by Natalie Fullerton

Being informed is critical to the choices we make. This is as true for community decisions and public policy decisions, as it is for individual and family decisions. The Kansas Rural Center wants Kansans to be informed and equipped to use their power to vote as a critical way to take action in their communities and state.

This summer KRC will travel around the state to host several Feeding Kansas Forums which aim to help inform on federal and state level food and farm policy updates, local level efforts to strengthen food and farm systems, and dialogue about civic engagement and ways to work together to reach the common vision of a healthy food and farm system.

The forums will provide time and space for farmers, ranchers, public health professionals, community leaders, policy maker’s food, and other farm and community advocates to share ideas and information about mobilizing for change.

“With an emphasis on the power Kansans have to create the changes they seek, we hope folks will use these forums as an opportunity to talk about what’s needed in their communities, region, or state and how to encourage peers to head to the polls, write letters to the editor, or other ways to strengthen civic engagement,” says Natalie Fullerton, Program Director at the Kansas Rural Center.

Each forum will include a complimentary dinner, presenters, and the opportunity to visit with other attendees.  Tentative locations include Norton, Cimarron, Girard and Concordia.  Stay tuned for dates and agendas.

These forums are part of KRC’s  “Community Food Solutions for a Healthier Kansas” initiative and Integrated Voter Engagement project, which aims to improve economy, community, environment, and health in Kansas by strengthening civic engagement and public policy support that better incorporates Kansas farms and communities into the state’s healthy food supply chain.

Contact Natalie at nfullerton@kansasruralcenter.org.