Questionnaire
Tricia Bushnell
Legal director, the Midwest Innocence Project
YOUR LOGO HERE
Hometown: Ventura, California Current neighborhood: Volker What I do (in 140 characters): I represent folks
who are convicted of crimes they say they did not commit and prove their innocence. I tell the untold stories.
What’s your addiction? Barbells and youngadult fiction. Also, Twitter.
What’s your game? Roller derby. It’s a true
sport. Offense and defense played at the same time? In the same direction? Kansas City has some of the best in the country. Go watch the Kansas City Roller Warriors, if you haven’t already.
What’s your drink? Decaf coffee, unless it’s one Where’s dinner? Probably at my house or
my office. If I can get out, though, then I try to take it easy at some local celiac-friendly favorites like the Green Room, Eden Alley or Beer Kitchen. The more important questions: “Where’s brunch?” and “Where’s dessert?” Tell me your secrets, Kansas Citians.
More
Q&As
W hat ’s on your KC postcard? Pictures of
our amazing coffee, beer and chocolate. And maybe a steak. t a ine I mean, really, who Onl .com doesn’t love these pitch things? I’d want to visit.
Finish this sentence: “Kansas City got it right when …” It “stole” the Folk Alliance Confer-
ence. If you didn’t go this year, you should. Powerful talent + intimate venues + perfect sound mixing + no wait through an opening act = a concertgoer’s dream.
“Kansas City screwed up when …” It became
acceptable to use “east of Troost” as a euphemism for race. The terminology doesn’t fool anyone. And it doesn’t change the fact that the folks who live there are just people like me and everyone else. The difference is that no one is using geographic terms to gloss over and forget me.
“Kansas City needs …” Better public transportation and a renewed commitment to community. We’re a vast city with diverse populations and diverse interests; until we connect people, we cannot connect ideas.
s a b r i n a s ta i r e s
of those days; then bourbon, neat.
“In five years, I’ll be …” A little older and a
little more tired, but probably doing exactly the same thing. There’s a lot of injustice in the world.
“I always laugh at …” Dogs wearing booties and
bad puns. They are my bad-mood kryptonite.
“I’ve been known to binge-watch …” British television shows, Korean soap operas, and incredibly depressing documentaries. The Inbetweeners, Secret Garden and Into the Abyss are some of my faves. “I can’t stop listening to …” The Ignition (Remix)
Pandora station; Della Mae; and the Chvrches cover of Janelle Monáe’s “Tightrope.”
“I just read …” A bunch of legal opinions, briefs, my Feedly and e-mail. Always e-mail. I did manage to sneak in Max Barry’s Lexicon and Mike Mullin’s Ashfall for fun. The best advice I ever got: “You’re all right. The world’s messed up.” My grandfather used to say this to me when I’d fall down as a kid. I find it’s applicable in most situations. Worst advice: To calm down/not take things
so seriously. I’d say there isn’t enough outrage. Some things are very serious and demand both our attention and our action.
My sidekick: My dog. I think she has more friends than I do. My dating triumph/tragedy: Google Fiber and
Netflix
My brush with fame: I was once stuck overnight at an airport hotel in Chicago because of weather and saw both Don King and the New York Jets at the hotel bar. I also got Muhammad Ali’s autograph when I was a kid. My 140-character soapbox: Care less about
what others think about you and more about why you think certain things about others. Do good. Assume wisdom. Fear no man.
What was the last thing you had to apologize for? Arriving late. Being loud. Forgetting
a birthday. Misspeaking. You know, all of the regular things that come with being a human.
Who’s sorry now? Me, for not being a better-
quality human.
My recent triumph: Getting the headings
and page numbering to work in Word on a filing day. Why is this always so hard? Someone needs to invent a deadline-proof wordprocessing program.
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