Kansans interested in effecting positive change in their communities are encouraged to register now to attend the Kansas Rural Center’s “Ideas Into Action” workshop, a free event happening in El Dorado on Wednesday, September 23, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., at the El Dorado Civic Center. This non-partisan workshop aims to inspire and activate public action around issues that matter to Kansans. The event includes interactive advocacy training, and an opportunity to learn about a range of groups working to support farms and improve health locally and statewide. Lunch will be provided by Jacob’s Well, El Dorado, http://ilovethewell.com/info/menu/.

A detailed agenda of the day and registration information for this event are available online at: kansasruralcenter.org/ideas-into-action-registration.

This El Dorado event is the third of four workshops in KRC’s Feeding Kansas: Ideas Into Action series. Each workshop features 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:

• Jennifer Cook – City of El Dorado, Activity, Sales and Services Director. Cook will discuss how recent changes at the El Dorado Farmer’s Market will help increase access to healthy foods in their community;
• Lauren Scislowski – Legacy Garden Works, Program Director. Scislowski will share stories from her experiences working directly with individuals and families facing food access challenges, as well as the political climate that shapes her work;
• Senator Dan Kerschen – State Senator, District 26, and member of the statewide Local Food and Farm Task Force. Kerschen will reveal how connecting with individuals and listening to their stories has influenced his work as a legislator. He will also describe what’s happening with the governor-appointed Local Food and Farm Task Force;
• Missty Lechner – Kansas Alliance for Wellness, Project Director. Lechner will talk about the power of community coalitions, where and how they are forming across Kansas, and what types of changes those coalitions have already made in their regions;
• Cole Cottin – Kansas Rural Center, Advocacy Coordinator. Cottin will 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: http://kansasruralcenter.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. Senator Kerschen will be present to share his perspective as an insider. (Other policymakers are encouraged to attend!)
• Communicating with the Media – Regina Murphy, Reporter at the Emporia Gazette, will provide strategies for communicating effectively with reporters so that their intended message comes across clearly, how to get the media to cover an important issue or event, and tips for writing an impactful “op-ed.”

The final “Ideas into Action” workshop for 2015 will be held in Manhattan, September 24, at the Manhattan Public Library. Two previous workshops were held in Colby and Dodge City in August.

Please register to secure space and lunch at: kansasruralcenter.org/ideas-into-action-registration.

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.