Conservation Work Group

• Conservation Work Group members:

• Kelly Blandford

• Bill Blessing

• Laurie Brown

• Joy Ellsworth

• Ian Fannin-Hughes

• Bill Fessler

• Olusola Festus

• Kyle Johnson

• Ginny Moore

• David Poirier

• Scott Schulte

• Regan Tokos

• Stephen Van Rhein

Work Group Goals:

• Protect natural resources

• Improve water quality in the Blue River

• Identify and support projects that meet conservation goals and benefit community

• Identify funding opportunities and support HCA in developing funding sources for conservation projects

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The Conservation Work Group meets nine months of the year on the third Thursday from 4:00-5:30 p.m. Find the next meeting on our calendar. 

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For more information, please contact Jill Erickson, 

or (816)407-8088.

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Education & Outreach Work Group

Education & Outreach Work Group members:​​

• Belinda Caldwell-Shelby

• Nova Clarke

• Ian Fannin-Hughes

• Sarah Hemme

• Lara Isch

• Ivan Katzer

• Joan Leavens

• Imani Malaika-Mehta

• Larry O'Donnell

• Kathryn Persley

• Scott Sigman

• Regan Tokos

• Kevin Tosie

• Roberta Vogel-Leutung

Work Group Goals:

• Assess and enhance existing environmental education in Kansas City. 

• Create a Blue River documentary film that can be used by all partners to promote the river.

• Actively table and provide public outreach to increase public awareness of the Blue River and Heartland Conservation Alliance.

• Implement Renew the Blue Communications Plan

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The Education & Outreach Work Group meets every two months on the second Thursday from 10-11:30 a.m. at the Anita B. Gorman Discovery Center. Find the next meeting on our calendar. ​

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For more information about meetings and projects, please contact HCA Outreach Coordinator Sarah Benal, sarah@heartlandconservationalliance.org

or (816)349-9201

Partnership Work Group

Partnership Work Group members:​

• Jim Armer

• Kristen Bontrager

• Sarah Hemme

• Christina Hoxie

• Brianna Leiker

• Chandler Little Eagle

• Carl Stafford

This work group's goals are to:

• Maintain value of membership to Alliance for partner organizations by insuring mutual benefits

• Provide direct support to help build capacity of Alliance partners

• Provide opportunities for Alliance partners to share information efficiently with one another and stay informed of issues and opportunities

• Effectively engage partners and potential partners

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The Partnership Work Group meets every two months on the first Tuesday of the month from 5:30 - 7p.m. Find the next meeting on our calendar.

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Please contact Jill Erickson for more information about the Partnership Work group.

or (816)407-8088.

Policy Work Group

Policy Work Group members:​

• Samuel Bennett

• Kelly Blandford

• Kristen Bontrager

• Andrea Clark

• Victoria Dunkin

• Michael Frisch

• Sarah Hemme

• Christina Hoxie

• Robin Martinez

• Bridgett Sanderson

• Scott Schulte

Work Group Goals:

• Promote an understanding of what we want to protect

• Research the best practices for preserving land

• Identify and engage those who can influence protecting land

• Actively enlist champions to build support to protect land

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The Policy Work Group meets every two months (on the last Friday from 3:00-4:30 p.m. Find the next meeting on our calendar. 

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For more information, please contact Jill Erickson,

or (816)407-8088.