Latest news with #J.M.Banks
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Japanese actress moved to KC for coffee but stayed to build community
Editor's Note: This interview is part of an ongoing Star series highlighting Kansas Citians from historically underrepresented communities and their impact on our region. The series builds on The Star's efforts to improve coverage of local communities. Do you know someone we should interview? Share ideas with our reporter J.M. Banks. As a teenager growing up in Tokyo, Japan, Madoka Koguchi attended a Japanese production of the musical Cats. The performance left such a lasting impression on her that she decided to pursue a life on stage. Her dream became reality in 2016, when she moved to New York and landed a role in the Broadway revival of Miss Saigon. However, when the COVID-19 pandemic brought Broadway to a halt, Koguchi found herself in a foreign country, unable to perform. During that time, a fellow cast member, Jackie Nguyen, invited her to help open a new coffee shop in Kansas City. Since relocating Kansas City in 2020, Koguchi, 32, has made Kansas City her home. She has served as manager of Café Cà Phê. Located at 916 E 5th St, popular Vietnamese owned coffee shop in the Columbus Park a neighborhood known for the historic Italian and Vietnamese immigrant populations. She also works in public relations for KC Craft Ramen, and co-founded Yakuri KC, the metro area's first nonprofit dedicated to building community among Japanese residents. Banks: Can you begin by telling me what it was like growing up in Japan and how did you find your way into acting? Koguchi: So I was born in Tokyo, Japan. I was born in kind of an entertainment family. Both my mom and dad were in the music industry. My dad is a professional drummer, but I was introduced to classic ballet when I was watching a comedy show on TV when I was six and I started dancing ballet when I was seven. I wanted to be a professional ballet dancer until middle school. Then I went to see a musical called Cats. It was a Japanese production of Cats and I switched my goal to musical theater after. I immediately thought I want to be on that stage I was fortunate to see a lot of international touring productions of musicals, mostly from the United States. So I watched West Side Story, Hairspray and The Heights. A lot of major, major shows coming from the United States. My parents were pretty supportive because of the entertainment industry background, but it was more my grandparents or my aunt. They didn't really have much understanding of pursuing a career as an artist. I was able to go to Toronto, Canada to study abroad to learn English for a year and a half from 2014 to 2015 and I was also able to audition for Performing Arts School in New York in 2016. I was able to graduate and then shortly after, I was able to book the National Revival tour of Miss Saigon as one of the main roles. What brought you to Kansas City? I moved to Kansas City in 2020 because COVID hit and our tour got shut down for good in the middle of the tour. Like so many other industries, the Broadway industry just got shut down and disappeared. Our industry felt like it was the first to be gone and the last to come back. I didn't want to wait for the Broadway industry to come back. I felt defeated at that time. I moved to the United States for Broadway but my profession just did not exist during COVID. But one of the cast members, Jackie Nguyen ask me if I can move to Kansas City to help her open a coffee shop called Cafe Cà Phê . So I said yes, of course, and that's how I ended up in Kansas City. What do you enjoy about your work with Cafe Cà Phê? At Café Cá Phe we do a lot of community work for marginalized communities like the Asian American communities, LGBTQ+ communities. I experienced a lot of difficulties as an immigrant, as a foreigner, as a non-citizen of the United States, but also as a person of color. So I'm able to contribute my own experience to the Cafe Cà Phê community work. When you moved here were there any cultural shocks for you? Yes, very many culture shocks. People take their time and there is this thing called personal boundaries. Because there's no word for boundaries in Japanese. So it's a very American or Western idea to me. In Japanese culture, people text about work 24/7 and you're expected to respond to the text 24/7. The sizes of everything was a shock when I went to McDonald's for the first time in New York. I was surprised by how big a small cup of soda was. Then one portion of pasta at a diner, that was so big. But also to find a happy culture shock that it is OK to take it home, like pack the food up and take it home. In Japan that is not a thing. You're supposed to finish the meal and you're supposed to not have to take the food that you couldn't finish home. So a lot of restaurants still don't carry take out. Also the grocery store, people walking around eating grapes before checking out. How do you tackle portraying roles that are traditionally occupied by non Asian actresses? I got to experience that through being in the musical Little Woman at the Music Theater Heritage earlier this year. I was able to play Meg March, that was one of the sisters in Little Women. I got to portray a character that was traditionally not Asian and it is such an honor to do it. But, also understanding that there's a controversy because it's such a iconic piece and iconic sisters. Theater is supposed to be a safe place for anybody and also imaginary as well. So I was able to focus on what's true to the character. The challenging thing for me personally was I am speaking English as my second language, and technically I'm the only person in the whole cast with an non-American accent. So I spent so much time to just pronounce each word for so many times and I recorded it myself so that I can correct my pronunciation. There are so many words that I didn't know and people don't speak in the daily life because that piece is from the 1800s. But it was such an honor and I am so grateful. What inspired you to start the nonprofit Yakuri KC? Our nonprofit organization, Yukari KC, is heavily inspired by Cafe Cà Phê and Hella Good Deeds, their sister nonprofit. I started the organization to create spaces for the Japanese community in greater areas of Kansas City. There are a lot of opportunities for us to educate our culture to non Japanese people or non-Asian people in general. We do that in our daily life, either consciously or subconsciously, but what's missing is the spaces just for us, where we don't have to educate anybody. Where we can just communicate in our own languages and save space for us. I learned that taking up space is a wonderful thing by moving to Kansas City and working for Cafe Cà Phê. When I moved to Kansas City in 2020 there was just no Japanese community that I could find. Then it took three full months for me to accidentally bump into a Japanese person in Independence. I was like, Oh my God, there's a Japanese person here. And then she happened to know a lot of people in the Japanese community in Kansas City. So she took me everywhere to bring me to people that she wanted me to meet. If I hadn't bumped into her, that wouldn't have happened, obviously. By meeting her, by being able to speak Japanese for the first time in months, I just realized how much I needed that. So one of my personal missions for the organization is to be kind of the lighthouse for the Japanese community by hosting cultural events and community events on a regular basis. With Yakuri KC hosting its first vendor popup recently how did it feel to be at the helm? It was so weird but in a good way. Because I was always at the Cafe Cà Phê events as a part of Cafe Cà Phê and it was for the first time for me to be there as a part of my own organization. It was incredible to see other people, from loyal customers to other vendors, get to learn about our organization. What do you think is the most difficult aspect of the work you do? So there are many different Japanese people in Kansas City because Panasonic is building the power plant in DeSoto, Kansas. A lot of people from Panasonic are very new to Kansas City in general and for them they thought Yukari KC is not really something brand new. They all thought that Yukari KC was a thing for years in Kansas City and then we're like, no, we just founded our organization in January and this is a very new thing that we are trying to do. They're pretty new. They don't really have the idea of how hard it can be to live in a place where there is no community. So I am encouraging them to come to our events so that they can meet the Japanese people who have been living in Kansas City who can help them if they need any help; like which hair salon do they do they go to, what grocery store they should get certain food at. Where should they take their kids to on the weekends. It's a new concept so we're just trying to put our names out there and put what we're doing out there so that it's more noticeable. What's the most fulfilling aspect of the work you do? Just people getting connected meeting for the first time. Seeing them exchanging their numbers and I see pictures posted on their Instagram that they hung out for the first time. That just generally makes my day. What are your organization's goals for the future? Our goal is to be able to reach the Japanese people so we become a better, stronger community with connections within the community. I also would like to host workshops or cooking classes. Japanese people, and Japanese Americans too, miss the connection with Japanese food. I obviously missed my mom's cooking, my grandma's cooking and I'm fortunate enough that I can get the recipe from them. So connecting ourselves with food is important. For more stories about culture and identity, sign up for our free On The Vine newsletter at
Yahoo
19-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Former State Rep. used time in politics to bridge the divides he saw as a child
Editor's Note: This interview is part of an ongoing Star series highlighting Kansas Citians from historically underrepresented communities and their impact on our region. The series builds on The Star's efforts to improve coverage of local communities. Do you know someone we should interview? Share ideas with our reporter J.M. Banks. When Randy Dunn was in elementary school in the Kansas City School District, he was placed in a class for academically gifted students. At the time, he believed he was learning material far beyond what most children his age were being taught in a typical classroom. However, after his family moved to the Raytown School District, he quickly realized that the curriculum in his former gifted classes was standard in his new suburban school, a surprising and eye-opening experience. After spending several years working as a city planner in Kansas City, Dunn was encouraged by friends and colleges to run for the Missouri House of Representatives, representing the 23rd District in 2012. He won that election and became the only openly gay person of color in the House. This distinction pushed him to work even harder to ensure underrepresented voices were heard. Today, as the Director of Community Engagement for the City of Grandview, Dunn continues his commitment to change, focusing on addressing systemic issues in education, healthcare, and housing. Dunn recently sat down with Kansas City Star culture and identity reporter J.M. Banks to talk about his unexpected journey into politics, being a voice for minority groups and against the current climate of hostility towards equity in the legislator. Banks: How did your experiences growing up in Kansas City impact the work you do now in the community? Dunn: I grew up here in Kansas City, born and raised for the most part on the Eastside. I was the youngest of three children and had two older brothers. I think when I look back on what really kind of started me on my path that I'm on now it is when I was in elementary school. I was in the gifted classes when we were living in the Kansas City school district and then we moved to the Raytown (C-2) School District. I remember the first class we had a math quiz and the things that were on that math quiz were the same things that were being taught in the gifted class in the Kansas City school district. I remember just thinking, if I wasn't fortunate enough to be in the gifted classes I probably would have been behind. I realized then there were disparities in terms of resources, and things of that nature, depending upon where folks lived, what means their family may have. For me that made me want to really figure out how we can address issues of inequality and create more equity. I went to and graduated from Raytown South High School, then after that went to UMKC (University of Missouri Kansas City) for undergrad and grad school. I always thought that I was going to be an architect. But for me architecture was missing that community aspect which led me to change my major to urban planning. So after grad school I started off in my career as an urban planner for the city of Kansas City and that gave me the opportunity to work in a lot of these under-served, underdeveloped communities to help them figure out what it was they needed, what they wanted to see in their communities, to look and to feel like. I continue to focus on urban planning and economic development policy. Those have really been kind of the focus of my career working on those types of issues. What led you to a career in politics? I was working with a lot of the folks in the community with the work that I was doing and they encouraged me to run for the state legislature in 2012. It was definitely not an aspiration that I had. I was always civically minded and always paid attention to what was going on politically even before I could vote, but running for office was never something I could see. When I was much younger, I was very shy and not someone who enjoyed talking in front of large groups of people. Certainly, thinking about me going out knocking on doors to secure votes from folks or speaking on the House floor was never something that was part of my plan. I always thought that I would be doing work behind the scenes and helping other people get elected, but I never thought I would have been the one to step forward and run for office. What was that first experience in politics like for you after you were elected? So as a Democrat, we are in the super minority in the legislature here in Missouri and so that was definitely a challenge. Learning how to navigate being in the super minority and just realizing how challenging it could be to get anything done legislatively. But it was successful. I was able to build relationships with folks across the aisle and work with them. The end goal was wanting to get things done and I was able to get things done in many instances. I was also successful in being able to get some of my own legislation passed, serving on the budget committee. But again, one of the most frustrating things and things I didn't anticipate was just how difficult it was going to be being in the minority and their resistance to saying what they really believed. That was a little surprising for me as well as that people wouldn't stand up for what they truly believed in, all in the name of being able to hold on to power. What made you step away from serving as a state representative? I left the legislature in 2017. I was in the middle of my third term and I accepted a position as the executive director of a nonprofit community development intermediary. It was located in Omaha and since I was going to be relocating out of state I had to resign from my position. Was there any particular achievement or milestone that you were proudest of in your time in the legislature? In the legislature I was able to create a grant, which is still in place for urban agriculture and urban farming, through our Department of Agriculture. So again, working very hard to get funding into the budget to address issues around housing affordability. We also had an issue of a gas station that had some underground tanks that were leaking gasoline into the surrounding community and we were able to work to get funding to be able to address that and get that issue remedied. I was one of the only Democrats to chair a committee the then Speaker of the House created, a special standing committee on urban economic development. In that position I was again able to really champion legislation to address issues around economic development in the urban cores in Kansas City, St. Louis and other metropolitan areas around the state as well. How was it being one of the only LGBTQIA people of color serving in the Missouri House of Representatives at that time? I didn't realize just how big a deal it was at the time because I was just being me, being myself. But I definitely now recognize the importance of representation and for folks to be able to see themselves holding those types of positions and also for me in that role to be able to stand up. How do you think your experiences as a person of color as well as member of the LGBTQ community shaped your perspective as a politician? I think I understand the intersectionality of wearing those different identities and who I am. I understand the challenges that those communities face and I have empathy. Being able to stand up for those communities as well and to be able to be a voice for them, recognizing that they are not a monolith and folks have different viewpoints from those communities. Having that understanding of what it is like to be discriminated against, to be looked at as other than. I'm here to represent those communities and then again to elevate the voices of folks from that community when they may not be able to do that themselves. In this current political climate what do you think are going to be the biggest challenges for those crusading for equity and diversity? I think one of the big challenges is for folks to understand that diversity, equity and inclusion are not bad things. It is something that we really need and I think one of the challenges for legislators of color and politicians of color is to be able to articulate exactly what DEI really means, what woke really means. These terms have been bastardized by folks on, you know, the other side who don't want to see folks that look like me elevated into these types of positions and to see folks from our community to be able to have the rights that are duly afforded to them by our constitution. I think for them to be able to kind of break through that and help folks to understand that those words are the fabric of what makes this country what it is today. Can you tell me about the work you do in your role now? So as the director of community development for the city of Grandview, I oversee three different divisions within that department and help to shape the vision for the department. I manage all the staff within that department, administer our budget and propose our budget to our city administrator and Board of Aldermen. I am really trying to work to continue to push Grandview forward. Grandview has seen a lot of growth over the past years and it's really continued that forward momentum. What are the main challenges you face in your role there? We have seen tremendous growth and we are at the forefront of a lot of things in the metro, and working to make sure that people are able to see past their own biases and preconceived notions of what Grandview may have been in the past. What are your goals for the future? I really enjoy the work that I'm doing here In Grandview. There is so much potential here and a lot of projects that we have going on. I am looking forward to seeing those things through. I will also be starting a doctoral program so I am looking forward to just getting started with that and eventually with that leading to hopefully teaching at the collegiate level and helping to train up the next generation of future leaders. For more stories about culture and identity, sign up for our free On The Vine newsletter at
Yahoo
12-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
nonprofit founder working to put more Latino teachers in classrooms. Here's how
Editor's Note: This interview is part of an ongoing Star series highlighting Kansas Citians from historically under-represented communities and their impact on our region. The series builds on The Star's efforts to improve coverage of local communities. Do you know someone we should interview? Share ideas with our reporter J.M. Banks. Growing up in Florida as the son of Nicaraguan immigrants, Edgar Palacios saw the hardships his parents faced in pursuit of a better life for their family. At school he experienced discrimination that damaged his since of self worth as a student —an experience that left a deep and lasting impact, ultimately shaping his life's mission. While working for the education nonprofit Great Schools, and touring schools across the country, Palacios observed a consistent pattern: classrooms filled with Latino students, but very few Latino teachers. What began as a simple idea—to compile a national list of Latino educators — quickly revealed a large void in the education field for Hispanic teachers. In 2018, Palacios founded the Latinx Education Collaborative, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting Latino youth in the classroom and creating pathways to increase Hispanic representation in the education profession. Palacio said a big part of the reason he wants to encourage more Latino educators is so the growing population of Latino students get to see people who look like them and who share some cultural experience with them in their classrooms and school system offices. Palacios recently sat down with Kansas City Star culture and identity reporter J.M. Banks to talk about not feeling supported as a child at school, the importance of Hispanic teachers in the classroom and the need for community involvement in a students life. Banks: Can you begin by telling me about your early life and upbringing? Palacios: I was actually born in Miami Beach, Florida, and lived there until I was about 11. Then my parents moved our family to Spokane, Washington. We lived there for three years before moving to Cape Girardeau, Missouri, where I went to high school. In 2004, I moved to Kansas City for college, so I've been here for almost 21 years now. I'm the son of immigrants, my parents are from Nicaragua and came to the U.S. in 1981. I was born a few years later. Growing up, I witnessed firsthand the experiences they had to navigate as immigrants, learning new customs, cultures and systems. I especially saw these challenges in places like Spokane and Cape Girardeau, where I experienced discrimination as a young kid in the school system. I didn't see my full value as a student and that really fuels my work today. The belief that all young people are worthy of quality education and meaningful opportunities, regardless of where they come from. What inspired you to start the Latinx Education Collaborative? In 2015 I was part of a program called Great Schools that tours schools, which allowed me to travel the country and visit various schools and see different education models. I noticed that while Latino students were present everywhere, there were very few Latino teachers, staff members, or administrators. I started asking questions. I remember visiting a school in Houston, Texas, where 99% of the student population was Latino but there wasn't a single person of color on staff. I asked the principal why that was, especially in a place like Houston where you would expect diversity. I was confused. If you can't find people, why not actively go look for them? My first idea was simple: build a spreadsheet or database of Latino educators across the country. That way, whenever someone claimed they couldn't find any, I could hand them the list. It was a simple response to a very complex issue, but it became the seed of what is now the Latinx Education Collaborative. We officially launched at the end of 2018, and we've been working every day since, through the pandemic, through political and cultural shifts. We are focused on improving educational outcomes and experiences for students by working directly with Latino educators, parents, students, and allies. Since you founded the organization, how do you think the vision has evolved to meet the needs of the Hispanic students you serve? Evolution is absolutely necessary for any nonprofit. As I mentioned, our initial idea was simple, maybe even naive. But the more we learned about the field, the challenges and the broader political climate, the more we've adapted. There are many barriers that prevent Latino individuals from entering the education profession. Some are cultural or narrative-driven, like the idea that education doesn't pay well or isn't a prestigious career. Others are systemic, like lack of high school completion, scholarships, and access to mentorship. Some come from being part of first-generation families whose parents came to the U.S. seeking better opportunities and education doesn't pay well. We've been learning about all these factors and building pathways and solutions to address them. Collaboration is key—we can't do this work alone. We have to partner with schools, institutions, and other organizations. It's not something that you can do by yourself. What do you think are the main challenges your organization faces in trying to achieve its goals? Globally, we're facing a teacher shortage across the board. Fewer young people are interested in becoming educators, and we're struggling to retain the ones we do have. That's creating a serious crisis. Teachers are underpaid and undervalued, especially here in the U.S. If we want to address any of the other challenges in education, we have to first address how we treat and support our teachers. What are some of the most impactful programs or initiatives you've offered over the years? One program we're really excited about is our Futuros Program. Through that initiative, our goal is to add at least 15 new Latino educators to our community by 2027. We support aspiring educators and those entering their first year of teaching by providing wraparound support and helping them stay connected and encouraged. We also have a program called Expresión, which we run in partnership with Storytellers for Change. This program helps Latino educators develop and share their personal narratives. It's a way to humanize educators and build deeper connections with students. We believe educators who understand and embrace their own stories can better model authenticity and self-awareness for the young people they serve. What role does community involvement play in addressing educational disparities? Community involvement is everything. It's unrealistic to expect schools and districts to solve these issues alone. Educating a child is a community effort, everyone has a role to play. Whether it's showing up for school board meetings, advocating for better policies, mentoring students, or simply being present in the school environment, every action matters. Our youth succeed when we all show up for them. What are your organization's hopes and goals for the future? We still have so much work ahead of us. The issues we're tackling, like teacher diversity and systemic inequities, didn't appear overnight. These are generational challenges that require long-term commitment. We also have work to do in building bridges with other communities. Not everyone understands or agrees with the value of representation, equity, and inclusion. Until there's more alignment around these values, our work will continue to be both vital and necessary. For more stories about culture and identity, sign up for our free On The Vine newsletter at
Yahoo
05-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Native American librarian in KC fights for ‘community equalizer' and tribal needs
Editor's Note: This interview is part of an ongoing Star series highlighting Kansas Citians from historically under-represented communities and their impact on our region. The series builds on The Star's efforts to improve coverage of local communities. Do you know someone we should interview? Share ideas with our reporter J.M. Banks. Cindy Hohl, a member of the Santee Sioux Nation, grew up in Nebraska. Her cultural upbringing instilled in her a strong sense of belonging and a deep commitment to helping others. When Hohl and her family moved from the reservation to Sioux City, Iowa, she encountered a public library for the first time. While she didn't initially consider a career as a librarian, she soon became a passionate advocate for libraries. Hohl has been dedicated to ensuring that citizens have access to information throughout her career. She has seamlessly combined her passion for education with her cultural responsibility to serve others. In addition to her role as a librarian at the Kansas City Public Library, Hohl also serves as president of the American Library Association, representing libraries and librarians nationwide. Hohl sat down with Kansas City Star culture and identity reporter J.M. Banks to talk about discovering her love of libraries, using her culture to find purpose, and the recent attacks on libraries by federal legislation. How has your upbringing in a Native American community influenced the work you do now? I am from Siouxland. So up in Iowa, Nebraska, South Dakota — that area. I'm a member of the Santee Sioux Nation and our tribe is in Nebraska. Growing up in Siouxland surrounded by my big family, our community and our tribe, I was raised as a traditional Dakota person. We have a lot of values that we hold on to that's rooted in the respect protocols and so I was raised from a very young age to understand my place in this world and how I am to be in service to the community around me. Family is very important to us as Indigenous peoples. We know that the Creator put us here with that purpose and for a reason and so everything that we do, we're very intentional in our approach. We're raised to think about the impact of our decisions, especially as leaders because we need to always protect our most vulnerable. So we look at how our decisions impact our youth and our elders and also animals and anything else that's living that needs protection. So growing up in a community where those values are commonplace you're very cautious and you're more conservative when you're talking about natural resources and what is readily available. We are always centering our humanity, and I was raised to understand that as humans we are all equal and it's important that we always show respect to one another. Oftentimes when you're navigating, working and living in mainstream America, the values are more ingrained into how individuals can succeed and certain communities receive more access to resources than others. When you're brought up Indigenous, you have your ways of knowing and that knowledge is shared through generations from our elders. We're raised to understand our place in the world and how we will support one another for a sustainable way of how to take care of the land, how to take care of each other and those ways you don't always see that in the mainstream. Can you give me a bit of background information on the Sioux Nation? Our peoples are originally from Canada, First Nations, and as we migrated and came down through the border, we were in Minnesota. We ended up being exiled from our lands there by President Abraham Lincoln. When that happened, that was very harmful to our people, because it displaced us once again and a lot of people aren't aware of this story because it's not always taught in American history. That is something that our children are all raised to understand, and that's knowing our place in this world. And again, the Creator put us here for a reason and with a purpose. So it's important that we teach our youth our history, so that they know and that they teach our language, our history, our heritage, our ways, our culture to our future generations because that is our responsibility. Did you always imagine yourself having a career working with the library? No, I did not. When we left the reservation when I was little (age 5), we moved to Sioux City. That's the first time that I went to a library. My mom took us every Saturday and we go to story time and she let us borrow three books and take those home. I remember what a magical experience that was. I really loved going to the library. It was such a fun and welcoming place. So colorful and really interesting, because I had never seen one before and I didn't know about programs and story times and checking out books. So I've always had a love of learning and reading. And when I first started working, I worked in casino marketing and that was my first career. When I met my spouse, he was going to library school and he knew what he wanted to do. And he was actually the one who recruited me to work in libraries and that was 10 years after we had met. I've really enjoyed librarianship. I love the work that we do — being in service to the public — and there's 125,000 libraries in this country. Sometimes people don't know the true volume and so there's more libraries than McDonald's restaurants. And I tell people that because I want them to be aware of how prevalent libraries are and how important libraries are, because sometimes libraries can be taken for granted. People think that libraries are only there for certain people like youth, attending story times with their families, or maybe students who are researching. But libraries are so much more than that. And so, that's what I love so much about working in libraries is helping people access accurate information from credible sources. Unfortunately, right now libraries are under attack in this country as we continue to push back against the federal legislation and the executive order that went out two weeks ago targeting the Institute of Museum and Library Services. This is the time for information warriors to rise up together and to stand strong for our libraries. When you have federal funding that's being threatened and removed and that state funding is being withdrawn from some states, it's a challenging time to work in libraries. Can you tell me about what brought you to Kansas City and the work you do with the Kansas City Public Library? I've lived here for 22 years. I moved down for school and ended up staying here. I have an MBA (Master of Business Administration) from Baker (University), and I attended Friends (University) for an organizational management and leadership bachelor's degree. I also have a library degree, but I received a master's of library and information science degree from Wayne State University out of Detroit, Michigan. Libraries, of course, have a lot of data that we go through, and we're always looking at different ways that people use the library. We partner with many community service agencies. We always want to make sure that everyone knows the role of the library in the community. We're very intentional in our approach. We want to make sure that everyone understands what resources are available to them. And so, as we are looking at our policies, we always want to make sure that we have sound language that supports positive patron interactions and experiences at the library. We believe that the role of the library is a community equalizer. And we're here to make sure that everyone has access to their local library, both in person and online. Can you tell me about your role as president of the American Library Association? As president of the American Library Association, I represent all of our libraries around the country. So that started July 1st of 2024 and it is a three-year term. I'm only the second president from Missouri. The first one was 90 years ago. I'm always representing libraries and library workers and helping everyone access information. We always do reports on trends, and we have data that shows what activities are happening in libraries. As the official spokesperson, I'm in the media a lot. I'm doing a lot of interviews right now because of the IMS (Information Management System) activity and what's happening. I've been to 30 states and three countries so far. You know, just really trying to do what I can to support the profession and my colleagues. What are the main challenges facing libraries today? Federal legislation and state and local legislation. There has been quite a bit of negative activity around libraries, specifically around organized groups, introducing legislation to limit people's access to materials in library collections. That's been problematic for a few years now, and anytime there's attempts at censorship in America we really need to make sure that everyone understands what's happening, so that we can continue to defend our First Amendment rights and our equal access to information. We're seeing primarily that the storylines, the characters, or even the authors themselves that people are targeting Black, Indigenous people of color or those from the LGBTQIA+ community. And so, that's really challenging here because again, as an Indigenous person, we know that all people are sacred and all human beings have a right to be respected. And so, to me, it's a nonstarter. Are there any programs or initiatives you have been able to develop to help tell the Native American story? Absolutely. I am the past president of the American Indian Library Association, and I was able to work with Sen. (Ben Ray) Lujan on changing the definition of tribal libraries, so that tribal libraries could receive funding from the state. There was a time in this country when analyst funding was allocated to the state library and it was optional whether or not to share that funding with the tribal library community, because some states said, 'Well, a tribal library doesn't meet the definition of a public library.' That needed to be updated, because that's not true. A tribe is a public community. A tribe is a group of people like any other neighborhood. And so, we worked to get that language updated, so that we could have equity and be able to receive that funding so that we could also have internet. I am always doing what I can to help elevate the needs of our tribal communities, and I'm always the first to say and remind people that sovereignty is not negotiable. For those who aren't familiar with that, there is a federal trust responsibility between the government and our sovereign nations. We will uphold our rights as American citizens to receive access to funding for our community members to be able to thrive. I want to say, we started that in 2019. What is the role of the librarian today and where do you see the institution headed in the future? There has never been a better time to be a librarian. We are trusted professionals here to serve everyone and help them find accurate information from credible sources. This is what we are trained to do and we welcome everyone to get a library card, visit their library often and share their love of libraries online. Americans love their libraries, and we will continue to serve Kansas City for the next 150 years and beyond. There will always be a need for people to access information, and libraries are the hubs of the community. Libraries will continue to support the community by providing literacy-based services and programs. A strong community has a strong library, and we are here to support the public good. Librarians are the helpers of society and we serve everyone in a good way. For more stories about culture and identity, sign up for our free On The Vine newsletter at
Yahoo
29-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
A family mantra led a Kansas City woman into a life of service and empowering women
Editor's Note: This interview is part of an ongoing Star series highlighting Kansas Citians from historically under-represented communities and their impact on our region. The series builds on The Star's efforts to improve coverage of local communities. Do you know someone we should interview? Share ideas with our reporter J.M. Banks. Anna Thomas-Rios recalls one of the earliest lessons her parents taught her: 'To whom much is given, much is expected.' This saying has shaped her life, guiding her to believe that there is always more good to be done. Coming from a family of educators, Thomas-Rios followed their path and used education as a tool to make a positive impact on students. Through the years in her spare time, she has volunteered with various community organizations, including The Family Conservancy and the Deron Cherry Charitable Foundation. For the past six years, she has been honored to be a part of the Junior League of Kansas City, one of the oldest women's organizations in the area. For over a century, the group has united women from all walks of life to address critical community issues such as poverty, abuse, and women's self-sufficiency. Thomas-Rios is currently organizing the 8th Annual C3KC Conference on April 8. The event brings together various members from corporate, civic, and community sectors to address and solve pressing issues facing the community. Recently, Thomas-Rios sat down with The Kansas City Star's culture and identity reporter, J.M. Banks, to talk about the importance of volunteering, honing her leadership skills and managing the upcoming conference. Banks: Can you tell me about your childhood and upbringing? Thomas-Rios I grew up here in Kansas City and my childhood was pretty cool. My parents very much were the type who believed to whom much is given, much is expected and really instilled the need to give back. A lot of my family was actually in education just throughout the generations, my dad's grandfather was a freed slave and a professor at Morehouse (College). I went to Shawnee Mission East High School and I went to college at UMKC (University of Missouri- Kansas City). I have been fortunate to get two graduate degrees in education and an MBA from Ottawa University. After that I went into higher education administration and worked at Johnson County Community College for a long time. Now I work as the education project manager for the American College of Lifestyle Medicine. Education and community engagement is something that was just kind of in my family. It is just something I seemed to fall into throughout my life, and have always been involved with volunteer work in the community. I feel like I have been very fortunate and just have always wanted to give back because I have found it is a constructive and positive way to spend my free time. How did you get involved with the Junior League of Kansas City? I have been working with the Junior League of Kansas City for six years now. I was really just looking for the opportunity to volunteer and I was more familiar the league headquarters. We have a building over on 92nd Street near Ward Parkway and I grew up in the area so I became familiar with what the Junior League is just by proximity. What kind of work does the Junior League of Kansas City do in the metro? We are a women's training organization and we train women to be of service in their community and to be leaders civically. Our main causes are focused towards women and children and we have programs targeted towards addressing abuse, neglect, childhood development and women's self-sustainability. For over 100 years we have been doing our work to make Kansas City a better place. We have had a hand in so many causes in the history of this city from saving Union Station to the building of the zoo. Because we are so old there really haven't been too many areas we haven't touched with our service and we just try to help to make a better community. Has the Junior League of Kansas City done anything special to commemorate Women's History Month? Yes, we have woken up every day as women and have gone into the world to do the work that needs to be done. This month we do the same work and make the same contributions as we do year round. That is what the women of my organization have been doing for generations even before they gave us a month and said we get to have recognition for our history. We are living history and we make an impact in the community with the work we do everyday. Not just for women and creating civically minded women, but for the community as a whole How do you think your time with the Junior League of Kansas City has helped you develop as a leader in the community? The league has helped shape me as a leader by making sure that I know that I have a voice in the community. I have gotten self-esteem in a since, and have really built my confidence in making connections and networking. It has been super helpful just teaching me how to navigate in a room full of people and build better bonds with people who are also doing work to better the community. It has given me the opportunity to work with others and understand their work in the community. It has really reinforced my obligation to make sure that I am doing as much as I can to be of service to the community and taking care of everybody. Can you tell me about the C3KC Conference you are organizing? It's a day-long community conference coordinated for 100 people. It's an all volunteer-led effort which is really amazing to think about. It is based on the idea of collaboration and the Junior League is a very big believer in bringing different parts of our community together. We feel like we can manage and solve some of Kansas City's biggest problems by working together. C3 stands for corporate, civic and community and we bring together those three sectors to discuss topics like houselessness, food insecurity, issues in the workforce and early childhood education. Everything you can think of is really on our minds and up for discussion at the conference. Have there been any challenges you have faced in putting together the conference? I cant say there really has been any challenges that I have run into. We have so many people working together to put this on and when it comes to the league we have so many people approach us who want to be apart of it. We have such a large network of people we work with, our own internal process and event advisors so I really haven't ran into anything too difficult. What do you think is the most rewarding aspect of the work you do with the Junior League of Kansas City? I think being a part of this conference every year has been one of the most rewarding things. Being able to put everything together, bring everybody together and then the feeling of accomplishment the day of seeing everybody in the room. What would you say to a woman who is interested in getting involved with the Junior League of Kansas City? I always tell women that the league has given me more than I could ever give it. What I love about the league is it brings me in contact with women I would probably never meet. We all come from different backgrounds and we all have different perspectives. We do not all have the same ideas on leadership but we work together to learn and grow. Like I said, it is all about collaborating and working together in a more efficient way to resolve issues. Whether that's something within the league or we are trying to produce something for the city. What are some of your organizations goals for the future? I just want the league to continue to evolve based on the principle of collaboration by working together with community organizations and with community leaders. We all love Kansas City and believe it is a great town and we are going to continue to do our part in making it the best it can be. I think we have been doing work in the community for this long and I can only see us continuing to grow over the next century. For more stories about culture and identity sign up for our free On The Vine newsletter at
