Partnerships with purpose
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varietykc: Ali O'gradyCommunity Liaison OfficerVarietyKC 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.
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 |
Mayor Quinton LucasMayor of kansas city, missouriDesigning 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 martinSocial services manager at Reconciliation servicesThe 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 LawFounder of CritterHouse KCCritterHouse 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 HughesProgram Manager for Community outreach at lead to readYOUth 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.
Vikki Muchai, Izzy Deconink and Munira Mohamed YOUth United |