The Kansas Leadership Center (KLC) doesn’t shy away from tackling the toughest challenges of our day.
KLC brings people together across difference to discover new ways forward.
Core civic values of a KLC facilitated community engagement:
1. Community Guides the Process
2. Establish a Common Foundation for Dialogue
3. Orchestrate Dialogue between Opposing Factions
4. Have a Bias for Action
Please use the menu bar below to explore key topics and examples of the Kansas Leadership Center working across factions.
Kansas Decides: Abortion
In July 2022, KLC asked a diverse set of readers from across the political spectrum to share their perspectives on a series of questions related to abortion and the Aug. 2 vote. With the help of 700 survey responses submitted by KLC alumni and Journal readers, who often advised us to play the role of neutral convener, The Journal and KLC’s civic engagement team have designed an hour-long program that aimed to start a deeper conversation on one of our country’s most divisive issues.
The event included a panel of Kansans discussing the topic of abortion from multiple perspectives. Our purpose was not to change minds but to practice holding a discussion on a heated issue in a way that encourages mutual respect rather than contempt for those who do not share beliefs.
Cease Fire: Guns and Public Safety
The KLC Journal hosted an in-person discussion on guns and public safety with guests at a launch event for “Cease Fire,” a special edition of the magazine focused entirely on that issue. The event featured an article titled “5 barriers preventing a better debate on guns and public safety.”
In 2019, KLC produced Journal Talk discussion cards for individuals to host productive conversations within their community and network on the issue of guns and public safety. Learn more about the Cease Fire Journal Talk online.
Immigration and Kansas
What should Kansans talk about when it comes to the topic of immigration? How might Kansas Leadership Center ideas improve the conversation? “Immigration and Kansas: Opening Conversation” was the first event in a year-long discussion series KLC hosted on the topic as part of our #JournalTalks initiative.
KLC facilitated a dialogue exploring why it’s hard to talk productively about this subject. During the event, participants tested their knowledge through an interactive quiz related to immigration in the U.S. and Kansas.
Communities of Color and Law Enforcement
Fall 2017, The Journal published a special civic engagement edition centered on changing the story around communities of color and law enforcement. The edition featured profiles, in-depth reporting, discussion prompts graphics, and more.
The graphics developed in this edition of the magazine have been used by community members, leadership programs and organizations as a way to unpack the relationship between law enforcement and communities of color.
In July 2020, KLC facilitated a session participants using images from the George Floyd protests to make observations and interpretations on the current relationship between communities of color and law enforcement and begin to explore action steps that individuals can take on their own to make progress on this issue.
In addition to work connected to The Journal magazine, the Kansas Leadership Center intervenes for a healthier and more prosperous civic culture through our civic engagement services projects.
Wichita Non-Discrimination Ordinance
The Kansas Leadership Center partnered with the City of Wichita’s Diversity, Inclusion and Civil Rights Advisory Board to discuss Wichita’s proposed non-discrimination ordinance in advance of the city council’s vote. KLC hosted and facilitated a two-night public meeting which gathered folks from all sides of the issue to uncover areas of agreement and gain a better understanding of the complexities of the challenge. As a capstone to the intervention, KLC crafted a report to codify stakeholder perspectives and the engagement process. This report helped inform the city council prior to their vote.
Topeka USD 345 Namesake
KLC partnered with the Topeka Seaman school district and an appointed advisory committee to garner community input on a divisive question in their community: should the district change or keep their name in the wake of news that ‘Seaman’ was involved in the Kansas KKK in the 1920s. We sought to explore if there was a “third way” forward. In collaboration with the advisory committee, we produced a report which surfaced the stories, perspectives and community input on the issue.
Learn more about the Kansas Leadership Center’s civic engagement work and commitment to building trust and bring about transformation.
A few of the ways we seek to make progress for a healthier, more prosperous civic culture are by:
– Publishing a civic issues magazine with the goal of building a public square for all to lead
– Convening discussions on the toughest issues facing communities
– Co-creating engagements to help public officials and community members make more inclusive progress
