Residents in or near southwest Kansas are encouraged to register now to reserve a space at the upcoming “Ideas Into Action” workshop, a free event happening in Dodge City on Thursday, August 13, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Western State Bank Expo Center. Organized by the Kansas Rural Center, this non-partisan workshop aims to inspire and activate public action around issues that matter to the Kansans who attend. Lunch will be provided by Red Tractor, a new up and coming restaurant in Greensburg.

Dodge City – August 13–View an AGENDA & Register Now!

This Dodge City event is one of four workshops in KRC’s Feeding Kansas: Ideas Into Action series. Each workshop feature presentations and an opportunity to dialogue with guest speakers working on the frontlines of positive change, for the good of the Kansas food system. After a wholesome lunch, several concurrent sessions will provide participants with strategic advocacy tools and tactics for raising awareness and creating change around the issues that matter to them.

Morning presentations and panelists include:

• Bertha Mendoza and Ethel Schneweis, K-State Extension – to describe the food access environment and health issues they address through their work in southwest Kansas;
• Sister Janice Thome, educator and nun at Dominican Sisters Ministry of Presence, a direct ministry with the economic poor – to tell the story of Garden City’s oldest and most rapidly expanding, multi-ethnic community garden and share lessons learned from decades serving Kansans with food access challenges;
• Andi and Kurt Dale, multi-generational ranchers at Dale Family Farm in Protection – to tell the story of how they have been able to work with decision-makers and influence policies in a way that allows them to make a more viable living from their farm;
• David Coltrain, Steward County Community College Sustainable Agriculture Resources Program Specialist and statewide Local Food and Farm Task Force member – to discuss the Task Force and how the public can get involved in shaping its recommendations to the legislature;
• Cole Cottin, Kansas Rural Center – to discuss the goals outlined in KRC’s Feeding Kansas report and how participants can help make those goals a reality this year, and beyond. A summary of the report will be provided. The full report can be found at: org/Feeding-Kansas.

Afternoon concurrent sessions include:

• How to Have a Voice In Politics: Leveraging Local Coalitions to Bring About Change – Missty Lechner of the Kansas Alliance for Wellness will share information on what it takes to pull together a task force or council to empower community members to shape local policy. Participants will then be supported by Missty, KRC staff, and others in the room, as they brainstorm how to cultivate or strengthen coalitions in their own unique location and situation.
• Strategic Communication with Decision-Makers – Participants will learn to identify which decision-maker(s) have power to change a particular issue, and how best to approach the target decision-maker(s) to persuade them towards their cause. One or more County Commissioner will be present to share their perspective. (Encourage your commissioner to attend!)
• Communicating with the Media – High Plains/Midwest Ag  Journal Associate Editor Jennifer Latzke will guide participants through major points of communicating with reporters, so that the intended message comes across clearly. Participants will receive information on how to get the media to cover an important issue or event, tips for writing an impactful “op-ed”, and more.

Other “Ideas Into Action” workshops to be held across Kansas this year include:

• Colby – August 12 at the Colby Community Building
• El Dorado – September 23 at the El Dorado Civic Center
• Manhattan – September 24 at the Manhattan Public Library.

Questions about KRC’s “Ideas Into Action” workshop series may be directed towards Natalie Fullerton, KRC Program Director, at nfullerton@kansasruralcenter.org or (866) 579-5469.

The mission of KRC, founded in 1979, is to promote the long-term health of the land and its people through community-based research, education, and advocacy that advances an economically viable, ecologically sound, and socially just food and farming system in Kansas. For more information, visit kansasruralcenter.org.