Newsletter (Jan-Mar)
1. Winter Fest & Steering Committee Meeting
Get ready, because we are now taking reservations for our Winter Fest event! After having to postpone this event due to COVID concerns, we are excited to be able to present updates on the NE KCK Heritage Trail Project. Register online to hear all of the exciting news firsthand. As we celebrate our progress, help us continue to plan the best urban trail in the area. This socially-distanced, family-friendly event will take place on Thursday, March 10th, starting at 4:00 pm and going until 8:00 pm. at the Beatrice Lee Community Center (1310 N. 10th St).
You can also join our sixth Steering Committee meeting, Friday, February 18th on Zoom. This meeting is open to all and will include a preview of materials that we will be presenting to the community at Winter Fest (March 10th), including the initial trail routes, branding concepts, and options for Jersey Creek Trail Improvements. Register for the online Steering Committee meeting here.
We look forward to your attendance and participation!
2. Peer Learning Workshops
Starting this spring, we will be holding a series of peer learning workshops, each of which will engage Northeast KCK residents on topics related to strengthening and future-proofing our neighborhoods. The three sets of workshops will each address a different topic and pay residents $50 for each two-hour session attended.
a) Affordable Housing Workshops
By listening to residents’ stories and bringing them to the attention of the Unified Government, Groundwork was able to convince the UG to postpone its planned sale of owner-occupied tax delinquent homes in October. However, it will take much more sustained engagement to ensure that affordable housing becomes a reality for residents of Northeast KCK. Topics like upcoming tax sales of owner-occupied homes and the large proportion of the Northeast’s property held in the UG’s land bank will be explored by this series of workshops.
b) Climate Safe KCK Workshops
Northeast KCK will face new challenges from climate change in coming years. Learn how utilities, health, and homes are impacted, and what to do about it. This series of workshops will cover the history of redlining in KCK, connections between disinvestment and climate vulnerability, solutions for making local neighborhoods climate safe, and next steps to organize neighbors for a climate safe neighborhood.
c) Internet & Computer Access Workshops
Preparing Northeast KCK to compete in an ever-changing economy means keeping up to date with the changing landscape of technology. These workshops will focus on supporting residents in learning basic computer and internet skills to help get them job-ready and ensure they are able to access important services. The workshops will also engage with the broader set of opportunities currently available to get the northeast connected, including the Affordable Connectivity Program and new money for infrastructure improvements coming into the area.
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Updates about the peer learning workshops—including dates and information about how to participate—will be available soon on our website and in upcoming newsletters. In the meantime, please follow the link below to RSVP.
3. Green Team Update
The Green Team, led by Brenda Brinkhous-Hatch, has been extremely busy this past quarter. They took on projects like beautifying the 710 Oakland site and getting it ready for the new Tool Lending Library which will launch in March 2022. Besides landscaping, they were engaged in interviewing residents of the northeast corridor of Kansas City, Kansas. The project, called History Catching, logged many hours of conversations with community members to capture their memories of this history rich area. Some of the recordings may eventually be used along the NEKCK Heritage Trail for audio presentations. And, last but not least, the Green Team’s culinary skills were put to the test, and they passed with flying colors.
4. Artist in Residence Tour
Groundwork NRG recently welcomed Community Housing of Wyandotte County’s new Artist in Fellowship, Patricia Bordallo Dibildox, and offered to show her some of the major points of interest along the proposed NE KCK Heritage Trail. Ms. Bordallo hails from Mexico and is new to Kansas. She accompanied staff members from Groundwork and CHWC, and Hildred Townsend on the tour. The group visited Kaw Point Park, Quindaro Townsite Commemorative Park, (Formerly) Vernon Elementary School, Sumner Academy, Parkwood Park, and other sites.
5. Technology Library Launch
Groundwork NRG is proud to launch the pilot for our new Technology Library! We’re excited about this opportunity to support residents of Northeast KCK by providing direct access to digital technology. The library is launching with two types of devices: laptop computers and WiFi hotspots, which provide a mobile source of unlimited internet. During this initial pilot period we will be lending out devices for two weeks at a time, with the option to renew depending on device availability.
Pick up from:
The Village Initiative Inc | 3004 N 27th St KCK 66104
Monday-Friday 10-2pm call 913-291-1600 to arrange a pickup
St. Paul's Episcopal Church | 1300 N 18th Street KCK 66102
Monday-Thursday 10-4pm, call 913-321-3535 to arrange a pickup
Groundwork NRG/CHC | 803 Armstrong Ave KCK 66101
Monday-Friday 10-4pm
If you’d like to request to borrow a device via email, or you have questions, please contact gwnrg.library@northeastkck.org with your name, contact information, and whether you’d like to borrow a computer, hotspot, or both. Individuals with transportation or mobility restrictions can ask to have a device delivered to them by calling/texting 913-608-9338 or contacting us via email.
6. Staff Retreat & New Staff
The Groundwork Northeast Revitalization Group plays as hard as it works! To form a more cohesive bond and focus on the future of the organization, the staff took a weekend to strategize and make plans to serve more people with less stress in our lives. There were videos, break-out groups, and lots of lively discussions. The location lends itself to introspective walks along its trails and bunks in comfy ‘tiny’ cabins surrounded by the beauty of nature.
As we expand our reach through new programs and projects, we’ve also added new staff to help shoulder the burden. Look below to see the new faces joining our team!
