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BUILDING A FUTURE AND LEAVING A LEGACY   

It’s difficult to remember what the Kansas City skyline looked like 20 years ago, before the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts began to take shape at 16th and Broadway. Today anyone who drives through our city must remember one thing: This internationally acclaimed, 316,000-square-feet structure stands as a testament not just to the importance of arts in American lives but also to the power of women to get things done.

In particular, to the fortitude and persistence of Julia Irene Dennie-Kauffman, who brought all of her life-lessons to bear in a process that took 20 years of her life to bring about.

The Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts opened in September 2011 to great fanfare including receptions, concerts, a ball, fireworks, and an open house in which the whole community was invited to tour the facility.

Nevertheless the Center, which opened in 2011, is just the most visible part of the activities of the Muriel McBrien Kauffman Family Foundation, which each year gives grants to countless nonprofit organizations large and small: and not just in Kansas City, but also in New York and Toronto. Locally any time you attend a performance of music, dance, or theater, you are almost certain to find this Foundation listed among the major donors in your playbill.

Julia is recognized worldwide as a major North American arts philanthropist, but she prefers to give credit to others: beginning with her mother, Muriel McBrien Kauffman, who moved here from Toronto when she married Ewing Marion Kauffman, the legendary founder of Marion Laboratories, and brought a young daughter in tow. “I follow my mother’s mission, which was to give to hundreds of things, even down to $1,000, across a four-county area,” Julia said recently. “Because all of it helps to feed the arts and helps to feed the Center.”

These grants have become a sort of badge of honor for local organizations. “And it’s with the little groups that it can make the largest impact,” Julia said, adding that notable funding also goes to bringing some 50,000 students into the Kauffman Center each year. “My mother was adamant, and so am I, about getting children to come and hear music.”

Architect Moshe Safdie, Julia Irene Dennie-Kauffman, and Yasuhisa Toyota celebrated a successful opening of a decades-long project.

It was Muriel Kauffman who brought the first female sales reps to Marion Labs; Muriel who was co-owner of the Kansas City Royals; and Muriel who reportedly became the first woman to step onto the floor of the New York Stock Exchange.

And later it was Muriel, the philanthropist, who set Ken Dworak to work finding a venue for a performing arts center. “Everyone keeps saying Muriel Kauffman ‘dreamt’, ” Julia said. “My mother never dreamt in her life: She did things.”

Julia also gives a great deal of credit and honor to Ewing Marion Kauffman, who helped form her into the business-savvy donor that she is today. “He was one of the smartest men I ever met,” she said. “He was brilliant and fair … and he taught me about business. … He would pick out my courses in college: I took speed reading, I took business law. He was constantly teaching, and so I was constantly learning.”

Ewing was actually Julia’s second dad, and she also gives credit to her birth father, Lorne Dennie, for nudging her toward quality education. He also encouraged Julia’s musical ambitions. “He’s the one who insisted on my piano studies,” Julia said of Lorne, who died when she was 14, “and he’s the one who sent me to private school.” She pleaded with him not to send her to Branksome Hall, a prestigious Toronto all-girls school. But behold, its rigors paid off.

The vision of Julia and her mother, Muriel, to invite thousands of children each year to the Kauffman Center is seen realized here at a Kansas City Symphony Young People’s Concert. / Photo by Eric Williams

“He said to me: One day, young lady, you’ll thank me. And he was right: I’ve met Branksome Hall girls all over the world who are highly successful.” In tribute to the important role that Lorne played in her early life, Julia recently added his last name to her now-hyphenated surname.

Julia continued to foster the love of music she learned as a girl, earning a degree in piano at the University of Toronto. And that love, which she credits partly to Canada’s rich cultural life, has remained a driving force behind her belief in the importance of music in our lives.

It has also shaped every decision in the planning and construction of the Kauffman Center. “Because the arts can really help educate you,” she said. “It’s not just entertainment: When you are reading music, for example, it’s like working a crossword puzzle. It develops your brain.”

Staying “on mission” is critical for Julia, too, which is why the foundation named for Muriel Kauffman recently added a word to its name, becoming the Muriel McBrien Kauffman Family Foundation. “I’ve watched what happens to other foundations with family names that have been taken away from the family … or that have not included the family, and then changed their mission statements.”

Helping to break ground on the Kauffman Center in October 2006 were, from left: Terry Dunn, Tom McDonnell, Don Hall, Sr., Ken Dworak, Center Director Jane Chu, Lieutenant Governor Peter Kinder, Julia Irene Dennie-Kauffman, architect Moshe Safdie, facilities designer Richard Pilbrow, acoustician Yasuhisa Toyota, Mayor Kay Barnes, Jan Kreamer, Shirley Helzberg, Barnett Helzberg, and Lou Smith.

To make sure things stay on the rails, Julia has made certain that the foundation’s leadership includes her three daughters (Julia Irene Power Weld, Lauren Muriel-Marion LaPointe, and Alexandra Ewing Moore) and her granddaughter, Brittany Muriel-Marion LaPointe.

“I want it to stay on mission … and I want to keep it moving for Kansas City, for the arts, and for the Performing Arts Center.”

Looking to the future, there is still work to be done throughout the city, “including with some of the long-term projects,” she added. “The area at 18th and Vine is one I do not want to see fail. It’s really thriving, and I’d like to see it keep going forward.”

Cover photo of the Kauffman Center at dusk by Tim Hursley. 

—By Paul Horsley

LIFE LESSONS THROUGH SONG: Local choirs reach new heights

You don’t have to watch an Allegro Choirs of Kansas City rehearsal for very long before you start to understand why these youngsters sound so good. The founding director, Christy Elsner, knows exactly what she wants, and she will persist until she gets it. “On a scale of one to 10, that was about a two,” she told the 75 or so young trebles on a recent Monday night in the choir’s ample studios in downtown Bonner Springs. The combined Allegro Con Moto choir (middle schoolers) and Allegro Con Brio high schoolers tried again, and again. It got better each time, and the conductor was encouraged.

Christy Eisner founded Allegro Choirs of Kansas City in 2000.

At another point in the rehearsal, Christy beamed. “That was 80 percent: Can you give me a hundred?” On the wall beside the bleachers was a display of colorfully framed “life lessons” (or “Christy-isms” as they are called around the studio). “Halfway does not count.” “Attitude is everything.” “We are only as strong as our weakest link.” “We believe you can do amazing things.”

Founded in 2000 as a single choir of 38 male and female treble voices, Allegro has become such a powerhouse that it performs for national choral conventions and on overseas tours (Italy, France, England, Germany, Austria, Sweden, to name a few). It has performed in New York and Washington, D.C., including an appearance at The White House for President and Mrs. Obama.

And its top two choirs are the consistent favorites of the Kansas City Symphony when it needs a chorus of young trebles for works such as Mahler’s Third Symphony or Benjamin Britten’s War Requiem.

The organization now boasts more that 200 youngsters in five choirs, including the tenor-bass Allegro Con Spirito, the Vivo Allegro (fourth and fifth graders), and the recently formed Primo Allegro. They rehearse Mondays and Tuesdays in a building owned by Christy and her husband: It includes a check-in lobby, an office/score library, two rehearsal studios, and a visitors’ waiting lounge.

This bright spot in downtown Bonner Springs began its life as a Ford dealership in the 1940s and had many other lives before being renovated as the Allegro headquarters.

“We take these kids who have an extra love for singing and ‘hone in’ on that passion,” Christy said. “We just have extremely high expectations, technically and artistically. … We instill in these kids a sense that there is a bar of excellence, and that we’re not just going to meet it, we’re going to exceed it.”

Of course, it’s not only about singing, she said: “All of these things that we learn from singing apply to life.”

A graduate of The University of Kansas who holds a degree in music education and is recognized as a leading figure in youth choirs nationally, Christy received her initial inspiration as an assistant to the person she calls a primary mentor, Janeal Crabb Krehbiel, who founded Lawrence Children’s Choir in 1990.

“Janeal is a wonderful singer herself, and so she trained kids the way you would a classical singer,” Christy said. “Posture, technique, resonance, tone, lift of the soft palate.” Janeal also taught an indefatigable drive for excellence, which seems to have rubbed off.

“To be a natural motivator means being 100 percent persistent,” Christy said. “Never letting them slack, because they can always do it better. … We focus on good basic singing techniques: things that you can use to sing for the rest of your life.”

One studio wall is decorated with ‘Christy-isms’

Most any former Allegro member would confirm everything in the previous paragraph. “Christy is full of life-lessons, you learn all kinds of things if you hang around her long enough,” said Kelsey Abele, who sang with Allegro as a girl and is currently assistant professor of Communication Studies at West Texas A&M University. “She is a ball of absolute life, all the time.” For six years of her youth, Kelsey fervently looked forward to Mondays. “That was the best night of the week, hands down.”

She remembers the importance that Allegro placed on problem-solving. “One of the things that Christy does such a good job of is helping kids, youth, folks in general, consider the way that they approach problems. … That you don’t have to scowl or be angry, but instead approach problems with joy and creativity.”

Ryan Main 

Any difficult task that has a reward can bring great satisfaction, especially for young people. Singing three- and four-part harmony in tune, difficult as it might be, remains one of the joys of vocal music, and when a chorister hears it “click” for the first time, it can be magical.

“I love when they have a breakthrough moment, either individually or as a choir,” said Ryan Main, a prominent area choral director who formed the Youth Chorus of Kansas City in 2017. “You can see something change in them … their eyes light up the first time their choir really ‘locks’ on a three-part chord. That can be a ground-breaking moment for a young singer who has never really experienced it.”

Ryan formed his choir, which is incorporated in Missouri, to complement, not to compete with, Christy’s choir. (It is more centrally located, plans its first Carnegie Hall performance this June, and unlike Allegro it has an SATB youth choir.) The Youth Chorus joins other choirs in the area such as the Young MAIstersingers, the Lawrence Children’s Choir, and the Boys Choir of Kansas City/Girls Choir of Kansas City.

It’s a small wonder that youth choirs continue to thrive: Choral singing is just plain fun, for people of all ages and all skill levels. The beauty of Allegro is that, as much as its directors strive for sonic unity, the goal is still to let voices roam and explore.

Mia Ramsey of the Kansas City Boys Choir and Kansas City Girls Choir, and Gabe Lewis-O’Connor of the Lawrence Children’s Choir

“We like to let the voices be free, let the young people discover what it means to use their full voice,” said Kellyn Button, an Allegro assistant director who has also taught in Olathe schools.

Toward that end, the Molto and Brio choirs do not assign its treble singers a “voice part”: Each new composition involves a shuffle on the bleachers as the singers assume new voice parts for the next number.

A girl’s voice change can be nearly as drastic as that of a boy. At this age, Kristy said, “their voices are still changing, and they’re not altos or sopranos, right? They’re really all sopranos.” (This notion is backed by researched evidence.) “So why are we going to put them in a box? I think it’s important that they remain ‘Play-Doh.’ ”

Allegro has shaped world views, and “it has shaped how I approach teaching,” said Kellyn, who has a master’s in choral conducting from The UMKC Conservatory.

Allegro Choirs have found, as have many others, that the acoustics of Helzberg Hall inspires artists to perform better than they thought they could.

“There’s a human connection in choral music, you’re sharing this music … in way that you don’t quite get playing the violin.” During the occasional Allegro “reunions,” singers from all walks come from far and wide to join the choir. “Most of them are not in music,” Kellyn said, “but they still look for a way to be involved in music, one way or another.”

—By Paul Horsley

For more information about Allegro, which performs this April 7th at Graceway Church, go to allegrokc.org.

To reach Paul Horsley, performing arts editor, send an email to paul@kcindependent.com or find him on Facebook (paul.horsley.501) or Twitter/Instagram (@phorsleycritic).

Rachel’s Reads – March 2024

This Women’s History Month, we reached out to women in the community to find our their favorite reads. I’m excited to share their responses below.


Kathy Donovan
I am a proud board member of United We, and an advocate for women’s empowerment. I am passionate about removing barriers around women’s entrepreneurship, licensing, childcare, or equal pay. I absolutely loved the character Elizabeth Zott in Lessons In Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus. Despite her workplace discrimination, and trying to survive as a single mother in the 1950s, she remained steady in her belief that women could, and should, pursue their dreams. As Elizabeth said, “Courage is the root of change, and change is what we are chemically designed to do.”

Dr. Kirsten Brown Persley
I am the Founder and CEO of Persley Advisors, and the writer of the recently published, Delivering Dignity: A Guide to Cultivating Culturally Competent Organizations. I am involved in Women United because I care deeply about Kansas City and want to work alongside like-minded women to push towards greater change and impact through philanthropy. My favorite book I have read recently is The Road Less Traveled by M. Scott Peck. 

Torree Pederson
I am the President of Aligned, and a passionate advocate for educational reform and opportunity for all. My favorite book is The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah. Set in World War II, it tells the story of two strong women who fight against oppression to not only survive, but to help others along the way. It exemplifies a willingness to remain steadfast in your beliefs, even when it is not popular or even dangerous.

Maggie Glenski
I am the Founder and CEO of Wrinkle’s Content Studio, a boutique agency providing social media, email, and blog content for female-founded lifestyle brands. My favorite book is Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert. This book has changed my perspective on life and opened my eyes to a world of wonder, positive energy, and creative freedom. It’s a permission slip to embrace your curiosity and live a creative life, without letting fear, rejection, or creative suffering hold you back.

Christine Thomas
I am the Senior Director of Public Relations, Communications and Strategic Partnerships for The University of Kansas Cancer Center. My favorite book is Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. I love Jane’s wit and prose and the fact that each of her books feature strong, smart, and independent women who were way ahead of their time. I have read this book many times and still love the story as much as the first time I read it.

Jackie Feeney
I am the Vice President of Philanthropy at United Way of Greater Kansas City and am privileged to work alongside the impressive members of Women United who care so deeply about our community and make it a better place for all. My favorite book I have read recently is The Anthropocene Reviewed by John Green. The premise of the book is reviewing the current age on earth, but it is actually a beautiful and promising take on humanity. 

Mary Beth Gentry
I am the Founder and Executive Director of Young Women on the Move. My favorite book is Renovation of the Heart by Dallas Willard. Dallas lays out a beautiful, divine process for transforming ourselves from the inside out. He gets to the root cause of our character faults and gives a pathway to becoming the person we were meant to be. 

Dr. Julie Bradford
I am the Medical Director and Partner of GoodVets Prairie Village and Overland Park Leawood. My all-time favorite book is Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. I’ve read it numerous times and find Jane to be incredibly witty. The book has some really great lines and has inspired numerous spin-offs and modern takes. 

Rebeca Swank
I am the Director of Community Engagement at Job One KC. My favorite book is Nice Girls Don’t Get the Corner Office by Dr. Lois P. Frankel. When I was 25, a female I looked up to at work recommended the original book to me. I still remember all of the ways I fell into the “nice girl” trap. I reread the updated version of the book when I turned 40, and I was so happy to have overcome some of the old tendencies that could have negatively impacted successes I’ve enjoyed through the years. 

Featured in the March 23, 2024 issue of The Independent.

Redefining Self-care And Mental Health For Women

In today’s fast-paced world, mental health stressors weigh heavily on the hearts and minds of women and children alike. Whether it’s the soaring cost of living, the turmoil of politics, or the heartbreaking news of violence hitting close to home, the toll on our collective well-being is undeniable. In this whirlwind, self-care often takes a backseat for many adults, and the stigma surrounding emotional expression can leave us at war in a silent battle with our minds.

For therapists like Kelsey Foss and Donna Washington, who co-founded The Counseling Collaborative for women, the reluctance of potential clients to seek therapy is a common hurdle. “We talk to people all the time about what’s making it hard (to seek therapy),” Kelsey said. “A lot of times it is their beliefs and the stigma around it. This might be the first time in a long time that they are focusing on themselves and that can feel really foreign and different and uncomfortable.”

Kelsey Foss and Donna Washington

According to local mental health professional Carron Montgomery, nurturing mental health isn’t just a personal pursuit — it’s an essential piece of well-being for ourselves and our children. Carron is a mental health clinician, trauma specialist, author, speaker, and community advocate. She says raising a generation of resilient and balanced individuals begins at home. While parents navigate their own emotional landscapes, children pick up on those feelings and can be caught in what Carron calls a “riptide,” which she refers to, broadly, as the emotional current of the world. Feelings, Carron says, are contagious. “We need to support women having (mental health) support so they can have the skills to not have a riptide that’s out of control and is felt by their kids.”

Carron’s illustrated children’s book, Invisible Riptide, serves as a discussion guide to bridge the gap in knowledge and empower parents to have conversations about stressors. It’s meant to teach parents, as much as their kids, to create a common language to start those conversations and give parents the confidence to do so. The illustrated, all-ages book offers coping mechanisms and tools for communication to support children’s emotional development. “What I’m seeing is there’s a gap in knowledge and confidence to have conversations (about stressors) that now have become part of our daily life,” Carron said. “You can’t know what you haven’t been taught, and our generation wasn’t really taught about the purpose of feelings or about how to cope with mental health in a healthy way because we were more of a silent generation.”

(Front row) Madison Graham, Donna Washington, and Kelsey Foss (back row) Caitlin Gable, Grace Scott, Tara Westerhouse, and Carlyn Timp

Throughout their careers, Kelsey and Donna have come to recognize that different generations, walks of life, and countries grapple with distinct mental health themes. Donna stressed the importance for women to address emotional needs. She says each generation has a unique way of addressing stress and self-care – whether it’s to talk about it, or suppress the feelings and power through. Donna also emphasized the need for a shift away from the “pushing through” mentality and the idea that one can be everything for everyone all the time. “My generation was taught, ‘Push through, you’re fine,’” Donna said. “To ‘push through’ is not okay anymore.” Instead, she advocates for vulnerability, asking for help, and acknowledging that it’s okay not to do it all alone. 

Kelsey and Donna have also seen a trend in many women seeking the most support on topics surrounding parenting, motherhood, and the pervasive tendency to compare oneself to others in terms of the “right” way to navigate these roles. Kelsey said, “We talk a lot about perfectionism and pleasing people. And then, of course, just navigating mood, energy, and motivation, and caring for yourself in ways that feel balanced. It can feel selfish, and so we’re navigating, ‘What does self-care actually mean?’” Donna said, “What people are seeking is to be more connected to themselves and more connected to other people. Lack of communication leads to disconnection, which leads to feelings of depression and anxiety.”

From Carron’s perspective, moms in particular need mental health support and education. “Parents now – especially women with young children – do not have the support they need to stay regulated,” she said. “I think there’s anxiety about having anxiety and then your kids feeling the anxiety, but not having the time and the tools.” She also takes into account the increase in violence, noting how difficult it is for parents, and especially moms, to find the time to process their own emotions and engage in the self-care that is needed. Unresolved emotions can affect a child’s emotional processing. “A lot of times I run into parents struggling because they don’t feel equipped, so they don’t have the conversation,” Carron said. “We don’t have as much time for that work and those organic conversations (don’t happen) just from the fast-paced society we’re living in – from people working, getting home later, and kids being involved in so many activities.”

In light of these perspectives, the journey towards mental wellness requires a collective effort, and women can lead the charge. By having open conversations, providing support, and bravely sharing our vulnerability with trusted people, we can create a healthier and more resilient community for ourselves and future generations. “Women haven’t always historically had a voice,” Kelsey said. “And so now that women are finding their voice, they’re empowering other people.” As a result of therapy, Kelsey hopes that more women can be less critical and more kind to themselves, to doubt themselves less and to be empowered. “When women feel well, they can better communicate and have those skills to pour out into the world and to their children and work,” she said. “And I think it will be amazing to see what happens the more that mental health and women learning those skills evolve over time.”

Featured in the March 23, 2024 issue of The Independent.
By Monica V. Reynolds

 

Photography Project Defies Ageism and Youth Beauty Ideals for Women

Beauty standards have changed over the decades, continuously shaping the expectations that society has for women. In the 1910s, the hourglass figure with a cinched waist was de rigueur. In the 1960s, being ultra thin with no curves was all the rage. From the ‘60s to the present, beauty norms have continued to shift. However, the most enduring standard of all has been the focus on youth. In a society where being a “woman of a certain age” has a less than positive connotation, women in their 40s and beyond grapple with what it means to be aging in our youth obsessed culture. 

Keyonna Renea, photographer and storyteller at Copper Keys Studios, recently opened a citywide dialogue on this subject. With her photography project, 40 Over 40, Keyonna invited women of all backgrounds and experiences to lean into their stories, share their wisdom, and honor themselves in the process. The prevalence of young women in pop culture, and the scarcity of women over the age of 40 in the limelight, have inadvertently communicated that a woman’s value lies singularly in her youthful beauty. 

Keyonna Renea

Keyonna noted how television shows and movies portray women as the butt of jokes because of their age, and this has been internalized by women and men. “It subconsciously makes a woman feel a certain way and encourages treatment from the people around us,” she said. “They’ll be treated less than in the workplace, they’re looked over for promotion, or they’re looked at as not having as much value or as much intelligence as men.”

As part of her project, Keyonna interviewed each woman to capture her wisdom and perspective. “My clients were accepting themselves after 40, and grounded in who they were, or they were challenged by some of the things they internalized throughout their lives about being over a certain age,” she said.

Keyonna sat on an InnovateHER KC panel discussion in September of 2023. The conversation addressed systemic perspectives of aging among women, shed light on the inequalities of how aging women are treated, and addressed the psychological impact. In Keyonna’s view, the exchanges the 40 Over 40 project has fostered have had a ripple effect in the community. Her clients have reported having wine night discussions on aging with their girlfriends, which has shifted their perspectives. “The conversation is happening in households, it’s happening publicly in panel discussions, and sometimes very quietly from one girlfriend to another,” she said. “It’s affecting how women are showing up differently in their lives, and therefore everybody else in their life is going to feel that impact as well.”

Lauren Conaway, founder and CEO of InnovateHER KC, not only participated in Keyonna’s photography series but is also a community leader who champions women’s empowerment. Lauren acknowledged the pervasive beauty standards imposed on women. At InnovateHer KC events, she regularly sees the effects of these internalized guidelines. “I take a lot of pictures of people,” she said. “When I bust out my camera, it is almost always women who are hesitant to step in front of my camera.”

Lauren Conaway

That hesitance, Lauren noted, stems from concerns about their level of presentability. “It’s always, ‘Is my hair okay? Let me fix it,’ ” she said. “Because I’ve been so conditioned by the idle expectations of beauty and what that means, I think a lot of women are paralyzed in that arena.”

While some women struggle to embrace themselves as they age, Kimberly Weaver has accepted what others might perceive as flaws. The 47-year-old cancer survivor has recently become increasingly disabled by fibromyalgia and relies on a walking cane. As a result, she now sees beauty in a person’s joy and authenticity. “In a space where people are looking for perfection, I have decided that I am going to be who I am,” she said. “I’m going to laugh out loud and you’re going to see these crooked teeth. I’m going to celebrate my body just the way it is.”

Kimberly Weaver

In her 40 Over 40 photos, Kimberly is pictured with her canes and she has one for every outfit. “One of the things that I’ve been trying to do as a disabled body is to make disability something that is normalized,” she said. “I was intentional about taking pictures with my cane because it’s part of who I am.” 

As a catalog of her photography project, Keyonna pulled together a photo book of the 40 Over 40 participants and their stories. Within these stories, she noticed a few recurring themes. Many of the women want to be more accepting of themselves and to encourage others to do the same. They want to slow down sometimes and also take more chances. 

From Lauren’s perspective, “… women should be able to celebrate themselves, and feel empowered to control their narrative.” While she was initially uncomfortable to be in front of the camera lens for something other than a headshot, she embraced it as an opportunity to model her beliefs and engage the InnovateHER KC community. “I wish we lived in a world where beauty didn’t matter and beauty had nothing to do with confidence,” she said. “I firmly believe that women are beautiful, complicated, dynamic, brilliant creatures with a lot of complexity.”

In Kimberly’s view, life doesn’t end after 40. “There’s life to live after 40 – even as a disabled person and even in an unconventional body – because that’s who I am. There’s still life to be lived, so live it.” Kimberly is currently learning to play the banjo, which she says is an enjoyable challenge. She relishes simple pleasures like a solo movie date or taking herself out for ice cream. Kimberly also enjoys her community and is looking forward to a local music night that her son has spearheaded. 

As the page has been turned on her two-year-long photography series, Keyonna believes finding peace in aging stems from taking time to develop a relationship with ourselves. “The days feel long sometimes, but the years go by so fast,” she said. “One thing I have learned from photographing people for as long as I have is that your relationship to yourself should be a priority over everything else, and that’s not selfish. That’s the most important thing that you can do as a living, breathing person.” 

Featured in the March 23, 2024 issue of The Independent.
By Monica V. Reynolds

Rose Brooks Center – 37th annual Cabaret

Rose Brooks Center held its 37th annual Cabaret on February 25th at Loews Kansas City Hotel. Michelle Emanuel Johnson and Jeff Johnson were the event chairs. Guests enjoyed a special performance by Kansas City native Willis White performing with the Willis White Project. Proceeds support Rose Brooks Center’s mission of breaking the cycle of domestic violence so that individuals and families can live free of abuse. 

Board Member Colleen and Michael Hayes

 

Glenda Grant, board member; Monique Grant, and Joan Dougherty

 

Lisa Fleming, Rose Brooks Center

 

Lynda and Les Gray

 

Event Chairs Michelle Emanuel Johnson and Jeff Johnson

 

Reagan Dixon and LaWona Potts were bidding!

 

Reagan Dixon, Michelle Emanuel Johnson, event chair; LaWona Potts, Monica Henderson, Tanya Draper Douthit, Rose Brooks Center; and Marlee Hayslett

 

Rich and Carol Smith

 

Myra and Stacey Baker

 

Sally and Bill Luck

Featured in the March 23, 2024 issue of The Independent.

NO LIMITS – Brooke Petro

Brooke Petro at her competition in 2017

Brooke Petro is not going to let anything get in her way – literally or figuratively. Visually impaired since the age of 18 months with a rare disease, this smart dynamo has conquered the world around her with intelligence and grace. Brooke Petro is changing the face of a visually impaired teenager. 

Before learning more about Brooke, it is important that we learn a little about Braille. 

*The original Braille typewriter has six keys to produce everything. (Now there is software that does the work.) 

  • Braille requires a special embosser printer in order to print out the raised dot configurations that are needed. 
  • The printer is so noisy, that the Petro family had to build a special soundproof closet in order to house it. 
  • Many school Braille textbooks are made in prisons. 
  • The Library of Congress certifies Braillists. The National Federation of the Blind offers courses so that individuals can be certified in the areas of literature, music, and mathematics transcribing and proofing. Certified persons can then produce materials or work in the field of Braille instruction.
  • Ten percent of blind people know Braille. With those low numbers, there are not enough teachers to reach all of the students who need assistance. 

How does all of this apply to Brooke? She, with the help of her parents, Lyn and Soren Petro and the staff at the Children’s Center for the Visually Impaired (CCVI), has been learning Braille since she was three years old. With a combination of CCVI’s instruction and resources, and her parent’s steadfast determination, the now junior at Notre Dame de Sion is an AP student with a bright college future. Brooke loves music, plays the piano, sings, and wants to be a psychologist. 

In her spare time, she is a seven-time National Champion at the Braille Institute’s annual Braille Challenge Competition at the University of Southern California. After nailing the regional competition, Brooke has moved on to the finals, and won the competition in her age group seven times! In late April, she will find out if she is destined for California again in 2024. She will likely compete in the areas of reading, charts and graphs, proofing, and speed/accuracy. 

We can’t quite comprehend AP Statistics for a grown, sighted woman! But, Brooke is ready, with a very expensive Braille textbook, to take on that challenge through Sion. Besides that, though – we can only marvel at Brooke and her unassuming high school life with her friends and family. While she is special in many ways, she is also an average teenage girl with high hopes for her future. According to her mom, Lyn, that is just what they anticipated. “We told her to be independent, go to college, practice leadership, and live her life.” 

Featured in the March 23, 2024 issue of The Independent.

Metropolitan Organization to Counter Sexual Assault – 30th annual Community Luncheon

Metropolitan Organization to Counter Sexual Assault (MOCSA) will host its 30th annual Community Luncheon on May 1st with Kathy Koehler and Heather Bortnick serving as honorary co-chairs. Leah and Arlan Vomhof and Sujal Shah and Holly Garber are the community support committee co-chairs, and Monica Gray and Chris Gray are serving as the event co-chairs. Guests at the Muehlebach Tower of the Kansas City Marriott Downtown event will be treated to Keynote Speaker Sarah Klein, the first survivor to speak out against former Olympic women’s gymnastics doctor, Larry Nassar.

Featured in the March 23, 2024 issue of The Independent.
Photo credit: CC Photography

Congratulations, Allie & Andrew!

Allie Lynn Dillingham, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Allen Edwards Dillingham of Kansas City, is engaged to be married to Andrew Thomas Hipp on June 22nd at Union Station Kansas City. Andrew is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Gerald Thomas Hipp, Jr., also of Kansas City. The bride-to-be is the granddaughter of Mrs. Ronald Raymond Wright of Kansas City and the late Mr. Wright, and Mr. John Allen Dillingham of Kansas City and the late Mrs. Dillingham. Her groom-elect is the grandson of the late Mr. and Mrs. Larry Dean McPherson and Colonel and Mrs. Gerald Thomas Hipp (retired) of Savannah, Georgia. 

Allie is a graduate of North Kansas City High School and the University of Nebraska, Lincoln, where she earned a bachelor of science degree in nursing. She is a member of Delta Gamma sorority. Allie was a Harvest Ball page and a BOTAR page in 2009, she was presented at The Jewel Ball in 2019, and she is a BOTAR, class of 2022. Andrew graduated from St. Pius X High School and the United States Military Academy West Point, where he graduated with a double major of defense and strategic studies and environmental engineering. He is also a graduate of Airborne School in 2019, and a United States Army Ranger School 2023 graduate in Fort Benning, Georgia. Allie is currently employed with Children’s Mercy Hospitals and Clinics as a nurse, and Andrew is employed with the United States Army, 1st Lieutenant, Charlie Company, 3rd Battalion, 509th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 11th Airborne Division. 

Featured in the March 23, 2024 issue of The Independent.
Photo credit: Kristen Pulido Photography

Heart of America Shakespeare Festival – ROMANtic Revels

ROMANtic Revels featured a Roman theme this year, complete with a sword fight scene by HASF actors in appropriate garb, bringing a taste of Julius Caesar to the evening! The February 10th gala was held at the InterContinental Kansas City at the Plaza. Partygoers enjoyed cocktails, a gourmet dinner, a silent auction, and dancing. Diana and Jim Cusser were the honorary chairmen, and Merrily Jackson and the late Jim Jackson were honored with the Founder’s Award. Proceeds from the event benefit Heart of America Shakespeare Festival’s education programs and the 32nd summer season at Southmoreland Park. 

Jean-Anne and Mark Sudermann

 

Lorece Chanelle and Taylor Smith

 

David Wiley, John Rufenacht, Merrily Jackson, honoree; Dr. Regina Nouhan, and Richard Lara

 

Jonathan and Gail Thomas

 

Courtney and Conny Crappell

 

Henry Lane and Elizabeth Suh Lane

 

Susann Ogg and Jeff Anthony

 

Demetrius Philp and Khalia Davis

 

Ricardo Paton, the Honorable Stephanie Taormina, Dr. Marc Taormina, and Dr. David John

 

Debbie Sosland-Edelman and Alan Edelman

 

Linda and John Perkins

Featured in the March 23, 2024 issue of The Independent.
Photo credit: Brian Collins

Child Protection Center – Holidays in Crestwood Luncheon

Amy Embry and Carrie McLiney served as the co-chairmen for the Holidays in Crestwood Luncheon, a benefit for the Child Protection Center. The December 1st event was held at Aixois. The cozy and festive day featured a fabulous lunch, shopping, the annual gingerbread house contest, and much fun. Ten percent of sales benefited the mission of CPC, providing a multidisciplinary response to the prevention, identification, and treatment of child abuse and violence.

Amy Embry, co-chairman; with Nancy Kauffman DuVall, Child Protection Center

 

Bernard Shondell’s winning gingerbread masterpiece

 

Karen and Rick Maxson of UKE 66

 

The UMKC Conservatory Graduate Choral

Featured in the March 23, 2024 issue of The Independent.
Photo credit: David Riffel

United Way of Greater Kansas City – Women United

The Women United group of United Way has 650 members locally, and more than 55,000 globally, and it is open to anyone who donates $1,000 or more annually to United Way. The group was established in 2009 and continues to uplift women and make a positive impact on our area’s youngest residents. Their leadership and volunteerism is shown through events such as Purses for Promise, Refresh a Classroom, helping teachers at Richardson Early Learning Center and Woodland Early Learning Center; InCommon, an annual women’s small business marketplace; and a Season of Giving, where members volunteer at a local agency with a focus on early childhood development. 

Volunteers “refreshed a classroom” in Kansas City, Missouri public schools.

 

InCommon features a marketplace for women’s small businesses and a panel discussion with female entrepreneurs and non-profit leaders.

Featured in the March 23, 2024 issue of The Independent.

Unbound Welcomes New President and CEO

Unbound is an international non profit that delivers more than $100 million in personalized support annually for children, elders, and their families living in poverty in Latin America, Asia, and Africa. It has consistently and responsibly challenged poverty since 1981. Unbound is also the only major United States-based non profit that offers sponsorships for elders. 

Helping Unbound with their impressive mission is newly appointed President and CEO, Ashley Hufft. She is the first woman to serve in this role in the organization’s 43-year history, and she is being tasked with leading the strategic vision for Unbound’s growth. With her, Ashley brings a juris doctorate from Harvard, and she has worked on large-scale development projects throughout sub-Saharan Africa. She has also served as Unbound’s interim president and CEO since August of 2023. 

While Unbound has reached the milestone of its one millionth sponsored friend, Ashley believes the non profit has room to grow its impact. She hopes to, “Build on Unbound’s momentum and chart the trajectory to reach the next one million families at an accelerated pace, and bring a community of encouragement, support, friendship, and hope to families across the world.”


Featured in the March 23, 2024 issue of The Independent.

The Independent – 125 Years of Tradition


“The modernity of yesterday is the tradition of today, and the modernity of today will be tradition tomorrow.” Jose Andres

Tradition is a beautiful thread that weaves itself throughout the tapestry of human history. It binds our past, guides our present, and helps to shape our future. At one end of the spectrum, it is the preservation of our identity. Traditions are a bridge that connect the past to the present and offer a window into the lives of those who came before us. At the other end of the spectrum, tradition isn’t stagnation, but rather a foundation for innovation. It helps us to embrace the possibilities for the future and thus transcend time. 

Ever-changing traditions have found a welcome home here at The Independent. We have chronicled the history of Kansas City with many memorable occasions, such as the opening of Union Station and The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. We have celebrated the momentous achievements of everyday people through births, college journeys, engagements, weddings, anniversaries, and business accomplishments, in addition to galas and events. The magazine shows not only the changing of the world through prices, advertisements, and funny quips, but it also shows the impact that individuals had on Our Town, the region, and the world. 

This year, The Independent turns 125 and we celebrate our quasiquicentennial. We are excited to share this occasion with our subscribers, friends, advertisers, and loyal readers. Although it is a significant milestone, it is more than just a numeric accomplishment. It is a testament to the resilience, innovation, and enduring love of Kansas City that have defined The Independent’s path for more than a century. It is a celebration of the traditions that have anchored us here and the progress that has propelled us forward. To commemorate 125 years of our history, we are excited to share snapshots through time with you in every issue. We have been thrilled to comb through our archives to find fun things to delight you all. We will acknowledge achievements and milestones celebrated by other organizations, along with the contributions of individuals, to illustrate the evolution and innovation of Our Town over the last 125 years. As we honor the traditions that have shaped our foundation for success, we want to revel in the lessons learned and the legacy that we continue to build. A legacy that we hope resounds for many years to come. 

The Impact of Extraordinary Women

Renny Arensberg

Having just celebrated her 20th anniversary at KVC Health Systems, Renny Arensberg has no intention of slowing down! Renny comes equipped with a bachelor’s degree from The University of Kansas and a master’s degree in human resources from Central Michigan University, and a lengthy career in human resources, consulting, leadership, and coaching. All of those skills are valuable everyday in her role as executive vice president of employee engagement at KVC, whose mission is to provide in-home family support, mental health treatment, foster care, adoption, and children’s psychiatric hospitals. 

Employee engagement can be a bit of a nebulous term, but with Renny’s partnership with the Gallup Company, a defined program of strategic recognition can be fulfilling, authentic, equitable, embedded in company culture, and personalized to the individual. Through this structure, real money can be saved and real retention can be found for companies and organizations. For KVC, Renny has branded a campaign “Share Your Voice and Be Heard”, conducted five agency-wide, high-yield surveys, and trained hundreds of employees in a “strength-based” system for the organization. Renny’s combination of energy, insight, agility, and authenticity motivates her teams and provides for meaningful results for tens of thousands of children and families each year. Her commitment to a multi-year initiative has resulted in a 19 percent increase in engaged employees. Renny creates change, one manager at a time. 

Prior to her employee engagement role, Renny grew KVC’s fundraising program to more than $550 million annually, completed a six million dollar capital campaign, and launched the Ball Conference Center – a revenue-producing entity to support KVC’s charitable mission. Ultimately, Renny shows, “Through leadership, energy, and creativity, you can have a great job and a great life at the same time.” 

In her limited free time, she serves on the board of Support Kansas City and is the board chairman for the Girl Scouts of Northeast Kansas and Northwest Missouri. She is also involved with the Junior League of Kansas City, Missouri; Rotary Club, and Community Health Charities. 


Rochelle Parker

Let this be a cautionary tale to boards of non-profit organizations everywhere: Rochelle Parker fell in love with the board at Child Abuse Prevention Association (CAPA) as they were trying to appeal to her to accept the position of president and CEO! She had not been looking for a new career, but she finally acquiesced to an interview and the board members won over her heart. That was in 2014, and Rochelle is happily moving CAPA forward in every aspect of its mission. 

With a background in business development and fundraising, a bachelor’s degree in financial economics, and a master of business administration degree in management, Rochelle is also pursuing a doctoral degree in business administration with a focus on leadership. This dynamo hit the ground running with her entrance to CAPA, and for five years did the work to align all the pieces of the mission and practice of helping families who have experienced abuse. CAPA’s focus is three-fold: Counseling – helping children and adults with broad services; Family Support – conducting family visits and partnering with other organizations such as HappyBottoms, United Way, and Children’s Mercy to meet the needs of parents; and Education – working with a hotline in the state of Missouri, providing “body safety” classes, and providing resources to families. 

Then COVID-19 hit. Fortunately, the hard work had provided a solid foundation on which to pivot services and still provide much-needed abuse prevention systems. Rochelle and her staff dug in, realigned again, and have come out on the other side of the pandemic stronger and smarter. Rochelle believes, “It will take 10 years or more to recover from the pandemic’s effects on children and families. One of our biggest challenges is the mental health aspect.” Towards that end, Rochelle has introduced new priorities for funding – an internship program, leadership development, and succession planning. (The internship program provides a partnership with local universities for 30 interns every semester, so far 250 overall.) With multiple awards and accolades, Rochelle Parker is just what CAPA needed, when they needed it.


Christine Kemper

She really could just take a break, and no one would bat an eyelash. Christine Kemper has earned a little peace and quiet – from work, from volunteering, from raising children, from being a tireless advocate. But, it’s not in her DNA to sit back and relax, especially when her passion for elevating girls and women hasn’t been completely satisfied. So, in 2017, a small group including Christine applied for a charter school and hired a head. By 2019, the pandemic hit just as Kansas City Girls Preparatory Academy was ready to launch. Five hundred days of remote operations and learning later, the fifth grade students returned to masked in-person learning. 

In their fourth year of operation, KC Girls Prep was setting records for academic growth for female students from the northeast section of the metro. These girls have the most unmet needs in local education, and they experience the most disparity in coed education metrics. The single-sex preparatory environment allows for the most high-quality, high-support instruction. KC Girls Prep provides services beyond the academic – such as a social worker, a counselor, and a nurse. The student who comes to KC Girls Prep is given opportunities for the whole person, including remediating years of academic loss. 

This businesswoman, community advocate, and energetic board member has big plans for KC Girls Prep. Christine excitedly anticipates, “The school will continue to grow one grade a year, until the student body is comprised of grades five through 12. We will have an enrollment of 200 next year, quite a jump in five years!” Of course, that expansion requires a new building and all of the accoutrements that go along with keeping high school girls productive, busy, and happy. When Christine could be curled up with a good book, she is part of the effort to provide two meals to every student every day, in addition to providing food for their siblings! This progressive, caring, talented woman isn’t stopping anytime soon, and Kansas City girls will be the better for it. 


Stephanie Boyer

“Put me out of a job!” That’s the sentiment of Stephanie Boyer, CEO of ReStart, the organization dedicated to empowering people, ending homelessness, and inspiring hope. According to Stephanie, there is a need in our metro area for 26,000 housing units right now. Yes, 26,000 units. Currently, ReStart offers assistance for single adults; youth – including an emergency shelter, street outreach, and youth transitional housing and maternity group home; families – interim housing for up to 90 days; and services for veterans and veteran families. ReStart’s menu of assistance items includes: case management, three meals a day, employment services, mental health resources, substance abuse recovery resources, and group therapy. 

Stephanie’s journey to ReStart began with a master of social work degree from UMKC and then a position as the deputy court administrator for Kansas City, Missouri. She then moved on to ReDiscover, an organization dedicated to helping individuals with their physical, mental, and emotional well-being. It was in that role that she acquired her first taste of matching up public and private partnerships to help the citizens of Kansas City. From there, Stephanie launched her career at ReStart in 2019. Of course, there was a pandemic looming, and ReStart had some challenges already – no chief financial officer, no human resources department, no development department. So, Stephanie had her work cut out for her. 

During the last five years, ReStart’s fight against homelessness has seen them add staff, growing from about 25 case managers to 75 now and filling management positions. Stephanie relayed that, “Since our biggest challenge is securing housing, we finally decided that we needed to get in the business of creating housing.” To that end, ReStart has created an LLC, UpStart. This summer, UpStart hopes to break ground on a five-unit project. The goal is to create housing in all corners of the metro area. It requires a great deal of collaboration and partnerships, but Stephanie is equipped for that. Ultimately, the strategic goal is to move towards the prevention of homelessness, rather than always responding to the crisis. It’s one step toward putting Stephanie out of a job!


Angie Long

Build it and the crowd will go wild! First, Angie and her husband, Chris Long, built a financial giant in Palmer Square Capital, with assets under management totaling more than $20 billion and a global presence. There are fancy financial acronyms galore tied to Palmer Square Capital that will mean more to some than others (AUM, HYDI, CLOs, etc. – Assets Under Management, High Yield Debt Index, and Collateralized Loan Obligations). But, what we understand clearly is that Angie is the architect of the firm’s strategy. That’s what comes with an economics degree from Princeton University. 

Another takeaway from Princeton was her love of rugby, playing for two national championship teams, earning recognition as co-captain and co-coach her senior year, and being selected as an All-American in 1997. Sports are clearly as much of a passion as economics, so in 2020 she and Chris co-founded the Kansas City Current women’s professional soccer team. Angie, Chris, and co-owners Brittany and Patrick Mahomes have launched the NWSL franchise in Our Town with a brand new stadium, to boot. Let it not be lost in history that this is the first stadium in the world purpose-built for a women’s professional sports team! 

Angie’s list of accolades and community involvement is as long as a great soccer kick. She served on the Women in Leadership Committee of Princeton, founded the Greater Kansas City Princeton Women’s Network (PWN), and is currently serving as co-chairman for the Princeton Greater Kansas City Region’s Alumni Schools Committee. She currently serves on the board of directors for Union Station Kansas City and the KC 2026 World Cup board. She has been named University of Missouri-Kansas City’s 2023 Entrepreneur of the Year and was also inducted into the Junior Achievement of Greater Kansas City Business Hall of Fame. 

The enthusiasm Angie brings to the table is palpable. She and Chris are so excited to be making international headlines with their concept – “Women’s sports deserve their own facilities.” Angie is a consensus builder and a visionary, and Kansas City will forever be in her debt for creating this dynamic space for women’s sports. 


Colleen Cassidy

Colleen Cassidy has always been drawn to the concept of recognizing the whole person. She led a well-rounded life in her high school years in Colorado Springs, and she was drawn to The University of Kansas because they accepted her into their architecture program by looking at all of her strengths, not just her test scores. And, now in her life as an architect with the Populous firm here in Kansas City, she is creating ideas and designs that work with and benefit the whole person. 

Leaving Colorado Springs, Colleen ended up getting her master’s degree in architecture in 2013 from KU, with AIA and NCARB certifications. After a stint working in Kansas City, she got a call from friends in a firm back home asking if she was interested in doing a project redesigning her old high school. She couldn’t say no – she and her parents went to Cheyenne Mountain High School, and her parents were also teachers there. It was a great gig, but Kansas City would be calling again. This time, Populous was interested in what she brought to the table. 

In 2018, Colleen came back to Our Town and was only getting started when the pandemic hit. Working from home became her norm, but she had a fantastic project and team working on the BMO Centre Expansion in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Now back in the office, she is currently working on the Tampa Bay baseball facility. 

What she likes best about being with Populous is its flexibility in rethinking how to run a project. “Now we are exploring teams based on skill sets and strengths and working across projects. They are interested in, and I am passionate about, creating spaces for the whole person. We want to figure out how to design with empathy and psychology; how the spaces will be used and remembered.” 

Colleen is also passionate about relating to her clients and being able to explain “architecture speak” in a way that will benefit them. She stated, “Our job is to provide something the client hasn’t imagined yet, but we can turn it into a reality. We put ourselves into the clients’ shoes, and we provide intent in every aspect of every project.”

 


Featured in the March 23, 2024 issue of The Independent.
By: Anne Potter Russ

Connections – Eliza Barr

Eliza Barr is very forthcoming about using her own experiences to inform her professional duties as the passionate and qualified executive director of Reaching Out From Within. Not familiar with ROFW? It is the non-profit organization created more than 40 years ago by SuEllen Fried, revered philanthropist and civic leader. Long known as an anti-bullying activist, she founded STOP Violence in 1982. Out of that campaign, Reaching Out From Within was born. ROFW was created in Kansas as an incarcerated-led program that empowers residents to transform themselves and heal each other. 

For more than a year, Eliza has been leading this organization whose mission is to address the “whole person” transformation for incarcerated individuals who want to make lasting changes in their behavior in order to become a role model for nonviolence, and become contributing members upon their return to our communities. Why is this such a good fit for Eliza and the organization? Because Eliza was born in prison to a mother who was shackled during childbirth. Both of her parents were residents of the prison system – at different times – throughout her upbringing. 

“They were intelligent people,” she is quick to note. “People are not their crimes, they are still people. Experiences, good and bad, shaped their lives.” Her father had dealt with drug addiction issues, and her mother had dealt with sexual abuse issues. Each was incarcerated at a different time in their children’s lives, so at least one parent was home to raise eight children. Eliza has seven siblings, and she is incredibly close to her brothers and sisters, and credits them with helping each other survive what could have been a difficult childhood. She also goes on to point out how proud she is of her parents. Her dad became a drug abuse counselor, and her mom became an advocate for abuse prevention. 

With that background, it was clear to Eliza that her gift was understanding the factors that lead to incarceration and understanding the people who are experiencing criminal behavior. She earned a degree in criminal justice, and started researching what her loved ones might need in the way of resources when they were released from prison. Viewed at the state level, not much thought went into that process – equipping a released inmate for life outside prison. She started working for Impact KC in employment services for individuals. She then broadened her scope to assist with not just jobs, but housing, counseling, family resources, etc. 

Reaching Out From Within was looking for an executive director, and it caught Eliza’s attention with its person-centered care approach. She has always believed in being “an advocate for self-advocacy.” She wanted to be part of an organization that was doing the work for the right reasons. She feels it is critical for people in her role to be doing this  – not for the hero complex of saving someone – but for the hope that they won’t need Eliza again. She was impressed with the grassroots structure of the organization, including the curriculum developed by inmates. 

Circling back to SuEllen Fried, the curriculum, affectionately known as “The Blue Book,” was developed by SuEllen and a member of the Lifer’s Club at the Kansas State Penitentiary. “The goal of the program is simple: to transform lives. To change deep down feelings of hopelessness, despair and disconnection to hope, affirmation, empathy and love. These are new emotions, totally foreign to most members until they’re able to confront and uncover them in themselves.”

Paired with The Blue Book, volunteers conduct weekly meetings to expose prisoners to the resources available. This program is now operating in every single Kansas Correctional Facility – for women and men. (It is also currently being expanded to North Carolina.) Rates of recidivism have dropped dramatically. The key to the work that Eliza and ROFW do is this: the why. What are the experiences that drive people to crime? What are the roots of violence? What are the resources necessary to divert criminal behavior? Eliza believes that those who are incarcerated must be humanized. She wants understanding of the road that leads to incarceration. Eliza and ROFW are paving that road with tools and people to help this population become contributing citizens. 

Featured in the March 23, 2024 issue of The Independent.
By Anne Potter Russ

At The Top Of Her Game – Katherine Holland

Executive Director of KC2026, Katherine Holland

How lucky is Kansas City to have a native daughter return to the metro area to lead the city and a worldwide sports event in one of its finest hours? Very lucky, indeed. Katherine Holland was possibly the only person who could fill these shoes at this time in Our Town’s history. This Pembroke Hill School “lifer” (attended pre-kindergarten through 12th grade) was meant to return to her hometown to guide it through this enormous opportunity. In June of 2023, Katherine was named the executive director of the non profit, KC2026, which oversees the strategy and delivery of contractual obligations for FIFA World Cup 26 in Kansas City. She is responsible for managing the day-to-day operations of the project, and building plans and strategies for the event, lasting from mid-June to late July of 2026. In addition to that, she identifies all staffing needs, and reports to the KC2026 Executive Committee and Board of Directors, led by Karen Daniel. (The Honorary Co-chairmen for KC2026 are Clark Hunt and Cliff Illig.) According to the schedule, there will be six matches in the metro, to be held at (as we know it, Arrowhead Stadium) Kansas City Stadium. 

Katherine has actually been working on the years-long project since long before FIFA awarded Kansas City the title of Host City. In one of her first official duties, she hosted the FIFA visiting delegation in October of 2021. She clearly made an impression that helped to secure the designation. Her journey to this point is fascinating. Katherine has worked and lived in San Francisco and New York City, where she sourced, negotiated, and led some large-scale partnerships on behalf of several financial services companies, including American Express, JPMorgan Chase, and Visa. She was also the vice president of partnership strategy for the Madison Square Garden Company in New York. 

Katherine returned home in 2015 to work with the Kansas City Sports Commission and assumed the role of executive director of the 2017 U.S. Figure Skating Championships. She then helped Kansas City’s successful bid to secure the NFL Draft in 2023. She is a graduate of Central Exchange’s Emerging Leaders program and the Kansas City Chamber’s Centurions Leadership Development Program. Bringing her education of a bachelor’s degree in American Studies from Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut, and an MBA from Fordham University Gabelli School of Business in New York, and her national stellar work experience, she is a professional force to be reckoned with in the consensus-building world of sports and politics. 

Besides all of her professional ventures, she has also had time to volunteer, and she has served on the boards of the KC Fringe Festival (2019-2022) and Great Plains SPCA (2016-2017). While she does not have children of her own, she is a doting aunt to her nephew and three nieces who live in New York. 

With a successful career in sports and entertainment marketing, we still wondered… what is the hardest part about leading this particular project? Katherine explained, “I am trying to convey to stakeholders how big this actually is for our region. We’ll have more eyes on us than ever before, and we need to be prepared to welcome the world!” She also feels additional pressure having a quarter-finals match here, as it is so far into the tournament schedule, and that provides some additional challenges of its own.  

What’s next for Katherine Holland? “After 2026, I’m going to take a very long nap! Seriously, I haven’t had time to think about much beyond the World Cup. But one of the most exciting things about this project has been the opportunity to connect and work with people from across the other 15 host cities in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. I’d love to continue to build on those relationships, and I can’t wait to see what opportunities may present themselves.” Our personal recommendation for Katherine – turn off your phone when the World Cup is over! 

Our entire city should and will be so grateful to Katherine for her dedication and passion in bringing this very special colossal event to Kansas City. It allows us to present ourselves to the world in the very best light possible, showing that we are a city that values all of the meaningful things in life, whether that is the arts, education, technology, or sports. We were meant for this challenge, and Katherine will lead us to meet it with grace and a lot of planning!

Featured in the March 23, 2024 issue of The Independent.
By: Anne Potter Russ

 

Rachel’s Reads – March 2024

It’s that time of year again when spring break beckons. Whether you prefer carefree days spent in the sun, or the wind and snow of the slopes, this time of year embodies the chance to escape to a different setting. Not everyone will be traveling during spring break, but you can always travel through the pages of a book. Set in other countries, these books will hopefully satiate wanderlust and allow you to explore other cultures. 

Bangkok Wakes to Rain by Pitchaya Sudbanthad
The real protagonist of this book is Bangkok. Narrative strands set (not chronologically) in the past, present, and future, evoke the spirit at the heart of the city. The beautiful and meditative language is a counterpoint to the fugue-like dissonance of the timelines that really makes this novel shine. 

Silver Nitrate by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
This part film history part horror novel is set in ‘90s Mexico City. It is a melding of Mexican horror movies and Nazi occultism through a curse on an old film. The storytelling is riveting, dark, timely, and yet unapologetic with a delicious sense of creeping dread.

The Last Storytellers: Tales from the Heart of Morocco by Richard L. Hamilton
For nearly a thousand years, storytellers have gathered in the legendary square in Marrakech to continue the oral tradition of storytelling. They recount ancient folktales and fables, but in the wake of modern technology fewer people have been interested in continuing the tradition. Richard tracked down storytellers and recorded their stories in this book. 

The Miraculous True History of Nomi Ali by Uzma Aslam Khan
Brilliantly researched, this book, based around real life events, tells the intertwined stories of several people during the period of 1936-1947 on the Andaman Islands, which was used by the British as a penal colony for Indians. It was occupied by the Japanese during World War II. The beautiful poetic language contrasts the horrors that the prisoners face. 

The Snow Leopard by Peter Matthiessen
A fantastic piece of travel writing, this is the account of a journey to the Tibetan plateau of Dolpa in the Himalayas. Peter made the trek in 1973 as part of an expedition to study sheep, but was hoping for a glimpse of an almost mythical snow leopard. It is an absolutely stunning book. 

Fifteen Dogs by André Alexis
In Toronto, a bet between the gods Apollo and Hermes leads them to grant human consciousness and language to a group of dogs at a veterinary clinic. A fascinating look at human consciousness in all of its beauty and peril, this book is charming and strange (and you don’t need to be a dog lover to enjoy it). 

Happy Reading!

 

Symphony League of Kansas City – Holiday Luncheon

The River Club was the site for the members of the Symphony League of Kansas City’s Holiday Luncheon on December 13th. Outgoing President Linda Stevens passed the gavel to Incoming President Melanie Fenske, while guests enjoyed a festive celebration. 

Trish Mayer and Mandy Burditt, Holiday Luncheon co-chairmen

 

Melanie Fenske, 2024 incoming president; and Linda Stevens, outgoing president

 

2023 Ball Honorary Chairman Shirley Bush Helzberg

 

Barbara Haviland and Christine Maurer

Featured in the March 9, 2024 issue of The Independent.

The Lyric Opera Circle – 2024 New Year’s Eve Party

The Lyric Opera Circle hosted its first New Year’s Eve Party at the historic Hilton President Hotel. Guests celebrated with dinner and dancing in anticipation of the Lyric Opera Ball, to be held on April 20th at the Muehlebach Tower of the Kansas City Marriott Downtown.

Kurt and Linn Gretzinger with Lisa and Steve Pruch

 

Planning Committee Members: Nancy McGuire, Carmen Sabates, Circle president; Trudy Gabriel, Mary Leonida, and Regina Kort

 

Karen and Dr. John Yungmeyer, Marilyn Gaar, and Ian Spinks and Juliette Singer

Featured in the March 9, 2024 issue of The Independent.
Photo credit: David Riffel

 

The Symphony League of Kansas City – 2024 Symphony Ball

The 2024 Symphony Ball, to be held on September 7th at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, will launch the tenure of music director Matthias Pintscher. His Kansas City premiere public performance with the Kansas City Symphony will be celebrated with a spectacular Ball, hosted by the Symphony League of Kansas City. Barbara Haviland is chairing the festivities, and Melanie Fenske is the Symphony League president. Both promise a sensational evening of brilliance with a bright new star!

2024 Symphony Ball Chairman Barbara Haviland and Symphony League President Melanie Fenske

Featured in March 9, 2024 issue of The Independent.
Photo Credit: Rita Clark