Posted by Rosemary Podrebarac
This November the Kansas City, Kansas Rotary Club focused its programs on the theme of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.  The Club heard from a diverse group of speakers from the local community who shared their perspectives on DEI. 
 
To kick off the month, Rakmi Shaiza, the founder of Stitching Change, spoke to club members about her organization’s work in teaching sewing skills and providing marketing and business development information to refugee women and men in the KCK community.  Stitching Change has broadened its initial focus on refugee women to include programs for area youth.  Randy Lopez, the incoming President and CEO of the Wyandotte Health Foundation, spoke the following week and shared valuable information about the efforts of Wyandotte Health Foundation to approach and address health equity issues.
 
Club members also enjoyed learning about the work of the Kansas City Latin Jazz Orchestra and institute when Pablo Sanhueza and Cynthia Ammerman visited a meeting.  They explained how the non-profit orchestra provides tuition free cultural immersion education to local youth.  Club members are hoping to have the KC Latin Jazz Orchestra perform at a future event.  Closing out the month of DEI, Stephenie Smith, co-founder and managing partner of Sophic Solutions, a change management firm, spoke to the Club.  Ms. Smith lead Club members in an interesting discussion of perceptions of race, inequality, and prejudice.