March 23, 2024 - Women's History Month

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.

Kristen Pulido Photography

In The Spotlight

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 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.

More at kcindependent.com.

Honorary Co-chairs Heather Bortnick and Kathy Koehler

Seventy-five beautifully preserved and painstakingly restored BOTAR gowns were on display for the organization’s 75th anniversary Cocktails & Couture event on February 29th! The fashion show and cocktail party were led by Julie McCann and Missy Schaffer, co-chairmen; with the help of Emily McCann at reservations and Mandy Burditt managing decorations. As a part of the overall 75th anniversary celebration, a collector’s edition book is included, BOTAR The Gown. Kim Manka Mann is overseeing the the yearlong salute, along with Courtney Lawrence Gray and Taylor Twibell Havens. The book is beautifully photographed by Bailey Armstrong Pianalto, and the graphic design is by Allie Piper Chick. Other 75th committee members include Maggie Kurt Freeman, Carol Massman Fryer, Mary Greaves Hodge, Victoria Luhrs Lynch, Mary Ann Huddleston Powell, Amy Blair Snively, Jenny Turner Tuttle, and Hillary DeMuth Winzenried. Courtney Newcomer Nelson created a stunning, giant metal crown that hung above the runway, as the professional models made their way down in chronological order. The setting was fantastic - the enormous windows of the Grand Ballroom at the Kansas City Convention Center were graced with large silver vases with the traditional BOTAR ostrich feather fans blossoming out of them. Seen enjoying every minute of the trip down memory lane were current BOTAR President  Natalie Kirk Welch, Mary Hunkeler, Tracy Tetrick, Paula and John Longan, Julie Townsend Smart, Megan Bubb, Janet Taggart, Debbie Barnes Ward, Holly Barnes Milledge, Annie Tuttle, Julie Mulhern, Angela Hudson, Kristin Patterson, Caroline Hodge (newly named Dr. Hodge),  Chuck Matney, Stephanie Freeman, Marya Stallard, Marty Oliver, Abigail Oliver, in from New York; Rachael Weber Sabates, Julie Riss Jurden, and so many more wonderful supporters of the Belles of The American Royal.

Serving Kansas City with fine kitchenware for over

Wayside Waifs received a $10,000 grant to celebrate the annual Shelter Bowl, supported by Greater Good Charities, Boehringer Ingelheim, and Hill’s Pet Nutrition. In addition to the grant, Wayside Waifs will receive one million pet meals and 1,000 doses of NexGard Plus. The Shelter Bowl was created to help animal shelters like Wayside Waifs as they face issues like rising intakes, economic hardships, and staffing and veterinarian shortages. Congratulations to Wayside Waifs!

Friends of Chamber Music will present Quicksilver in concert on April 5th at Grace & Holy Trinity Cathedral. Audiences will enjoy music from some of the lesser-known masters, when the Holy Roman Emperors of the 17th century brought virtuosos and native-born composers together at their court in Vienna, long before Mozart and Haydn. Quicksilver musicians include Greg Ingles, Dominic Teresi, David Morris, Avi Stein, Charles Weaver, and Co-directors Robert Mealy and Julie Andrijeski. For ticket information, visit chambermusic.org.

The IndependentKansas City’s Oldest Magazine

Child Protection Center

Aixois was the venue for the Holidays in Crestwood Luncheon on December 1st to benefit the Child Protection Center. The cozy and festive day was led by Co-chairmen Amy Embry and Carrie McLiney, and 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. More at kcindependent.com.

Deanna Diebolt, Pam Bruce, Lisa Pruch, Mary Leonida, Rachael Sabates, Sharon Berry, Kelly Privitera, Amy Embry, co-chairman; and Elaina Sansone

(Clockwise from left) Mary Kallman, Alison Patterson, Nancy Panzer-Howell, Angie Mareski, Kurt Knapstein, Jenny Manka, Amy Embry, co-chairman; Amy McAnarney, Kristina Klug, Michael Lopez, Julia and Greg Malter, and Greg Haskamp

Nancy Kauffman DuVall, Child Protection Center; Addie Perry, board president; Lisa Mizell, Child Protection Center; and Brian Barton, board member

Co-chairmen Amy Embry and Carrie McLiney

Dr. Mark Gilmore, Taylor Smith, Sidonie Garrett, and Barbara Bloch

Rochelle Graham, Victoria Lewellen, Collette Bednarczyk, Jenny Boulware, Lori Lewellen, Shannon Thrun, Tiffany Garcia, and Katie McCune

Sheila Mayse, Nancy Kauffman DuVall, Child Protection Center; Carrie McLiney, co-chairman; and Rosalie Wooten

Santa Claus, Michele Hamlett-Weith, Pat Easton, and Bonnie Chaney

QUINQUENNIAL 1919-1924

By Anne Potter Russ

PORTRAITS:

Photographic portraits are all the rage in the early 1920s, and The Independent has them in spades. Here are a couple to peruse: (September 1, 1923; this is the first mention of World War I since the selling of government bonds. And, this is the first mention with a photo of a philanthropic endeavor in the magazine.)

Mrs. Ada Greenwood MacLaughlin, joint chairman of Entertainment Committee American War Mothers’ Convention Sept. 29-Oct. 6 - whose personal charm and tact make her an asset to any undertaking she is allied with.

ODDITIES:

Some tongue-in-cheek remarks about death and taxes

We couldn’t resist this little tidbit, with the opinion of the bride-to-be’s looks… March 19, 1921

ENDINGS:

In poetry and prose, Missouri’s one-hundredth birthday was acknowledged with a little history lesson. April 9, 1921

Publisher Katherine Baxter’s death was presented in a two-page homage to the businesswoman in the April 12, 1924 issue of The Independent. “She was brilliantly endowed intellectually…” quoted from K.C. Journal, April 5, 1924. The particulars of her life point to a woman ahead of her time professionally, and revered for her quick-witted, warm personality.

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The McGee-Richards Wedding Party – April 9, 1921

Quite a famous appearance being documented on a front cover... March 19, 1921

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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.” More at kcindependent.com.

Kansas City Symphony Presents will feature Ravel’s Bolero, With Foley’s Soul Bass on stage at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts from April 5th through the 7th. This mesmerizing performance includes Maurice Ravel’s piece, Le tombeau, commemorating the death of six friends who died in combat during World War I, as well as one of his most popular works, Boléro. Audiences will also enjoy selections from Xavier Foley, a double bass virtuoso player and composer, and Alberto Ginastera’s Variaciones concertantes. A special feature of the program will be the world premiere of Angel Lam’s New Work reflecting her Chinese heritage. Michael Stern will conduct the Symphony. Visit kauffmancenter.org for ticket information.

I Wonder –is the lady with all of the historical association with the institution really ready to jump back into the drama?

The IndependentKansas City’s Oldest Magazine

IWOMEN’S HISTORY MON TH

By Anne Potter Russ

nspired by the universal female suffrage movement, the first documented International Women’s Day was held in 1909 and was eventually adopted by the United Nations in 1977 as a global holiday, celebrated on March 8th annually. In 1969 on IWD, a woman known as Laura X organized a march in Berkeley, California. (Born Laura Rand Orthwein, she later legally changed her name to Laura Shaw Murra, and again she changed her name in 1969 to Laura X, to symbolize her rejection of men’s ownership of women.) The march led to the creation of the Women’s History Center, also in Berkeley, serving as a central archive for the women’s movement. Laura X went on to become an associate of the Women’s Institute for the Freedom of the Press, and she was instrumental in campaigning for laws regulating sexual abuse in California.

As the recognition of the women’s movement spread across the country, in 1980, President Jimmy Carter issued a presidential proclamation that the week of March 8th was National Women’s History Week. In 1987, Congress passed resolutions declaring March as National Women’s History Month, and annually Presidents continue to issue proclamations declaring that Women’s History Month remain in March.

The United Nations declares a theme for International Women’s Day each year, and the 2024 theme is “Invest in women: Accelerate progress.” Quoting the UN Women website: “In a world facing multiple crises that are putting immense pressure on communities, achieving gender equality is more vital than ever. Ensuring women’s and girls’ rights across all aspects of life is the only way to secure prosperous and just economies, and a healthy planet for future generations.”

The website womenshistorymonth.gov offers a variety of resources to explore everything from women’s art to business to politics to historic places.

REMEMBER WHEN 17 Years Ago

Hats Off to Mothers held October 25th luncheon benefiting UCP of Greater Kansas City on May 18th

Maureen Durwood, honoree; and Richard Durwood

Jason, Logan, Jay, Loretta, Clyde, and Marty Nichols, honoree (out of camera range) Gabrielle Lawrence, Jessie Nichols, Wayne and Susan Nichols, and Dell and Joe Richardson

dinner fête followed the Pem-Day track meet at Warrensburg and was prelude to the Barstow dance.

Reprinted from the May 10, 1952 issue of The Independent.

The BOTAR Ball on November 2nd at the Westin Crown Center Hotel is the occasion for the presentation of the 1991 class of The Belles of the American Royal. These young ladies are being introduced at the BOTAR Tea this afternoon at The Ritz-Carlton Grand Ballroom. Assisting in planning the 1991 BOTAR events are key executives for the BOTAR Organization, Mrs. Charles Hodge V, president (seated, front), Mrs. David Manco, vice-president ball activities (seated, left), Mrs. Roy Crooks, vice-president public relations (seated, right), Mrs. Skip Quimby, vice-president BOTAR activities, (standing, right), and Mrs. Christopher Watson, vice-president American Royal activities (standing, left).

Reprinted from the September 7, 1991 issue of The Independent.

An Homage To Dynamic Women

Gloria Vanderbilt (Mrs. Wyatt Cooper) - a sometime fashion-plate - congratulates Mrs. Eugene Brown on her third place prize in the National Best Dressed Table contest. The presentation at the Waldorf-Astoria in New York marks the fourth time in five years a local contestant (working with Halls) has carried off a top prize with the cash benefit going to the Performing Arts Foundation.

Mrs. Brown also captured a special award from Bride’s Magazine for her table setting, done in crisp black-and-white, silver and mirrors.

Reprinted from the September 20, 1969 issue of The Independent.

Presidents, past and present, who are the second members of their families to head the Junior League of Kansas City, Missouri, make a foursome at the annual League luncheon at headquarters. The new prexy, Mrs. George H. Slough (standing r.), is seen alongside Mrs. William H. Leedy; seated are Mrs. G. Guyton Carkener (l.) and Mrs. C. Dickinson Barton. Their family counterparts include, Mrs. Charles K. Richmond, Mrs. Byron T. Shutz, the late Mrs. Alfred Toll, and Mrs. Charles F. McCord.

Reprinted from the June 5, 1965 issue of The Independent.

Mrs. Keith Pence (Margi Hall) steadies her young tree-climber, Sarah Elizabeth who is two years old. Grandparents of the little girl are the Donald J. Halls and Mrs. William Brink Pence of Liberty and the late Mr. Pence.

Reprinted from the May 10, 1986 issue of The Independent.

Thirty Miles of Art ladies, Mrs. Robert A. Marshall, chairman, meets with her co-chairmen, Mrs. Redman Callaway (left) and Mrs. Grant Cowherd. The juried art show sponsored annually by Sustaining members of the Junior League of Kansas City, Missouri, features paintings by artists living within a 30-mile radius of Kansas City. The works are selected by a panel of three jurors for the February 11th - 26th show at the Nelson Atkins Gallery of Art. Mrs. Callaway heads the committee working with artists who submit paintings for the show and Mrs. Cowherd is chairman of the Gala Preview party on February 10th at the Gallery. Mrs. Marshall holds “Pumpkins,” the winner of the Purchase award, offered for the first time last year.

Reprinted from the December 1, 1978 issue of The Independent.

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Anne Lewis

ROSE BROOKS CENTER Cabaret

Rose Brooks Center held its 37th annual Cabaret on February 25th at Loews Kansas City Hotel, featuring Kansas City native Willis White performing with the Willis White Project. Event Chairs Michelle Emanuel Johnson and Jeff Johnson carried on the tradition of this revered fundraiser, while bringing the community together to support Rose Brooks Center. Proceeds support the mission of breaking the cycle of domestic violence so that individuals and families can live free of abuse. More at kcindependent.com.

Emcee Cynthia Newsome

Lisa Fleming, Rose Brooks Center; addressed the guests.

Event Chairs Michelle Emanuel Johnson, board member; and Jeff Johnson

Mike and Colleen Hayes, board member; Willis White, featured performer; and Jennifer and Kevin Schwarzenberger

Bill Schmedding and Fernando Valle

Kenny and Representative Keri Ingle

Ramona Parker, Pam Wessling, Sandy Hockstedler, Nancy Petersen, and Yola McFarlin

Monica and Brian Henderson

Lexie McDowell, Stephen Wolfe, Julia Wolfe, Gabby Naylor, Marissa Robb, Jason Thomas, Darien Stokes, and Andrew Dare

Yolanda Bentley and Anissa Brown

Paul and Sarah Tiedt

Lisa Fleming, Rose Brooks Center; Glenda Grant, board member; Monique Grant, and Joan Dougherty, Rose Brooks Center

Willis White, featured performer

Tanya Draper Douthit, Rose Brooks Center; Michelle Emanuel Johnson, event chair; and Marla Svoboda, Rose Brooks Center

Pat Shine, Maddie Shine, Cameron Daniels, Sarah Daniels, Board Member Maggie and William Degen, and Audrey and Pat Fletcher

Jared Williams, Zac Buckmiller, and Andrew Griesemer

BUILDING A FUTURE AND LEAVING A LEGACY

By Paul Horsley

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.

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-squarefeet 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 DennieKauffman, who brought all of her life-lessons to bear in a process that took 20 years of her life to bring about.

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 non-profit 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.”

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.

“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.

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.”

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

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.”

To make sure things stay on the rails, Julia has made sure 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.”

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

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.

Eric Williams

Lyric Opera Circle Members: (First row) Trudy Gabriel, Olga Ganzen, Ayca Aktas-Cil, Kimberlee Ried, Nancy Schall, Karen Yungmeyer, Pam Scott, Ed Sien, Lyric Opera of Kansas City; Sharon Barry, Carmen Sabates, Circle president; Deborah Sandler Kemper, Lyric Opera of Kansas City; Deanna Diebolt, Pam Bruce, Mary Beth Gentry, Jenny Manka, Dorie Sheppard, Alison Patterson, Anne Elsberry, Eileen Everett, Tricia Scott, Nan Chapman, and Laurie Ingram

(middle row) Karen Mische, Mary Leonida, Regina Kort, Lucinda Rice-Petrie, Gigi Rose, Lee McCaffrey, Jill Ingram Reynolds,

Opera Circle

Wendy Burrell, Lora Smith, Lisa Pruch, Elaina Sansone, Petra Kralickova, Linn Gretzinger, Suzanne Shank, and Marilyn Gaar (back row) Lisa Hickok, Jo Anne Dondlinger, Juliette Singer, Peggy Beal, Cindy Wurm, Trish Church-Podlasek, Melinda Frenzen, Barbara Fessler, Donna Carper, Mary Nan Dupont, Barbara Haviland, Carolyn Faenger, Dana Koehn, Nancy McGuire, Ann Bender, Kelly Privitera, Joy Wheeler, Julia Malter, and Bev Leonard

THE IMPACT OF EXTR

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 “strengthbased” 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 nonprofit 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 Supportconducting 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 singlesex preparatory environment allows for the most high-quality, high-support instruction. KC Girls Prep provides services beyond the academicsuch 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.

AORDINARY WOMEN

By Anne Potter Russ

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.”

A Look Back At The Framework Of Kansas City’s Architecture

Fairlawn, Home of Mr. and Mrs. W.L. Halsell, 1231 W. 57th Street

Home of Lawrence Ferdinand Rieger, 426 Gladstone Boulevard (1917)

Home of Mrs. August R. Meyer, S.E. Corner of 44th Street and Warwick Boulevard (1916)

Kansas City Art Institute

Gift of the late Howard S. Vanderslice (1929)

Loretto Academy, Kansas City, MO (1929)

Kansas City - Horner Conservatory of Music 3000 Troost Avenue (1929)

Home of Mr. and Mrs. Robert A. Long on Gladstone Boulevard (1928)

Home of Mrs. Hugh Ward 52nd and Summit Streets (1916)

(1917) (1925)

Heart o Shakespea

ROMANtic Revels featured a Roman theme this year, complete wit in appropriate garb, bringing a taste of Julius Caesar to the ev InterContinental Kansas City at the Plaza, proceeds from the even Festival’s education programs and the 32nd summer season at Southmor the honorary chairmen, and Merrily Jackson and the late Jim Jackson we

Dr. Michael and Jamila Weaver

Dr. Scott Ashcraft, Merrily Jackson, honoree; and Bernadette Ashcraft

Bill Yé, Sarah Yé, and

Barbara and Robert Bloch, patron party hosts

Sylvie Smolensky and Mark Edelman

Sheila and C

Michael and Renana Abrams

of America are Festival

th a sword fight scene by HASF actors vening! Held on February 10th at the nt benefit Heart of America Shakespeare reland Park. Diana and Jim Cusser were ere honored with the Founder’s Award. More at kcindependent.com.

Brian Collins

Loretta and Thomas Mentzer

d Kelly Yé

Jason and Jessica Chanos

Dr. Marc and the Honorable Stephanie Taormina

Dean and Patricia Davison

Christopher Gramling

Honorary Chairmen Jim and Diana Cusser

John Rensenhouse and Darren Sextro

Susan and Jason Waldron

Edward Milbank, Nan Chapman, and Anne and Howard Elsberry

ConneCtions

EBy Anne Potter Russ

liza 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.

The Center for Practical Bioethics’ 40th Anniversary Celebration Dinner will take place on April 11th at The Abbott. Dr. Daniela Lamas, a pulmonary and critical care doctor at Brigham & Women’s Hospital and faculty member at Harvard Medical School, will be the keynote speaker, and Robin and Marc Hahn are the event chairs. Myra Christopher and John G. Carney will be honored with the Vision to Action award. To learn more, visit practicalbioethics.org.

I Wonder –which advisory group loves to reminisce rather than address any issues?

National Charity League

The National Charity League Heart of Kansas City Chapter recognized its Class of 2024 and the achievements of the members on March 3rd at Oakwood Country

The mother-daughter service organization focuses on positively impacting communities through philanthropy, culture, and leadership. For the past six years, the young women and their mothers have given more than 1,000 hours annually through the Chapter’s partnership with 28 area non-profit organizations.

Club.

(Front row) Marin Runnebaum, Gwen Chiaverini, Sydney Anderson, Lauren Austin, Charlotte Warren, Sophie Baehr, and Amy Collins (middle row) Anna Whalen, Emery Skomal, Maggie Dahir, Kyanne Carlgren, Lily Thelen, Molly Latinis, Alli Gervais, and Georgia Klaus (back row) Janelle Green, Margot Randall, Mae Trotter, Grace St. Peter, Katelyn Collins, Abby Jehlik, and Isobel Dorothy (out of camera range) Annie Hess, Gabby Mallouk, and Maya Neenan

Redefining Self-care And Mental Health For Women

By Monica V. Reynolds

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.”

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.”

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

Kelsey Foss and Donna Washington

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

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.”

University Academy Foundation’s 22nd Annual Gala is set for April 13th at University Academy. This year’s theme is “Fore! The Love of UA,” to help celebrate the upcoming launch of the new UA Golf Team. The event also marks the 20th anniversary of the first graduating class of UA in 2004. Enjoy cocktails, mini golf, games, dinner, and dancing. The evening’s program will feature stories from the first graduates of UA. Visit uafoundationkc.org to learn more.

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Lace up your running shoes for the KC Pet Project 5K, to be held on April 13th at Swope Park. All participants will receive a commemorative race medal. Proceeds from the event help support the care of the more than 16,000 homeless, abandoned, and injured pets that will arrive at KC Pet Project this year. Visit kcpetproject.org to learn more.

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I Wonder –who is the newest convert to the archives and the “rabbit hole of memories” it becomes?

n

Heartland Therapeutic Riding will present Tux ‘n’ Boots on April 19th at the Heartland barn. Enjoy delicious fare from Nick and Jake’s, cocktails, an auction, and a program. The night will conclude with dancing to the sounds of Lost Wax. For tickets, visit htrkc.org.

Carron Montgomery

Ladies With Latitude:

FIVE WOMEN WHO ARE MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN KANSAS CITY PERFORMING ARTS

By Paul Horsley

carolinedahm.com

Instagram: @sweetcarolinevd

CAROLINE DAHM Dancer, choreographer, producer, master teacher, adjunct dance professor at The UMKC Conservatory, assistant director at Wylliams/Henry Contemporary Dance Company

What I love about the Kansas City performing-arts scene: Kansas City is a very special place. Since moving here back in 2011, I have seen a steady rise in the arts. I love that the Kansas City arts scene is constantly growing, evolving, and supporting emerging artists. The audience here craves art.

What I would love to see more of in Kansas City arts: I would love to see more collaborations between artists of different mediums — and also within mediums. We are all striving for the same purpose: To share our story, others’ stories, to challenge thought, to inspire, and to find joy. We are only stronger together when we create together.

Where my passion comes from: My passion comes from the everyday human experience. Seeing the beauty in all things, interactions with people, the natural splendor of the world, but also life’s challenges and the inner workings of our mind that we dare to share through our artistic voice.

Important upcoming events for me: I have the honor of choreographing for the Kansas City Ballet’s  New Moves production this March 21st through the 24th. I will be creating a new work on SALT Contemporary Dance in Salt Lake City in May and a new work on Cincinnati Ballet in September. I perform with Wylliams/Henry Contemporary Dance Company and train the next generation of artists at The UMKC Conservatory and at Kansas City Ballet.

NICOLE HODGES PERSLEY

Critically acclaimed theater and film director, professor of American Studies and African and African American Studies at The University of Kansas, artistic director at KC MeltingPot Theatre

What I love about the Kansas City performing-arts scene, and what I would love to see more of in Kansas City arts: I believe Kansas City has immense potential for more diverse and inclusive arts and theater offerings. I feel KC MeltingPot Theatre has helped advance this conversation in the city, and we are seeing improvements for sure, but there is more work to be done. I would love to see more equitable and inclusive funding pathways that consider the unique contributions that artists of color offer in the city.

As we see a greater representation of voices, it would be great to see city and state funded initiatives that help to supplement the financial inequities that exist in the funding pathways for Kansas City artists and creators.

Where my passion comes from: My passion for the arts stems from a deep-seated belief in its power to transform individuals and communities. I have always been drawn to storytelling and the ability of theater to create empathy and understanding across cultural boundaries. I had the fortune of being mentored by Black artists in places like Detroit, Atlanta, and Los Angeles, who encouraged me to dream big dreams and to pursue them by any means necessary. I work to pay that passion forward to the artists I get to work with in Kansas City and beyond.

Where my passion comes from: My passion comes from the everyday human experience. Seeing the beauty in all things, interactions with people, the natural splendor of the world, but also life’s challenges and the inner workings of our mind that we dare to share through our artistic voice.

Important upcoming events for me: Book talks for my recent book, Hip-Hop in Musical Theatre; the launch of createensemble.com, an arts platform co-founded with Monica White Ndounou and Victorien Ndounou; and KCMPT’s production of Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? directed by Ile Haggins (May 2nd through the 11th), in a special version amended by Edward Albee for a production at Howard University to support an all-Black cast.

hodgespersley.com

Instagram: @nikstagedoc

David Pugh

blackboxkc.com

Instagram: @theheidivan

youngartistsmusicacademy.org

To apply: admissions@youngartists musicacademy.org

HEIDI VAN Actor, creator, and producer of experimental live theater, owner/operator/CEO of The Black Box, founder and curator of Fishtank Theatre, and former interim artistic director at The Coterie Theatre  What I love about the Kansas City performing-arts scene: I love Kansas City for its eclectic independent arts scene and artist-run spaces. Within this thriving community, there is an unmistakable fusion of creativity and authenticity that truly embodies the essence of the city’s grit and spirit.

What I would love to see more of in Kansas City arts: To truly evolve, Kansas City must embrace and bolster support for independent artists and artist-run spaces, and not just the prominent establishments. By recognizing us as pivotal to the city’s tourism draw, nightlife vibrancy, and cultural enrichment, we foster a symbiotic relationship that champions creativity and inclusivity. As proud residents and creators, we invest our sweat and ideas and money into shaping this city, enriching its tapestry with businesses and ventures that make it truly compelling. It’s time to showcase us, the artists, with the same spotlight and recognition as athletes.

Where my passion comes from: My lifelong love affair with show-business fuels my boundless passion for The Black Box. Picture it: the ultimate hotspot where every night is an electrifying fusion of musical theater, cabaret, and avant-garde experimentation: which sparks laughter, conversation, and unforgettable moments. We present a wide variety, from classical theater to contemporary theater, live music, and more. Patrons are always amazed and inspired by the vibe of the entryway to the theater — check it out!

Important upcoming events for me: All of the events at The Black Box. We have shows every weekend. Visit blackboxkc.com to stay in the loop: Each show promises a thrilling journey that will leave you buzzing with excitement, all while sipping on your favorite cocktail.

TATIANA IOUDENITCH

Pianist, teacher, and owner/director of Young Artists Music Academy

What I love about KC arts life: The Kansas City performing arts scene holds a special place in my heart. Since making Kansas City my home in 1998, I’ve enjoyed the flourishing arts life, with great concert series and fantastic artists — both visiting artists and those who call this their home. Our Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts is one of my favorite venues in Kansas City!

What I would love to see more of in Kansas City arts: Being a teacher and a performer for many years, I believe that the most important investment for the future of Kansas City arts life is high-quality music education. If we want our beautiful concert halls to be filled with people in 10 or 20 years, we should work today to provide music education. I would love to see more opportunities for young artists to be part of our arts community.

Where my passion comes from: Music and arts have been my passion since I can remember. They contain endless beauty, depth, and natural perfection, and I am very passionate to introduce and make music an important part of the life of every student and every friend of mine.

Important upcoming events for me: Looking forward to Park University International Center for Music’s upcoming presentation of Pianist Behzod Abduraimov and Violinist Daniel Lozakovich, on April 14th at The 1900 Building.

CHRISTY ELSNER

Singer, choral director, and founding artistic director of Allegro Choirs of Kansas City

What I love about the Kansas City performing-arts scene: Our metro arts scene is vibrant and energized, especially in the choral world! We have multiple opportunities for our young singers to collaborate with professional musicians and arts organizations: the Kansas City Symphony, William Baker Festival Singers, area schools and universities, and more.

Allegro is filled with singers from excellent school music programs. Kansas City is also blessed to have stellar venues including the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts and Yardley Hall in the Midwest Trust Center at Johnson County Community College. Area churches such as the downtown Cathedrals and Visitation Catholic Church have stunning acoustics and are willing to open their sanctuaries to outside organizations.

What I would love to see more of in Kansas City arts: The Kansas City arts scene is sometimes over-shadowed financially and in the news by our hot sports scene. General operating and scholarship funding are always huge needs: area non-profit organizations fight for few funds.

Where my passion comes from: Unwavering pursuit of excellence extends, for my entire staff, beyond singing: We fuel each other. I was blessed with the gift of communicating/teaching and motivating others. I lost my dad to a massive stroke my junior year of college: He was only 48. My desire to change the world with song, and my passion for living every minute to its fullest, became cemented with the loss of my dad at such a young age. We as a society often underestimate what kids/teens can do. It’s a fun challenge to break norms. I love to see the “light” turn on in a singer’s brain and heart!

Important upcoming events for me: Next year is Allegro’s 25th anniversary! — Allegro Choirs of Kansas City, in partnership with the Youth Chorus of Kansas City, recently held the first ever All-Metro Fifth Grade Honor Choir, with over 100 singers from 27 area schools; Washington, D.C. and National Cathedral Tour; debut solo performance of our choirs at Carnegie Hall (2025); continued performance engagements with the Kansas City Symphony.

allegrochoirskc.org

Instagram: @christyelsner

AT THE TOP OF HER GAME

By Anne Potter Russ

“ ”

HI 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!

ow 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.

Executive Director of KC2026, Katherine Holland

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!

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

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!

Cheers To Volunteers!

It all started with a dog! Cindy Blessen began volunteering with Ronald McDonald House Charities of Kansas City in 2015, and her first assignment was to help with the now-retired “house dog,” Mr. Bean. Since then, she has lent her time and talents to many aspects of RMHC-KC, including being a house-warmer and guest experience volunteer. One of her favorite things about spending time at RMHC-KC is being behind the scenes and seeing the joy that her work brings to families. She also attends fundraising events, and Cindy has become a critical part of the organization’s mission of serving families and keeping them close to their hospitalized children.

More at kcindependent.com.

Cindy Blessen posed by the Ronald McDonald House.

April 10th is the date for Jackson County CASA’s 24th annual Light of Hope Breakfast, which will be held at the Sheraton Kansas City Hotel at Crown Center. Madeleine M. McDonough and Cyd Slayton are the honorary chairs. The fun event includes coffee and networking, a delicious breakfast, and an inspirational program. A special highlight of the morning will be the presentations of the Light of Hope Award and the Teresa Rabideau Award for Volunteer Excellence. Visit jacksoncountycasa-mo.org to learn more.

I Wonder –which cute couple claimed the comfortable bench at the recent party - much to the chagrin of the restless crowd?

REMEMBER WHEN 11 Years Ago

Drs. Charles and Susan Porter, board member

The Heart of America Shakespeare Festival’s Romantic Revels Gala was held on February 2nd at the InterContinental Kansas City at the Plaza. Guests enjoyed a martini bar, dinner, silent auction, and a performance by Camp Shakespeare students.

Reprinted from the March 23, 2013 issue of The Independent.

Photography Project Defies Ageism And Youth Beauty Ideals For Women

By Monica V. Reynolds

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 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

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.”

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

Keyonna Renea

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.”

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.”

Kansas City Ballet BARRE KC’s Soirée event will be held on April 13th at The Crossroads Hotel. BARRE KC is the premiere organization for young professionals interested in supporting the Kansas City Ballet. Enjoy a spirited performance by KCB’s Second Company, delicious bites and sips, a silent auction, and dancing into the night. Proceeds benefit the Ballet’s Reach Out And Dance (R.O.A.D.) program.

April 13th is the date for The Children’s Place’s Party for The Place: Bloom, which will be held at the Muehlebach Tower of the Kansas City Marriott Downtown. Enjoy cocktails, a delicious dinner, and an inspirational program. The event space will be transformed into a floral paradise, and guests are invited to wear their favorite fascinators and colorful attire. To learn more, visit childrensplacekc.org.

April 19th is the date and Arrowhead Stadium is the place for Job One’s Cause-Ino Night. Enjoy tasty bites and sips, great entertainment, and Vegasstyle fun with casino games, blackjack, and a chance to win great prizes. To learn more, visit jobonekc.org.

Kimberly Weaver

Rachel’s Reads

This Women’s History Month, we reached out to women in the community to find out 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.

Bailey Pianalto Photography

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.

April 11th is the date and Boulevard Brewing Company is the place for the Family Conservancy’s Brew for Books. Enjoy delicious Boulevard beer and Waldo Pizza, live music by Ryan Triggs, yard games, and a silent auction. Proceeds from the event benefit the organization’s mission to put books into the hands of children under five. To learn more, visit familyconservancy.org.

Kids Night Out 2024, a benefit for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Kansas City, is set for April 13th at the Overland Park Convention Center. The event features a cocktail party, dinner, and silent and live auctions. A highlight of the evening will be a live performance by Country superstar, Thomas Rhett. Visit bgc-kc.org.

I Wonder –who recently lost the couch and is seriously broken up about it?

The Independent - Kansas City’s Oldest Magazine

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

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

NO Limits

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 achiever 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.

KINDEST KANSAS CITIAN

May 3rd,

Presented by

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.”

Brooke Petro at her competition in 2017

SevenDays, the organization that overcomes hate by promoting kindness and understanding through education and dialogue, is celebrating its 10th anniversary. SevenDays will take place from April 10th through the 18th, and each day will have a different theme. To celebrate its 10th anniversary, the organization is hosting two public events. The Kindness Breakfast will be held on April 5th. Ten finalists have been nominated for the 2024 Ripple of Kindness Award. The Community Kindness Festival will be held on April 14th, with a family-friendly afternoon of music, food trucks, and a performance by Kate Cosentino, a finalist on The Voice. Ten area high school seniors will receive scholarships from SevenDays, also.

More at kcindependent.com.

Hardy, Shawnee Mission Northwest

Harris,

introduced officials Kristin Johnson-Waggoner, Mayor Curt Skoog, Commissioner Jeff Meyers, and Councilwoman Laurel Burchfield at the news conference announcing the organization’s first Kindness County – Johnson County, Kansas, and regional partner with the Mid-America Regional Council.

You won’t want to miss Croce Plays Croce 50th Anniversary, a Kauffman Center Presents concert, on April 13th at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts. This special night of music features singer and songwriter, A.J. Croce, who will perform a complete set of classics by his late father, Jim Croce. Audiences will also enjoy some of A.J.’s own songs, in addition to some of the music that influenced him and his father. Joining A.J. on stage will be band members Gary Mallaber, David Barard, and James Pennebaker. A multimedia presentation will accompany the concert. For tickets, visit kauffmancenter.org.

nI Wonder –if the fun Harry Potter-themed event was really attracting people off of the streets?

Barbara Unell and Mindy Corporon, co-founder of SevenDays

Scholars: Fargol Rozati, Blue Valley West; Alexis Dominic, Blue Valley Southwest; Benjamin Soyka, Leavenworth High School, and Gabriel Decker, Blue Valley North (out of camera range) Avery McKenna, Staley High School; Brielle Griffin, Lafayette High School; Genevieve Shelton, Leavenworth High School; Morgan Shields, Platte County High School; Antonio Lopez, Liberty High School; and Elle Zinn, Lee’s Summit North

Button design contest winners: (Front row) Nirvana Mullin, Shawnee Mission North; and Caroline Gordon, Blue Valley High School (back row) Alex Hanton, Olathe Northwest; Jonah Salsbury, Liberty High School; Bruno Cinelli da Silva, Olathe Northwest; Neeva Tompkins, Raymore-Peculiar High School; and Mekaela Malinowski, Shawnee Mission Northwest (out of camera range) Auden

Vickie

board member;

Ripple of Kindness Award Finalists Dr. Gary Morsch, Kar Woo, Eyyup Esen, and Kevin Birger (out of camera range) Alvin Brooks, Peggy Dunn, Alan Edelman, SuEllen Fried, Bob Kendrick, and Barbara Unell

• Calendar OF Events

APRIL

5 Bishop Sullivan Center; Speakeasy: A Night for the Neighborhood; The evening will include casino games, signature cocktails, dinner, raffles, live and silent auctions, and dancing to the tunes of Crossroad Sound; 1920’s cocktail attire encouraged; The Abbott; 6 p.m.; $200. Contact Jennifer Walker: 816-231-0995 or jennifer.walker@bishopsullivan.org or bishopsullivan.org/speakeasy.

5 Kansas City Repertory Theatre; 2024 KCRep Gala; KCRep celebrates its 60th anniversary with a 1960’s themed gala. Reminisce about six decades of KCRep history and enjoy dinner, dancing, a live auction, and music performed by KCRep artists; Loews Kansas City Hotel; 6 p.m.; $250. Contact Nancy Steinacker: 816-235-6107 or nsteinacker@kcrep.org or kcrep.org.

6 American Jazz Museum; Believe In; This is our signature fundraising event. The gala will include silent and live auctions, entertainment, a plated dinner, and adult beverages; semi-formal; 5:30 p.m. Contact Darron Story: 816-517-9454 or dstory@kcjazz.org or americanjazzmuseum.org.

7 Northeast Community Center: Home of Harmony Project KC; Stringo: A Musical Take on Bingo!; Join the musical fun of Stringo! Now in its third year, this event features instrumental versions of your favorite songs and special performances from the students of Harmony Project KC! Enjoy great food, drink, and get ready to shout STRINGO!; Boulevard Brewing Company; 5 p.m.; $100. Contact Crystal Posey: 816-231-7738 or crystal@necc-kc.org or necc-kc.org.

10 Jackson County CASA; Light of Hope Breakfast; The awardwinning Light of Hope Breakfast brings our community together to enjoy a free, plated breakfast while we share our story and honor special community partners, and an exceptional volunteer; Sheraton Kansas City Hotel at Crown Center; 7 a.m. Contact Lara Klover: 816-785-4097 or lklover@jacksoncountycasa-mo.org or jacksoncountycasa-mo.org.

10 SevenDays; Kindness Breakfast; Hosted by our 2024 Kindness Youth Leadership Team and special guests, you will leave inspired to promote kindness through education and dialogue. A highlight of the morning will be a focus on area youth spreading kindness and the 2024 Ripple of Kindness Award Winner; United Methodist Church of the Resurrection - Leawood Campus; 7:30 a.m. Contact Ruth Bigus: 913-707-7746 or ruth@sevendays.org or sevendays.org.

11 Bright Futures Fund; The 15th Annual School Bell Breakfast; Striving to make a Catholic education available to all those who want it, Bright Futures Fund’s School Bell Breakfast is a wonderful way to start your day. This award-winning gala features breakfast and a special keynote speaker; Arrowhead Stadium’s North Club; 7:30 a.m.; $50. Contact Christopher Hotchkiss: 816-756-1850 or hotchkiss@diocesekcsj.org or brightfuturesfund.org/schoolbellbreakfast.

11 Center for Practical Bioethics; 40th Anniversary Celebration Dinner; Keynote address by New York Times opinion writer Dr. Daniela Lamas, pulmonary/critical care physician, Brigham & Women’s Hospital, Boston, who writes about modern issues in medicine with real-life stories and compassion. Honorary Event Chairs Robin and Marc Hahn; The Abbott; 5:30 p.m.; $199. Contact Cindy Leyland: 816-979-1357 or cleyland@practicalbioethics.org or practicalbioethics.org/featured-event/40th-anniversary.

11 The Family Conservancy; Brew for Books; A laid-back benefit to get books into the hands of KC kids. Support early literacy and join us for Boulevard Beer, Waldo Pizza, an auction, and live music; Boulevard Brewing Company; 6 p.m. Contact Alyssa Perbeck: 913-742-4181 or aperbeck@tfckc.org or thefamilyconservancy.org.

11 Health Partnership Clinic; Opening Doors Luncheon Benefit; The annual fundraising luncheon raises critical funds for uninsured adults and children who need quality, accessible and affordable health care in Johnson, Miami, and Franklin Counties. Enjoy a patient’s testimonial and a video highlighting the clinic’s mission in action; Overland Park Convention Center; 11:30 a.m.; $100. Contact Drew Meyer: 913-276-7012 or dmeyer@hpcks.org or hpcks.org.

13 Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Kansas City; Kids Night Out 2024; Enjoy dinner, silent and live auctions, and an interactive program featuring a performance by Thomas Rhett; Overland Park Convention Center; 5 p.m.; $600. Contact Julie Kaul: 816-462-0131 or jkaul@helpkckids.org or kidsnightoutkc.com.

13 The Children’s Place; Party for The Place; With a delicious dinner, mission-filled program, and exciting auction, this highly anticipated event culminates with an after party with music and dancing; Muehlebach Tower of the Kansas City Marriott Downtown; 5:30 p.m. Contact Denton Williams: 816-363-1898 or williamsd@childrensplacekc.org or childrensplacekc.org/party.

13 Kansas City Ballet, BARRE KC; Kansas City Ballet, BARRE KC Soirée; Dance the night away with friends and enjoy drinks, appetizers, and performances by the Ballet’s Second Company. Proceeds help fund the R.O.A.D. Scholarship Program; Crossroads Hotel; 6 p.m. Contact Alexis Strauss: 816-931-2232 or barre@kcballet.org or barresoiree.org.

13 KC Pet Project; KC Pet Project 5K; Join KC Pet Project to compete in the annual KC Pet Project 5K in Swope Park! All participants get a commemorative medal. Sign up to support the 16,000 homeless, abandoned, and often injured pets that will arrive at KC Pet Project this year; Swope Park; 8 a.m. Contact Tori Fugate: 816-683-1340 or tori.fugate@kcpetproject.org or kcpetproject.org/5k.

13 University Academy Foundation; 22nd Annual Gala; Join us for a hole-in-fun event that supports UA students and alumni on their academic and career journeys. Enjoy themed mini-golf throughout the halls of UA, games, cocktails, prizes, a beautiful sit-down dinner, dancing, and inspiring stories from students and alumni; University Academy Foundation; 6:30 p.m. Contact Natalie Spar: 816-269-4586 or natalie@uafoundationkc.org or uafoundationkc.org/annual-gala.

16 Women’s Employment Network; WEN Annual Luncheon; For more than three decades, WEN has helped women in Kansas City on their way to financial independence. Join us for the WEN Annual Luncheon to celebrate our clients and hear how WEN advances positive change in the lives of women, their families and the community, one woman at a time; Sheraton Kansas City Hotel at Crown Center; 11:30 a.m.; $125. Contact Erin Cole: 816-822-8083 or ecole@kcwen.org or kcwen.org/luncheon.

17 City Year Kansas City; Idealist Gala; Guests will enjoy a cocktail hour, dinner, and programming, where we will celebrate our AmeriCorps members and their work in KCPS, along with community members who are showcasing idealism throughout the KC area; business attire; 5:30 p.m. Contact Bridget Barclay Sudol: 816-841-3506 or bridget.barclaysudol@cityyear.org or cityyear.org/kansascity.

17 Women’s Committee - UMKC Conservatory; UMKC Conservatory Scholarship Luncheon; Featuring a three-course lunch, silent auction, and musical performance by student scholarship recipients. The auction includes jewelry, home accessories, artwork, and gift certificates to restaurants and events; Indian Hills Country Club; 10:30 a.m.; $100. Contact Michele Hamlett-Weith: 913-269-1993 or mchwdc@gmail.com or conservatory.umkc.edu/alumni-and-giving/constituent-groups.

18 Reach Out and Read Kansas City; For the Love of Books; Enjoy a lively afternoon with a delicious lunch and an opportunity to learn about Reach Out and Read Kansas City; Grand Street Cafe; 11 a.m. Contact Jennie Andra: 913-558-3073 or jandra@kumc.edu or reachoutandreadkc.org.

18 Truman Library Institute; Wild About Harry; This is the 25th annual dinner supporting Harry Truman’s legacy and presidential library. Enjoy live music, a patriotic cocktail reception, and dinner, followed by the presentation of the 2024 Truman Legacy of Leadership Award, and a keynote address by best-selling author and journalist, Evan Thomas; Muehlebach Tower of the Kansas City Marriott Downtown; 6:15 p.m.; $200. Contact Kim Rausch: 816-400-1214 or kim.rausch@trumanlibraryinstitute.org or trumanlibraryinstitute.org/wild.

19 Heartland Therapeutic Riding; Tux ‘n’ Boots; Enjoy a night of fun and inspiration. Tux ‘n’ Boots boasts fabulous silent and live auctions, dinner, open bar, and dancing to the ever-popular sounds of Lost Wax. This one night provides more than 80 percent of HTR’s operating budget, so we would love to have you join us to support our riders; Heartland Therapeutic Riding Barn; 6 p.m. Contact Sarah Ferguson: 913-481-4963 or sarahferg0826@gmail.com or htrkc.org.

19 Job One; Cause-ino Night; Enjoy Vegas-style fun and play with purpose to benefit the mission of Job One. The evening will feature an appetizer buffet, bar, and entertainment, along with casino games, blackjack, mouse races, and more for a chance to win great prizes! Attire is “casino fabulous” – have fun with it; Arrowhead Stadium; 6 p.m.; $150. Contact Rebeca Swank: 816-905-6104 or rswank@jobonekc.org or causeino.org.

19 KVC Health Systems; KVC Gala at The Abbott; Enjoy mouthwatering food, overflowing cocktails, captivating live music by Lost Wax, and exciting surprises - all with a fun twist! All proceeds will benefit children and families in crisis served by KVC Health Systems; The Abbott. Contact Amanda Smasal: 913-912-0457 or asmasal@kvc.org or kvc.org/events.

20 Hillcrest Hope; Night of Hope Gala; Join us for the Rhinestone Rodeo. Dust off those boots and clean up those jeans, pearl snap it up or sundress it down. Grab those cowboy hats and get ready for a night of fun. Ride the bull… if you dare! The event will include silent and live auctions, and live entertainment by Travis Marvin; $100. Contact Dustin Prockish: 816-708-0171 or dustinp@hillcresthope.org or hillcresthope.org/events-calendar/night-of-hope.

20 Kansas City Friends of Alvin Ailey; 2024 Gala “United By Dance” 40 Years; The 2024 Gala features the magnificent Ailey II company at the Folly Theater. We will celebrate 40 years of dance, diversity, and arts education. A dinner celebration and the year’s best dance party will follow at the Kansas City Marriott Downtown; Folly Theater; 6 p.m. Contact Tamara Weaver: 816-471-6003 or tamara@kcfaa.org or kcfaa.org/ailey-ii.

REMEMBER WHEN

11 Years Ago

Rockhurst High School’s Mother Son Dinner Dance was held on February 17th at Union Station Kansas City. (Seated) Sandy Meredith, Cecelia Johnson, Cathy Fox, and Kathleen Wendland had a wonderful time with their sons, (standing) David Meredith, Connor Johnson, John Fox, and Pete Wendland.

Reprinted from the March 23, 2013 issue of The Independent.

20 The Kansas City Jazz Orchestra; States of Swing Jazz Club Gala benefiting the Kansas City Jazz Orchestra; The annual gala will transform the venue into a special, one-night-only jazz club full of fabulous fare, creative drinks, live and silent auctions, and dancing to the music that Kansas City and the orchestra know best, jazz; Mark One Electric Headquarters; 6 p.m. Contact Lea Petrie: 816-225-4949 or lea@kcjo.org or kcjo.org.

20 Lyric Opera of Kansas City; Lyric Opera Ball; The evening promises to be an elegant affair where we will toast and celebrate the Lyric Opera of Kansas City. Dinner followed by dancing to Lost Wax and a silent auction featuring carefully curated and unique experiences, exquisite trips, and one of a kind opportunities; Black tie is recommended; Muehlebach Tower of the Kansas City Marriott Downtown; 6 p.m. Contact Michael Breeden: 816-471-4933 or mbreeden@kcopera.org.

20 Rockhurst High School; Rockhurst Spectacular; Enjoy a livelythemed atmosphere with cocktails, a gourmet dinner, raffle games, and silent and live auctions. After the auction, enjoy dancing to the original party band Lost Wax; Rockhurst High School; 5:30 p.m.; $200. Contact Moira Healy: 816-363-2039 or mhealy@rockhursths.edu or rockhursths.edu/spectacular.

25 Hope House; Everyday Hero Luncheon; Join us as we honor those who give their time, talents, and resources to Hope House. This event recognizes supporters and volunteers of Hope House who have made a significant impact in 2023. The Everyday Hero Luncheon will consist of a meal followed by the award presentation and guest speaker; Farmhouse KC; 11:30 a.m. Contact Bri Otto: 573-286-7363 or botto@hopehouse.net or hopehouse.net/calendar-of-events.

26 CASA of Johnson & Wyandotte Counties; Promise of Hope: Champions of CASA; April is Child Abuse Prevention Month. Promise of Hope brings awareness to the issue of child abuse and its impact on the children CASA serves. This event inspires community engagement through education and impactful storytelling; CPKC Stadium at Berkley Riverfront Park; 6 p.m. Contact Keiasiah Mozee: 6400 Glenwood Street, Suite 100, Overland Park, Kansas 66202 or 913-715-4035 or kmozee@casajwc.com or casajwc.org.

26 sacred - Sexually Abused Children’s Relief Endeavor; CRYSTAL BALL - Celebrating 15 Years; The evening will feature the best wine and spirits auction in Kansas City. Guests begin with cocktails followed by dinner, a live auction, and dancing to hits by party band KC Flo; Marriott Kansas City Overland Park; 7 p.m.; $175. Contact Gina McCord: 913-314-3160 or gina@kidsaresacred.org or kidsaresacred.org/calendar-of-events.

27 Catholic Charities of Kansas City-St. Joseph; Celebration of Hope Gala; Join us, as we celebrate our accomplishments, but also celebrate the success of families achieving their dreams, too. Cocktail hour followed by a dinner and program; 6 p.m. Contact Susan Walker: 816-659-8218 or swalker@ccharities.com or catholiccharitiesgala.org.

27 Cristo Rey Kansas City; 18th Annual Dancing with the Kansas City Stars; Join us for the 18th Annual Dancing with the Kansas City Stars! This year’s theme is “A Night at the Copa.” Dress code is black tie; Sheraton Kansas City Hotel at Crown Center; 5 p.m.; $250. Contact Leslie Gasser: 816-595-2823 or lgasser@cristoreykc.org or cristoreykc.org.

27 GateWay of Hope; We Help Women 2024; We Help Women is GateWay of Hope’s luncheon featuring a delicious meal, entertainment, testimonials, raffle prizes, and an invitation to the community to support women’s mental health; Hilton Garden Inn Olathe; noon. Contact Alycia Keffer: 913-424-0908 or alyciag@gwhope.org or gwhope.org.

27 The Kansas City Automotive Museum; The Car Affair;  Join us for our reinvented annual Gala featuring a live auction, live art gallery, curated car display, and music and dancing. Enjoy elegant appetizers, our custom cocktail, and full bar under the Stars; The Underground; 5:30 p.m.; $125. Contact Marielena Marroquin: 913-322-4227 or mmarroquin@kcautomuseum.com or caraffairkc.com.

27 YMCA of Greater Kansas City; Challenge Your Fashion; YMCA Challenger athletes and buddies will walk the runway with current and former players from local teams. The event features dinner, silent and live auctions, and live music, and benefits the Y’s Challenger sports program and accessible sports complex for young people with disabilities; Kansas City Marriott Downtown; 6 p.m. Contact Jessica Earnshaw: 816-561-9622 or jessicaearnshaw@kansascityymca.org or kansascityymca.org/challengeyourfashion.

OurTown

28 Children’s Center for the Visually Impaired; CCVI Trolley Run; Lace up for Kansas City’s most inspiring race! Trolley Run is the largest fundraiser for CCVI. We’re about bringing the community together for an amazing cause – no experience or athletic ability required. This four-mile walk/run tours Waldo, Brookside, and the Plaza; Country Club Plaza; 7:30 a.m. Contact Alyssa Bird: 816-841-2284 or abird@ccvi.org or trolleyrun.org.

29 Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas; The 43rd Annual Ben and Betty Zarda Family Golf Classic; Join us for a round of golf at the beautiful Canyon Farms Golf Club and help us drive out hunger in our community, all while celebrating 43 years of the golf classic and the legacy of Ben and Betty Zarda; Canyon Farms Golf Club. Contact Lindsay Smither: 913-433-2068 or lsmither@catholiccharitiesks.org or catholiccharitiesgolfclassic.org.

MAY

1 Metropolitan Organization to Counter Sexual Assault (MOCSA); Community Luncheon; With an anticipated crowd of 1,000 guests, the luncheon highlights the importance of spreading awareness of sexual violence, and raising the needed funding to support our community’s children and families in crisis; Muehlebach Tower of the Kansas City Marriott Downtown; 11:30 a.m. Contact Sandra Williams: 816-285-1341 or swilliams@mocsa.org or mocsa.org/luncheon.

by Charlie Podrebarac

Non-profit

Publisher

Rachel Lewis Falcon

Lauren Cashman

Performing Arts Editor • Paul Horsley

Content Manager • Anne Potter Russ Director of Program Guide Operations

Christin Painter

Office and Circulation Manager • Laura Gabriel Feature Writers

Monica V. Reynolds and Anne Potter Russ

Cartoonist • Charlie Podrebarac

2 American Lung Association in Kansas & Greater Kansas City; LUNG FORCE Gala; Bringing together the Kansas and Greater Kansas City communities to highlight lung health champions, celebrate advancements in lung health, and to raise additional funding and hope for the year to come. The event includes live and silent auctions, a short program, and the Legacy Award Recognition; GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium; 5:30 p.m; $200. Contact Tammy Rock: 913-353-9166 or tammy.rock@lung.org or onecause/2024lungforcegala.

2 Kansas City Art Institute; ArtPop; Revel in the excitement of ArtPop, when the KCAI campus becomes a thrilling festival of art and design. Enjoy a progressive party with curated bites and cocktails as you wander through the studios, meet faculty and students, and view and purchase student art; Kansas City Art Institute; 6:30 p.m. Contact Angela Barr: 816-802-3521 or events@kcai.edu or kcai.edu/artpop.

2 National Kidney Foundation; Magic of Giving - Great Plates; Mix and mingle while delighting in the mouthwatering creations of local chefs. They will pull out all the stops to win Best Dish and People’s Choice Awards, and your tastebuds will reap the benefits of the competition. Bid on silent and live auctions and hear heartwarming stories at this casual event; Rumely Historic Event Space; 5:30 p.m.; $50. Contact Tori Snowden: 913-262-1551 or tori.snowden@kidney.org or kidney.org/magicofgiving.

2-3 The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art; ShuttleCork; Enjoy dinners in private homes on Thursday night, then join the Grand Tasting at the Museum on Friday evening, featuring fine wine and food samples from vintners and Kansas City chefs. The tasting will be followed by a lively auction of luxury items and an after party with more wine, music, and delectables; The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art; 5:30 p.m. Contact Emily Sanger: 816-751-1360 or esanger@nelson-atkins.org or shuttlecork.org.

4 Growing Futures Early Education Center; Run for the Roses Kentucky Derby Fundraiser; We’re off to the races with this unique fundraiser benefiting Growing Futures Early Education Center. Run for the Roses Kentucky Derby Fundraiser will include premium drinks, gourmet appetizers, a whisky tasting, fun entertainment, and activities. Must be 21 and over to attend; Union Horse Distilling Co. Contact Jessica Hoffman: 913-649-9714 or jhoffman@growingfutureseec.org or growingfutureseec.org.

4 JDRF Kansas & Missouri Chapter; Dream Gala Kansas City; The Dream Gala is a black-tie-optional event, which includes a seated dinner, exquisite silent auction, exciting live auction, and inspiring Fund A Cure; Kansas City Marriott Downtown; 5:30 p.m. Contact Madison Mueller: 816-534-5318 or mmueller@jdrf.org.

4 Kansas City Museum; The Derby Party; Guest will enjoy live music, cocktails, mocktails, beer, southern bites, and the best Derby fashion in Kansas City! Don your best outfit on one of the most iconic lawns of Kansas City; Kansas City Museum; 3 p.m.; $100. Contact Paul Gutierrez: 816-702-7705 or pgutierrez@kansascitymuseum.org or kansascitymuseum.org.

6 HNC Living Foundation; Annual Golf Invitational; This prestigious tournament hosts two-person teams who enjoy a top-shelf, fast-paced golf tournament at Oakwood Country Club. From the rolling greens and the premium food and beverages, to the high-caliber company and level of play, guests can expect an unmatched single day tournament experience; Oakwood Country Club; 11 a.m. Contact Alyssa LaVelle: 913-402-6028 or alyssa@hncliving.org or hncliving.org/news-and-events/hncgolfinvitational.

9 Welcome House; 11th Annual Welcome House Breakfast; A complimentary inspirational breakfast event featuring David Feherty and Tom Watson, and a live auction. Plus, Kansas City’s most exciting raffle contest with spectacular prizes such as motorcycles, unique trips, and a once-in-a-lifetime round of golf with the legendary Tom Watson; Overland Park Convention Center. Contact Christy Wineland: 816-472-0760 or christyw@welcomehousekc.org or welcomehousekc.org.

10 Life Unlimited; Hats Off to Mothers; Hats Off to Mothers is an annual event that recognizes mothers who have demonstrated the remarkable ability to balance family life, personal achievement and service to our community; Sheraton Kansas City Hotel at Crown Center; 11 a.m.; $125. Contact Andrea Adams: 913-787-7190 or aadams@luinc.org or lifeunlimitedinc.org/hotm.

The on Society

A Smile And A Stethoscope

This is the face of a dream in action; a young girl who is inspired by what she sees and experiences. Her dreams and aspirations are in the hands of women everywhere, right now. We could not have summed up what this beautiful photo means any better than the two women of substance quoted here.

“The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.”

– Eleanor Roosevelt

“Honor your daughters. They are honorable.”

– Malala Yousafzai

A participant in Deron Cherry’s Score 1 for Health screenings dreams big!