PeaceWorks Kansas City

On October 21st, The Dialogue Institute of KC main office and community center were broken into and vandalized.

People wait to give testimony to the Unified Government Board of Commissioners Feb. 10. Many wore yellow, signifying support for the “Safe and Welcoming” ordinance.—Photo by Ann Suellentrop

February 12, 2022February 12, 2022 PeaceWorks KC Economic justice, Racism

Unified Government of WyCo & KCK passes Safe & Welcoming law

The Safe and Welcoming city law allows undocumented residents to obtain a city ID in Kansas City, Kan., and provides that, unless there is a threat of danger to the public, law enforcement will not report or investigate the immigration status of a person.

Tyrone Garner (now mayor) and Yazmin Bruno-Valdez campaign for a “Safe and Welcoming Wyandotte.”—Photos courtesy of Metro Organization for Racial and Economic Equity (in Kansas City, KS)

February 2, 2022February 2, 2022 PeaceWorks KC Racism

Lending a hand to make Wyandotte County “Safe and Welcoming”

A coalition of advocates has sought passage of a “Safe and Welcoming” ordinance in Wyandotte County, KS, for 5 years. David Johnson of the coalition recalled, “There were a few times we thought about throwing in the towel.” The proposed ordinance may come to the Unified Government Board of Commissioners Feb. 10.

Before the Chiefs played Oct. 10, Indigenous Persons and allies stood firm: Change the name!—Photo by Ann Suellentrop

October 13, 2021October 13, 2021 PeaceWorks KC Racism

Join rallies before Chiefs games: ‘Change the name! Stop the chop!’

KC Chiefs games now have a prelude. Indigenous Persons and allies call to drivers coming to park at Arrowhead Stadium, “Change the name! Stop the chop!” PeaceWorks supports these rallies.

Dynamic poster of the National Immigrant Integration Conference—Photos by Ann Suellentrop

October 11, 2021October 11, 2021 PeaceWorks KC Economic justice, Racism

Welcoming immigrants and refugees to the US

The National Immigrant Integration Conference explored ways the US could be more welcoming and supportive of immigrants. Among the voices heard at the meeting were those of LGBTQIA+ persons, featuring people of color, particularly Black transgender women.

Speaking to PeaceWorks March 1, 2020, Bette Tate-Beaver says of her work to bring groups to visit educators and students in other countries, “If we come to care about people who are like us in different spaces, it’s kind of hard to hate.”—Photos by Jim Hannah

October 9, 2021October 11, 2021 PeaceWorks KC Racism

Bette Tate-Beaver died Aug. 29

Bette Tate-Beaver, an international leader in social work and education, died of cancer Aug. 29. Through her lifetime, she fostered the beloved community envisioned by Martin Luther King Jr.

Photo by Colin Lloyd: Colin-Lloyd-mPxbXzL1_2E-unsplash.jpg

July 12, 2021July 12, 2021 PeaceWorks KC Racism

Second to None

Guns are racist weapons
Enforcing power over Blacks
Historically denied possession

The Second Amendment
Has misinformed flaws
Leading to violence and racism

Loose Park Fountain—Photo by Amrita Burdick

July 2, 2021August 2, 2021 PeaceWorks KC Economic justice, Nonviolence, Nuclear weapons, Racism

To Kansas City, Memorial Day 2021

City of Fountains,
Are you weeping,
This day of remembrance?
What seeds have grown to harvest
From the “blighted” soybean field

Cover of the book Unprecedented.

June 30, 2021June 30, 2021 PeaceWorks KC Ecology, Economic justice, Nonviolence, PeaceWorks events, Racism

Unprecedented (buy the book!)

Ron Faust, PeaceWorks-KC’s own poet laureate, is out with a new book of poetry. Titled Unprecedented, Faust wrote it during the presidency of Donald Trump. The cover displays two mountain ranges under clouds of darkness. These represent the two sides of every issue, Faust explains.