Saltwell Farm Kitchen rising from the ashes with goals to rebuild and reopen after fire
The Lawrence Times: A fire has caused extensive damage to this beloved farm-kitchen. But as they start on the road to reopening, the process of tearing down walls is bringing up new ideas for the Saltwell leadership team.
Me̱ꞌpha̱a̱: An Indigenous Mexican community in Lawrence is saving their language from extinction
The Lawrence Times: Indigenous languages are under threat. With up to 95% of the world’s languages expected to go extinct by the end of this century, generations’ worth of Indigenous traditions and history may be left a mystery. That’s why a coalition of KU professors have teamed up with a local community of immigrants from Guerrero, Mexico, to reclaim their endangered Me̱ꞌpha̱a̱ language.
New Lawrence MMIW chapter kicks off week of action to raise awareness about violence against Indigenous women
The Lawrence Times: With activities ranging from a free self-defense class to a social media campaign, Native organizers are drawing attention to Missing, Murdered and Indigenous Women. This is one of the most pressing issues facing the Native population, as Native women are murdered at a rate 10x higher than the national average.
Saltwell Farm Kitchen: A culinary journey into hospitality, heritage and home
The Lawrence Times: Just more than a year ago, this restaurant was a long-abandoned farmhouse with its roof caving in. But with lots of hard work and a great team surrounding them, Shantel Grace and Rozz Petrozz opened Saltwell Farm Kitchen to the public with one simple request: Come as you are.
The dispensary experience behind buying cannabis
Sweet Jane: Rachael Grochowski is the dispensary designer who brought Hashtoria to life — the retail brand launched by Raekwon from Wu-Tang Clan. Learn how she infuses creativity and dignity into the cannabis shopping experience.
Western Bagel: 70 years of innovation to build a bagel empire
Commercial Baking: Western Bagel began its journey in 1947 when the company opened the first bagel bakery in LA. Now it’s a global leader in the bagel space, offering low-carb and protein-rich options that transform the way we think about the classic bread product.
Indigenous Community Center launches Native youth skate team in Lawrence
The Lawrence Times: The ICC is helping local Native youth build confidence and healthy habits through its new skate team. Follow me around their first meet at the Edgewood DIY Skate Park.
The problem with cannabis potency labels
Sweet Jane: Whether it’s edibles, concentrates, or flower, state laws require every package to include THC and CBD content. But are those potency labels accurate? A growing body of research suggests they are not.
Lawrence’s Sister Cities program connects community with Japan, Germany, Greece
The Lawrence Times: Since 1986, Lawrence's Sister Cities program has planted the seed for marriages between Lawrencians and residents in Eutin, Germany; brought our quilting community closer to the one in Hiratsuka, Japan; and even helped KU Theatre collaborate on a Greek tragedy performed in the ancient open-air theatre of Iniades, Greece.
Bakery truck driver Ron Hill broke bread with travelers during I-95 shutdown
Commercial Baking: Hill didn’t expect to spend nearly 24 hours in the shutdown, and certainly not to get caught in a whirlwind of national media attention for feeding the other cold and hungry travelers.
Pastor Verdell Taylor leaves 26-year legacy at Lawrence’s historic St. Luke AME Church
The Lawrence Times: After his recent retirement, Taylor is celebrating his legacy of leading the church through a phase of transition. But for this East Lawrence entity with a deep history intertwined with the civil rights movement, growing into the future means staying grounded in its roots.
KU student helps family escape Taliban takeover in Afghanistan, find new home
The Lawrence Times: Ahmad “Baset” Azizi is a KU political science student, not a congressman. But that’s what his older sister claimed as she showed a picture of Azizi to an officer at the crowded Kabul airport on Aug. 24. Her family was trying to stand out from the rest of the crowd, desperate to escape Afghanistan after it fell to the Taliban.
Seeding sovereignty: How hemp empowers Native tribes & climate action
Sweet Jane: Native American Hemp is a Native-owned nonprofit working with tribes nationwide to grow and process organic hemp. These initiatives are creating jobs and flowing capital into underserved communities while uplifting cultural preservation.
Catherine Bell makes supporting local designers Sew Simple
The Lawrence Times: Lawrence native Catherine Bell grew up with 10 siblings, but she was the only one to take up her mom’s passion for sewing and fashion design. Now Bell is passing the torch — or needle — to the kids she’s had under her wing since 2019, when she started teaching sewing classes under the name Sew Simple Sewing.
Uplifting community for shared success: How this founder makes massage therapy careers accessible
B The Change: Monique Waters believers solutions are interconnected … and she builds community around them.
A case for climate literacy: California youth lead the movement for environmental action
California Environmental Literacy Initiative: Interviews with student activists leading innovative, local climate projects.
Taking out the trash: Busting misconceptions about the lives of garbage men
Freelance: A look into the daily routines of our world’s most essential workers.
At the University of Kansas, the Spencer Museum of Art reopens to a brighter future
KCUR: The Spencer Museum celebrates their grand reopening after 18 months of renovations, which include more natural light and accessibility.
29th Haskell Art Market represents dozens of tribal creators in cross-cultural event
University Daily Kansan: At this year’s Haskell Indian Art Market, the Lawrence community got a taste of authentic Native-American artwork — and Indian tacos.
Specialty Food Association identifies top products and trends for 2022
Commercial Baking: The Specialty Food Association’s Trendspotter Panel revealed the top trends and flavors gaining prominence in the specialty food industry.
Lawrence activists explore laws and landscape around gender-based violence in Indigenous communities
The Lawrence Times: The crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls, two-spirit and trans people affects all of Indian Country. Powerful change could start in Lawrence because of its strong intertribal community.
Local family opens farm-restaurant on grassroots journey toward homegrown fine dining
The Lawrence Times: The Burning Barrel, a new farm-restaurant and events space in Lecompton, makes supporting local farmers as easy as sitting down for dinner. As guests enjoy an evening on the patio of the Burning Barrel’s Origin Restaurant, which overlooks 30 acres of Kansas pastures, co-owners Brian Strecker and Kristin Werner emphasize taste as tribute to a simple life connected with the earth.
Douglas County’s Treatment and Recovery Center to serve community members battling addiction, mental illness
The Lawrence Times: Citizens in Douglas County have spent years advocating and collaborating on the Treatment and Recovery Center. At the ribbon-cutting ceremony, they celebrated this new facility as a resource for residents in crisis. It’s one that’s designed to save lives, especially as issues like substance abuse escalate in the community.
Farm-to-table for free: The local farmer and activist making food a public work
The Lawrence Times: The government’s traditional approach to hunger has been to fund the consumption — not the production — of food. Pantaleon Florez, a farmer and food justice activist in Lawrence, is planting the seeds for a new approach. It’s one that would support BIPOC farmers and promote access to healthy foods for people in need.
Celebrating National Sourdough Day with Aspire Bakeries’ sourdough expert
Commercial Baking: Sourdough is finding a permanent place in consumers’ hearts … and on their plates. Chef Jon Davis, culinary innovation leader for LA-based Aspire Bakeries, says this is welcoming a new era of innovation.
Indigenous Community Center launches new food sovereignty farm
The Lawrence Times: The ICC has reserved an acre of farmland in northeast Lawrence, where a crew of volunteers will plant native crops including berries, vegetables, roots, edible flowers, and herbal medicines. The project is designed to promote autonomy and Indigenous land stewardship.
Cannabis concentrates 101: The top types explained
Sweet Jane: The world of cannabis concentrates can be a sticky, icky mess for beginners. Here, we answer questions like: What is a cannabis concentrate? How are concentrates used and made? And which type is right for me?
How Bob’s Red Mill leads with innovation, environmental sustainability
Commercial Baking: The 100% employee-owned company, which is leading the organic, whole grain foods space, is committed to nourishing people and the planet. Here’s what Bob’s Red Mill is doing to reduce its carbon emissions.
Rooted in family: Oakland’s Black woman-owned cannabis delivery service
Sweet Jane: After 20 years of working in the pharmaceutical industry, Tee Tee Brown knew her passion was in helping others heal. That’s why she pivoted into cannabis, founding Euphorium in 2016. As Oakland’s only Black woman-owned cannabis delivery service at the time, she was blazing a trail based on equity and wellness.
4 women of color-owned businesses shaking up the cannabis game
Sweet Jane: Cannabis companies owned by people of color comprise only 19.1% of the industry. Activists — especially women of color — are trying to close this gap. These four are leading the charge for a more conscious cannabis culture.
From the Caribbean to Kansas: Earl Moise, founder of Rising Son Plumbing, shares his story
The Lawrence Times: Moise, one of the best-known local plumbers, hasn’t always lived here. From a childhood spent on the Caribbean island of St. Lucia to teenage years marked by the frantic pace of Brooklyn, he’s glad to now call Lawrence home … but that didn’t come without struggle.
Family-owned Evelin’s Auto Care shifts gears into a new niche
The Lawrence Times: Evelin’s Auto Care, known for its wash, wax, and detailing services, is tucked away in a corner off Sixth and Minnesota streets. It’s a small shop, but it’s named after someone even smaller. Meet 5-year-old Evelin Vincent. She’s what drives her parents, Justin and Amanda Vincent, to pour their hearts into the namesake auto shop.
ReGrained flour receives first upcycled food certification in the world
Commercial Baking: Daniel Kurzrock, CEO of leading food upcycling platform ReGrained, shares how his company’s SuperGrain+ flour has become the first ingredient in the world to receive certification from the Upcycled Food Association.
Local barbershop owner creates community change, one head at a time
B The Change: Joey Thomas is a barber and philanthropist providing a platform for social change, but not without facing challenges. In this Q&A, Thomas shares how he’s leveraging his business and foundation to empower his neighborhood, and how he plans to grow that vision after COVID-19.
SMH Atelier is designing a better
future for racial diversity in the fashion industry
B The Change: Based in KC, Sean Horton’s Atelier tailors new opportunities for diverse designers in the Midwest.
Innovative nonprofit uses the power of community to fund Black-owned businesses in Kansas City
B The Change: GIFTKC launches a model to support local Black-owned businesses and challenge systemic racism.
How this international B Corp provides access to education in Latin America as a force for good
B The Change: Laureate amplifies the power of education to transform the lives of young social entrepreneurs.
‘Accessing the best of our intentions’: Joan Blades on listening and relationship building
Bioneers: Blades, the social entrepreneur who has founded non-profits like MoveOn and MomsRising, emphasizes conversation as the way to survive tough times.
Intercultural conversations: A program empowering youth with community and connection
Bioneers: This education program pairs Native and non-Native youth to meditate cross-cultural conflict, speak up for justice & inclusion, and cultivate friendship.
Lawrence cooperative living: Opening the door to the Ad Astra House
Freelance: Residents at the Ad Astra co-op are building a sustainable and egalitarian community for queer residents, while upholding anti-oppressive housing practices.