Recently the board members from Waldo, Southtown, and Brookside met for the annual board retreat. This year’s focus was “how to survive in a declining economy.” Special guests from the financial, philanthropic, and small business communities provided excellent overviews of the current national and local situation and suggestions/resources that may be of assistance. The general feeling from the panel members was that our community is in much better shape than the outlying new shopping areas that have many vacancies and un-established residential areas.

Thanks are extended to the following members that renewed or joined the Southtown Council in January 2009. We greatly appreciate your membership and look forward to serving you!

New Members:

Health concerns and financial struggles have motivated people all over the country to turn to their backyards for their food supply. Come hear how to start your own backyard garden with the help of local experts. A seminar will be presented by Ben Sharda from KC Community Gardens and Tina Wurth from Lincoln University at the Blue Hills Resource Center on Thursday, February 19 from 6-7pm. For more information, go to www.bhcsmo.org.

Join us March 18, 2009 for the Pride of Kansas City Basketball Tip-Off to benefit “Kansas City’s Medicine Cabinet” The Medicine Cabinet has been providing emergency medical assistance to KC metro area residents since 2005. In collaboration with emergency assistance centers and domestic violence shelters, the Medicine Cabinet has assisted nearly 3500 residents in receiving the emergency medical care they need! The fun starts at 7 pm at the Midland Theatre.

Thread -- "that which runs through the whole course of something, connecting successive parts." For more than two decades, Southtown Council has been the common thread of connection for area neighborhoods, businesses and institutions. Whether it's strengthening existing businesses or welcoming new ones, giving leadership to neighborhood stabilization efforts, or working to improve the economic vitality of the area, Southtown's creation of linkages and partnerships among its stakeholders continues to create an environment for ongoing economic development and community improvement.

Carol Marinovich, former Mayor and CEO of the Unified Wyandotte County, was honored by the Southtown Foundation on December 12 as its 2008 American Citizen. Marinovich was selected for her leadership and vision that changed the face of local government, and drew remarkable levels of investment to Wyandotte County, principally in the form of the Kansas Speedway and the Village West redevelopment area.