TOPEKA, Kan. — Kansans are encouraged to attend the upcoming Southwest Kansas “Voting for the Future: Dinner & Dialogue” forum, a free dinner and program organized by the Kansas Rural Center. The forum will take place on Wednesday, August 15th, from 5:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Gray County Over 50 Senior Center located at 221 S. Main St. in Cimarron.
At the event, a complementary dinner featuring locally sourced ingredients will be available starting at 5:00 pm with the program following. Registration is required in order to ensure an accurate count for dinner. Please register no later than Friday, August 10 at https://kansasruralcenter.org/community-food-solutions-civic-agriculture-for-civic-health/voting-for-the-future-dinner-and-dialogue/.
Bernie Koch, Kansas Economic Progress Council, will provide a state legislative and budget overview. Joey Hentzler, Director of Advocacy at Kansas Appleseed will present on legislation and activity that affects impoverished and excluded communities particularly around food access.
Kendal Carswell with the Kearny County Hospital and Lona Duvall with Finney County Economic Development will be sharing their efforts on working locally to address regional challenges like food access and engaging the immigrant and migrant communities and will be on hand to engage in dialogue. In addition, Lee Ann Seiler of Hodgeman County GROW will be speaking on GROW’s infrastructure and diverse initiatives to address community needs. The League of Women Voters will also be on hand to share information about voting this election year.
Time will be provided for roundtable dialogue focusing on important questions to ask candidates this summer and fall, resources, ideas, and ways to work together to reach the common vision of a healthy, local food system.
The forum will be the second of four in KRC’s “Voting for the Future: Dinner & Dialogue” series across the state. Each forum will be a little different but each will offer the opportunity to learn more about how to amplify your voice during this important election year.
Other upcoming “Voting for the Future: Dinner & Dialogue” forums will be held in Norton, Tuesday, August 14, Girard, Tuesday, August 28 and Concordia, Thursday, August 30.
There is no cost to attend, but registration is required to ensure a meal. Please register no later than Friday, August 10. To register, please visit https://kansasruralcenter.org/community-food-solutions-civic-agriculture-for-civic-health/voting-for-the-future-dinner-and-dialogue/, or contact Caryl Hale at chale@kansasruralcenter.org or call 866-579-5469.
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.
The mission of KRC, founded in 1979, is to promote the long-term health of the land and its people through community-based research, education, and advocacy that advances an economically viable, ecologically sound, and socially just food and farming system in Kansas. For more information, visit kansasruralcenter.org.
— Kansas Rural Center
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