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I was so excited to connect with other members of the department. They were incredibly welcoming and I learned so much about the different projects that are represented in the dept.

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It was great to learn more about Kansas City (most fountains of any U.S. city) through cab rides, our excursions, and hearing from the KC PLUS team.

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KC was as much of a surprise to me as Tonya's Department Meeting. The city is diverse, dynamic, and actually....fun! And those words perfectly describe Tonya's department.

Being the new kids, it would have been easy to feel marginalized or left out, but with such a laid back, but hardworking vibe, it was easy to slot right in.

I came away with a fresh perspective on how we can both talk the talk and walk the walk--whatever the talk or walk is. This is a department that puts words into actions in a way that feels...real (I'm not saying authentic even if my life depends on it).

I can't wait for all of you to have your first dept meeting! And, last, but not least, your presence was sorely missed!

--Darlene

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We had a great community service experience here.

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Giving the Basics | Kansas City Non Profit

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One of the key funders of our work in KC is the Kauffman Foundation--they hosted us with meeting space and were generous with their time in helping us understand funding considerations. Here's some information on their founder, who was a beloved member of the Kansas City community.

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A Lasting Legacy | Ewing Marion Kauffman

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A taste of the experience we had at the Negro League Museum.

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1. Tonya's department is dynamic and exciting--the teams are diverse in almost every possible way, and are clearly committed to each other as a department as well as to their contracts and projects.
2. Making processes accessible and transparent is an important part of supporting the DEI work. Watching the funders' meeting and being able to ask questions and hear their perspectives deepend my understanding of how we build partnerships and what opportunities exist in different areas, as well as the importance of insulating the work through diversification of revenue streams.
3. It's critical to ground our work in a learning position, especially when it comes to understanding the needs and perspectives of communities. The key to sustainability is to meet a real need that also builds capacity at the local level. We can't assume that we know what both of those things look like on our own.