 2021. Alex spent a decade working at distillation, whiskey aging and blending, from which he created a very successful business. He also has a great appreciation for history and described the growth of distilling whiskey in the United States. The West Bottoms is the oldest part of the city where the stock yards and manufacturing enterprises made Kansas City famous. The area was busling, boasting numerous saloons, eateries and bordellos. Repeated floods diminished business activity but new investments in the West Bottoms is now attracting much attention. The West Bottoms Whiskey Company has won numerous business awards and is especially known for a pre depression whiskey blend of bourbon, rye and sherry. Tours of the business and a tasting room are quite popular.

Ballard Center Director Kyle Roggenkamp grew up in poverty which has provided him an understanding of the importance of stability for families and individuals. The non profit’s mission is to assist people in need with early childhood education, a food pantry, a clothing closet and emergency assistance. The Ballard Center partners with a number of other service agencies for referral and assistance. Child education classes are small, teachers have trauma training and each student has a plan for success. Like many non profits the center faces financial challenges, like the unexpected loss of funding for AmeriCorps volunteers. Kyle reported over 9,000 people were served by the center last year. On Saturday October 11, 11:00 am-2:00 pm, the opening of a new pantry will be celebrated with food and music.