Thursday, April 25, 2013

Alcott Arts Center Opens for Another Season

Today's post comes a little late, but it celebrates two themes that come up frequently in the eastern part of Wyandotte County: "hidden gems" and "good people doing great things".

I had the distinct pleasure of visiting the Alcott Arts Center (Facebook) on Friday, April 12th as they kicked off their 2013 season with beautiful art exhibits and a wonderful production of the musical "Rent".

The former Louisa May Alcott grade school
at 180 South 18th Street has been home to the
Alcott Arts Center since 2002.
The former Louisa May Alcott elementary school has been home to the Alcott Arts Center since October 2002. A not-for-profit corporation (L.M. Alcott Art Center Foundation) was formed in March 2002 to insure the continued operation of the center.

Who knew that an unassuming brick building at 180 South 18th (across the street from Sunfresh and Prescott Plaza) could be home to such a diverse and talented group of people?

Hats off to Executive Director Chris Green for her tireless work to keep the center vibrant and connected with the community. She is yet another in a long line of amazing folks that I have had the pleasure of meeting during the last two years in my role as Commissioner. Our community is full of good people doing great things!

The halls were packed with people on opening night. Former classrooms worked perfectly as galleries to display the works of local artists Amy Chapman and Carrie Maurer. We are blessed to have such talented folks living and working in our community.

What were chalkboards in the old elementary school
now make perfect places to display quality art.
The displays on April 12th featured both
photographs and painted pieces.
Visitors admire one of the
largest and most colorful paintings on display.

Upstairs, it's amazing to see how the mix of older vintage facility and newer high tech equipment works to perfection in the theater. Cozy, but cool I'd say...and truly not a bad seat in the house! Other former classrooms on this floor serve as dressing rooms, prop rooms, etc. to support the theater.

Cozy but cool.
The first musical production of the season
was the award-winning "Rent" presented
by the Mid-Life Players.
Patrons who arrived early for "Rent"
had their pick of general admission seats.

Visit their web site or Facebook page to see the list of upcoming events and make plans to visit the Alcott Arts Center sometime soon!


~ Brian

bmckiernan@wycokck.org
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Friday, April 12, 2013

Donnelly Dedicates New Community Center

During his keynote address at the Kansas City, Kansas Chamber of Commerce annual meeting yesterday, Sporting Kansas City CEO Robb Heineman said that his operating philosophy was, "Why not Kansas City?" when he ran into obstacles and naysayers while helping build Sporting Kansas City and Sporting Park.

Although they don't have confetti cannons, the folks at Donnelly College have embraced a very similar mindset as they help students achieve academic excellence on their urban campus on 18th Street in Kansas City, Kansas.

I had the privilege of representing the Unified Government at Donnelly on Friday, April 5th as they opened and dedicated their new community center.

The Donnelly Board of Trustees prepares for the grand opening.
This community center is just the first step in a long-term vision for completely re shaping the Donnelly campus. It's fun to watch Donnelly president Dr. Steve LaNasa when he talks about how the campus will change in the future...he can't even begin (not even a little bit) to contain his excitement and passion over what is yet to come!

Donnelly president, Dr. Steve LaNasa, shared his vision with
everyone who attended the event.

You can view a slide show of photos from the event on the web at: http://dceventcenter.weebly.com/grand-opening.html

Here are the thoughts that I shared with the group at the dedication ceremony.

= = = = = = begin remarks = = = = = =
On behalf of Mayor Joe Reardon and everyone associated with the Unified Government of Wyandotte County/Kansas City, Kansas, I congratulate you on the opening of this wonderful community center. It is a great accomplishment.

Back when you first took down the old laundry facility and started putting up the walls of this new center, I used the metaphor of "the circle of life" from the Disney movie The Lion King to describe how you are closing the circle of life by reconstructing and reinvigorating the older parts of our city.

And while this new community center is a shining example of physical reconstruction, it only hints at the Spirit of Life that is at the very core of the Donnelly organization and all its people.

Donnelly touches lives in so many other ways.

For 63 years, Donnelly has been an active partner, an education catalyst and the spiritual anchor for our entire community.

I have personally witnessed and benefited from the power of the Spirit of Life in Donnelly.

The faculty and staff of Donnelly started me on my undergraduate educational journey. I spent two years taking classes at Donnelly and I think the journey has turned out okay so far.

Besides the books, the Donnelly community helped keep me connected to my faith and to a belief that there is good to be found everywhere.

And I met the young woman who would later become my wife in English Composition class during fall semester of our freshman year...

I try to walk on my treadmill every morning after I get out of bed. And while I'm walking, I generally read so that I won't fall back asleep...that would not end well!

These last few days, I've been reading Colin Powell's book, "It Worked for Me: In Life and Leadership".

And this morning, while I was walking I read the following paragraph:

"Perpetual optimism, believing in yourself, believing in your purpose, believing you will prevail, and demonstrating passion and confidence is a force multiplier. If you believe and have prepared your followers, the followers will believe."

And I almost fell off my treadmill as it hit me… That's it! "Belief" is the certain intangible something that I feel every time I talk to a member of the Donnelly community and every time I walk on to this campus.

Belief in the power of education. Belief in the power of people.

To Dr. LaNasa and everyone associated with Donnelly, I say this new community center is cool… Keep building stuff. :-)

But more important, keep believing.

Keep believing in yourselves… That you have the power to positively change the world.

Keep believing in your students... That they have the potential and the capacity to succeed beyond their wildest dreams... That they, too, have the power to positively change the world.

If you keep believing in yourself and your students, Donnelly will be the Spirit of Life in our community for countless years to come.

Once again, I congratulate you on this magnificent accomplishment and I wish all of you the very best in everything you do in the future.
= = = = = = end remarks = = = = = =


Whoa!! Security must have been looking the other way.
How did that guy get in here?  :-)


George Breidenthal, '69 and William H. Dunn, Jr.share their happy remarks.
Both are Donnelly College Trustees and Transformations Campaign Co-Chairs


The Most Reverend Joseph F. Naumann, D.D.
Archbishop, Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas and Donnelly College Trustee
shares a few thoughts before the ribbon cutting.


Open for business!

So, to everyone in District 2 and all of Kansas City, I say...let's follow the powerful examples of Sporting Kansas City and Donnelly College.

Keep believing in yourselves.

Keep pursuing your dreams.

Why not you?