Foundation Journal

What a difference a year makes! After two years of financial difficulty which forced the community radio station to downsize the number of paid staff members, KKFI 90.1 FM has rebounded with some encouraging developments. The station worked for years to gain recognition for its strong community and education direction by applying for a federally-funded PTFP grant. The persistent focus on community action and local programming paid off with a $75,000 matching grant to replace the station's original transmitter. Along with the transmitter news, the station won kudos by it's selection as the host broadcaster for the 2011 Homelessness Marathon , a nationwide radio broadcast to 140 radio stations and 25 television channels. KKFI also was selected as the host for the 2011 Grassroots Radio Conference , which focuses on radio producers, programmers, and developers. KKFI is a place Kansas City area community organizations come to talk about their programs and activities. Engaging

Visual art has the potential to capture the imagination of both the artist and viewer. Public art, especially painted murals, occupy a special place that not only captures the imagination, but also the history and struggles of people wherever you see this art form. Mural projects that document popular history and culture, plus involve people in creating the work hold a special place in the hearts of the participants. Two mural projects in different parts of the world -- Gaza and Topeka -- fit this mold. At a reception for Harvesters food assistance agencies held in Topeka on July 12, 2011, I spoke with Delores with Turnaround Topeka and first learned about a mural painted on a 900-foot wall in Topeka. Delores joined the reception after coordinating a mass distribution of donated food to 1000 Topeka area residents at the Expo Center. "The Road From Brown V. Board"   Lead Artist - Dave Loewenstein . Assisted by KT Walsh and students from Marty Moreno's Advanced Ar