Partnerships with purpose

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Looking to Learn more About our recent partnerships?

Sion Student looking to connect with a local professional?

Local Professional
Looking to Connect
​with a Sion Student or Team?
Mayor Quinton Lucas
Members of InnovateHer @ Spark KC
Burns & McDonnell
Nathaniel Bozarth, DeBruce Foundation
Cultivate KC @ Plexpod Westport
Della Lamb Community Services

varietykc: Ali O'grady

  Community Liaison Officer​

VarietyKC works throughout the Kansas City area removing mobility and communication barriers by funding necessary equipment and devices not covered by insurance. Their mission is to “provide children with developmental disabilities the adaptive equipment and opportunities needed for activity and inclusion.” Inclusion and socialization is a massive aspect of mental health in all children, they ensure the same standard of everyday opportunities for children with differences. Variety KC is the perfect partner for us because of their drive and passion to make the world a more accessible place for children with disabilities. 
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We specifically worked with Ali O’Grady, their Community Liaison Officer, to create our project. Ali has a son with autism, making our cause dear to her heart. She inspired us to keep pushing hard and moving forward because of her enthusiasm and need for our detailed plan. 

Bailey Biggs and Penelope Guezuraga, ConnectAbility 

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Mayor Quinton Lucas

Mayor of kansas city, missouri 

Designing Dignity has greatly benefitted from meeting with Mayor Lucas to discuss our project and goals for outreach. Through his ZERO KC plan to end homelessness in Kansas City, zero-fare transit initiative, and the city’s first Housing Trust Fund, Mayor Lucas’s activism to support the houseless individuals in Kansas City inspired our team immensely. Likewise, his plan aligns with our team’s goals for our project. He was very enthusiastic about our project and proposed that we continue working on it in partnership with his team. We plan to intern at the Mayor’s Office next semester to develop and refine our map and discuss the best ways to make our map the most accessible to those who could benefit from it. 

Lucy Shively, Anna Gillespie & Noelle Bertrand 
Designing Dignity

Alexis Martin

Social services manager at Reconciliation services 

The Designing Dignity team has greatly benefited from connecting with Alexis Martin and Reconciliation Services. Through this connection, we had the unique opportunity to interview Alexis, gathering valuable information about the cycle of homelessness and poverty. We learned there is no “perfect solution” to homelessness; instead, it should be treated as a case-by-case scenario. Alexis and the Reconciliation Services team played a significant role in our project, allowing us to shadow different positions, gaining a first-hand understanding of the important work that Reconciliation Services does as well as the experience of people facing homelessness and poverty. The insight we gained at Reconciliation Services was impactful for our project because it allowed us to grasp how we can help those directly experiencing homelessness and poverty and the organizations aiding those people. 

Lucy Shively, Anna Gillespie & Noelle Bertrand 
​Designing Dignity

Ronda Law

Founder of CritterHouse KC

CritterHouse KC is a small local animal rescue organization specializing in finding foster homes and caring for animals in some of the most challenging situations. They have great veterinary and rescue group connections that have allowed them to have low-cost adoptions after providing the appropriate vaccines and microchips. They hold monthly adoption events and have helped many animals find their forever home. 
Ronda has always been passionate about rescuing animals, being in this line of work for over 25 years. Before starting CritterHouse KC with her daughter, Randi, she worked at a larger shelter with a more corporate atmosphere. This encouraged her to leave and start her own non-profit organization on personal connections with foster parents and animals.

Daniela Castro-Carrera, Delaney Reidy, Maddie Shipley
​PAWSitive Impacts KC

Linda Hughes

Program Manager for Community outreach at lead to read

YOUth United’s first encounter with Linda Hughes was her presentation to our class about Lead to Read KC. She is the organization’s Program Manager for Community Outreach and works to improve literacy around the Kansas City area at high-need schools. After scheduling an interview with her, we learned more about the Kansas City community's literacy problem and the need for bilingual books in the area. We were thrilled because our values perfectly aligned, and we instantly knew that Hughes would be an excellent person to partner with because of her passion for reading, justice, and service. Hughes has assisted us with many components of our project. From empathy interviews to media outreach, she has played a vital role in our success. She has been an amazing mentor, and her passion for our book drive has pushed us to work even harder. We know that the bond we’ve created with Hughes will go beyond our work with her this semester, and we hope to connect with this program and continue to improve literacy in our community in the future. 
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​​Mark Schuetz
Owner of Schuetz Driving School
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​   Schuetz Driving School provides teenagers with high quality driving instruction
and is located in Olathe, Kansas. Their program is centered around a caring and
friendly approach and they believe that a patient and positive attitude creates the
most success outcomes with longevity.  We worked directly with Mark Schuetz,
the owner and instructor, and our infographics will be featured in their school
and distributed to the parents of the teenagers that go through their driving
​program.

Natalie Stapp, Lauryn Murphy, and DeeDee Cohen
No. Questions. Asked.

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​Dan Backhaus
Owner of Liberty-Park Hill Driving School

Liberty-Park Hill Driving School is another proud partner of the No. Questions.
Asked. Campaign, and is located in Kansas City, Missouri near Liberty, Missouri.
Our campaign has greatly benefited from our connection with Dan Backhaus,
the owner and operator, who has dedicated to issuing our infographics to the
parents of his students. We are thrilled about this partnership because his audience
​directly aligns with ours and will help us make a lasting impact in the community.

Natalie Stapp, Lauryn Murphy, and DeeDee Cohen
No. Questions. Asked.


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Kristin​
Employee of Bi-State Driving School

Bi-State Driving School offers year-round state-certified comprehensive driving
courses to the community and has additionally agreed to administer our
infographics. Kristin, our contact at the school, has been an extremely important
benefactor to our campaign and we greatly appreciate their commitment to the
​promotion of our message.

Natalie Stapp, Lauryn Murphy, and DeeDee Cohen
No. Questions. Asked.

Notre Dame de Sion and Green Team

Sustaining Sion has greatly benefited from our collaboration with Notre Dame de Sion High School, particularly concerning our ongoing project aimed at enhancing sustainability within the Sion community. Through this partnership, we were able to transform our vision of a sustainable clothing fair into a reality. This event will not only promote eco-friendly practices but will also serve as an annual tradition that brings together students, staff, and the community in a celebration of sustainability. With the support of the Green Team at Sion, we are excited to establish this fair as a cornerstone of our efforts to foster a more sustainable and environmentally conscious culture at our school.

Carol D'Attoma

Co-Founder of SACRED

At the beginning of the semester, one of the first people we met was Carol D’Attoma, founder of Sexually Abused Children’s Relief Endeavor- Nonprofit, also known as SACRED. She told us her story about her 6 year old granddaughter, Sarah, who went through challenging experiences. Hearing about the trauma Sarah endured, reminded us of the important responsibility we have in protecting vulnerable children. The story touched us on a personal level because, as people who work with children, we are constantly reminded of the importance of advocacy and creating safe spaces for kids to speak up about their experiences. Carol’s strength and the mission of SACRED left a lasting impression on us, inspiring us to be even more aware and dedicated in our efforts to support and protect children from abuse.


​Matt Tomasic

Executive Director

The PAL KCK offers free after-school programs for kids ages 8-18. Some of their programs include boxing, cooking, gardening, and gun safety. They believe that the PAL KCK offers a safe, belonging community for kids where they can talk with adults and build healthy relationships with police officers. We got the opportunity to work directly with Matt, the PAL KCK and their gun safety class. By gaining statistics for their class and creating a testimonial video for their website, we hope the PAL KCK is able to increase enrollment for their class and create a lasting impact in kids' lives.

Saint Michael's Veteran Center

Susan Engel

Stronger Together has greatly benefitted from connecting with the Executive Director of St. Michaels Veteran Center- Susan Engel. Susan has been working at St. Michaels for over seven years and has been the Head of Program Development and Evaluation for the past two. At St. Michael’s, their mission is to end veteran homelessness in the Kansas City area by providing affordable housing and a supportive community. Their campus is a home and a community where veterans can live their best lives and give back to Kansas City. Through connecting with St. Michael’s, our team has been able to aid SMVC with their newest project for the center, Patriot Park. Patriot Park is a unique community gathering place that will honor those who have served and provide a tranquil place of quiet reflection for all.