Hi Richard;

 I am doing the Auditor Training with Russ out here in cold, windy, Greensburg, Ks.. 

At the Breaking The Silence Conference, our breakout session went pretty well.  I think that since I got caught in the effects of the radically cold weather and couldn't get up there until Saturday morning, I wasn't as effective as I was hoping.   The audience was responsive and seemed to be interested in what Craig and I had to offer.  If I could have gotten there on Friday as I had planned, I may have gotten more interest in the display table that I had set up.  My Idea was to visit with people about the simple ideas that I had for display, window solar collector, solar ovens, simple cold frame, etc.

   I agree with the idea of possibly changing the time for the conference to a different date.  If it was done in better weather time (spring, fall) maybe an outside/inside venue idea would be good.  I'm an outside person, so I really like outside venues and the Breaking the Silence Conference would fit in nicely with the block party idea.  Obviously the weather is something to deal with.  What about blocking off part of the street up by the Q Brew for an all day/weekend celebration of the community with local food, local music, local street theatre, etc.  Bus excursions could be set up to see some of the work being done on efficient rehabs; youth build projects, community gardens, etc. Workshops could be presented in several tents scattered around the area, or inside the Q, etc. Local food groups from across the region (KC Mo., Lawrence, Kaw Valley, etc.) KC area local music of all kinds, KKFI broadcasting, with all local businesses given low rate booths, to help them get the word out to their neighborhood, (everything from the local web page guy to the lady who makes straw brooms).

   I think a legislative and local govt. summit incorporated into the gathering would also be good.  Your local groups as well as the mayor’s office, local officials, and state legislators and state depts. /etc.

A gathering or hospitality tent would be nice where anyone could meet with anyone else to carry discussions along further.

So there are some of my thoughts.  This year's conference was good despite the weather but as you know, we can always make it bigger and better and as we both understand, developing the conference starts now in the continued work of developing our communities in a more sustainable manner.  Please keep me in the loop in whatever way works.  I continue to look forward to our visits and I want to do whatever I can to help my friends in the KCK community.  Take Care;   Bill

Richard - thanks for your note.......  you and the Executive Planning Committee for the Annual Breaking the Silence Conference received the notes and written follow up materials on the Workshop on Race, Unemployment and Data put on by Nolen M. Ellison, The Seed CenterKC and Lazone Grays, IBSA, Inc..

This material was forwarded to everyone leaving their e-mail addresses for the workshop presenters.   Follow up activities with KKFI and other venues have been implemented.   A structure for continuation leadership and activities was established and approved.  Priority energy/green/waste recycling projects linked to job creation opportunities were identified that deserves ongoing attention.    Networking with key community building initiatives in the Weed and Seed Community as well as in the Quindaro Northeast Community East of I-635 are underway.

Key MOU relationships with the Quindaro Northeast Neighborhood Association, the Oak Grove Neighborhood Association, Douglass-Sumner Neighborhood Association, NEDC (and Turner House Training Center), and the Weed and Seed Safe Haven Initiatives have been established as part of the larger umbrella - "Unity In the Community" Initiative.   Network relationships have been established with Booker T. Washington's Great Granddaughter in Oakland California.   A visit has been planned with the BTW Legacy Initiative there in May.   The Seed CenterKC and the Workshop Team have forged direct links with Nae Davis and the Chicago Blacks In Green/Underground RR initiative

Richard,

I enjoyed reading your evaluation.  I appreciate your candid way of addressing the hard stuff.  I think anyone reading would come away feeling that the conference was a success.

My session on Environmental Medicine was very well received.  The The food was very good and I appreciated the vegarian fare. The keynote speakers were excellent!

 Despite the weather, my experience was that the conference was quite good on the day I was I was in attendance.  I have to say that I wasn't aware of much advertising on the Missouri side.  Maybe something to consider - reaching farther to draw more participants?

Have a blessed day.
Lori Blankinship, ND
Village Medicine,LLC
YOUR SOURCE FOR NATURAL HEALTH & WELLNESS
Office: 913-915-2156
Webpage: www.myvillagemedicine.com

e-mail: villagemedicine@yahoo.com

The Breaking the Silence Conference

By Dolores Daniels 

E-mail address doloresd@kckcc.edu

She was our in house Media Lady

While I am sitting here waiting on the birth of my first grandchild, I cannot help but wonder about the world that I will be leaving her.  As a person of color, the carbon footprint issue really scares me. That is why having a chance to attend the Breaking the Silence was such a rewarding experience. Being able to meet so many believers (in a non-faith sense) that the possibility of changing the world and the environment was within our reach, has now made me a believer too.

Waiting for the birth of my grandchild has placed the responsibility of what I leave behind or better yet in front of me more important than ever before. I realize now I need to push forward to be a better steward for the part of the planet I occupy. .

The Breaking the Silence conference also placed a desire in me to research my roots, to see where I really do come from.  Keynote speaker Sarah Rush the Great granddaughter of Booker T Washington, empowered everyone to research their roots to learn their family’s history, so they in turn could teach their children too.

Dr. Lois Blankenship, ND a resource for natural health and wellness, showed me that medicine in the truest form has it place, but with children and adults that have non-traditional illness, a more healthy natural approach needs to be discovered. 

Overall, the conference has filled my bucket (so to speak) with a valuable tool that has already started me to make the kind of changes that are within my power. I now find ways to detoxify my carbon footprint, which I know will create a small haven for my children and my granddaughter.

This is why I feel supporting the endeavors of the Breaking the Silence Conference is so important.  I am also proud to work for an employer, Kansas City Kansas Community College that also sees the importance of financially supporting the conference too.  They understands the importance of bringing others to the table and talking about the issues, which affect not just the adults but also the future students that will grace the halls of their college.

The need to face and changes to our carbon footprints clearly is supported by administers, deans, provosts, president and the board of trustee at the college. 

These steps are all in the right direction, because the legacy we have established will continue to educate our future generations, to include my granddaughter.

Thanks you “Breaking the Silence” for enriching our life so others could make the needed changes in their life too.

Michael Hotz

mihotz@kckps.org

Richard
I had a few people at my session.  I scaled it down because of where I was.  I was able to use the light board and show what the kids are doing at our school.  I was going to go into what energy was etc but changed it to a demonstration and casual visit about how to save electricity.

I think that it would be good to have 45 minute sessions as well as 90 minute sessions.

I want to get kids involved in the presentation part but the weather did not help us on this one.

I think if we got to the principals of the high schools that it would help us get the word out.

I agree a better time of year might be good--maybe the first week of spring before everyone gets out into the yards and other activities.

I appreciated the conference and think it is great to see the participation and the number of sessions.  Keep up the good work.

Michael Hotz

Hello Everyone:

Again, it has been my profound pleasure to be a part of the BTSC this year. It was outstanding and a great success in spite of the nay sayers, the inclement weather, the lack of funds, sickness, disappointing surprises, and all of those other things that "just happen," it didn't stop the good that was suppose to happen!

I have been in contact with most of the Vendors (which were just enough) for this Conference and even surprising in numbers. They lavished their praises on the excellence of the entire conference stating that the food was excellent, the speakers engaging, the workshops enlightening, and the networking opportunities available. They have all asked to be put on the Vendors list for the next Conference. Dr. Blankinship( Natural Medicine Workshop) writes that her workshops were well received and that she was "refreshed" by the entire experience. She will be on board next year!

Going forward, as we plan and get on one accord for the next Conference we can only make the Best Better!

Brenda Sanders

Vendors Coordinator