ART AND SOUL FESTIVAL INFORMATION

Hi everyone. I'm Jen Cocking and I've lived in Atchison for nearly four years now. I'm from Hutchinson, Kansas, but I've spent most of my adult life in northeast Kansas--first in Topeka and now in the Big A. My husband and I moved here in November 2009, and in January 2010 I started law school at Washburn. Now I'm a research attorney at the Kansas Supreme Court. I've spent most of my time over the last four years coming and going from Atchison, but I love living here and am completely invested in our community. And I'm hoping this class will help me find more ways to show everyone how how much I love this town. 

Leaders have to be able to connect with people--learn how to read them, find out what motivates them. To me leadership is synonymous with empowerment. As a leader in my job, my goal is to give people the tools they need to do well and be there to guide them along the way. 

Here's my Atchison. 

1. City Hall--where my husband works. His job is the reason we moved to Atchison. 

2. The Atchison County Courthouse--where I spent a lot of time during my first summer in law school and learned what it means to be a lawyer. 

3. The Amelia Earhart bridges--a perfect blend of old and new. I love that Atchison is invested in its history and its future. 

4. The Whale! It just makes me happy. 

5. Warnock Lake--I love to wander through the woods and unwind. 

6. The view from my house--I want to live here forever!

Free Entertainment

If anyone would like to explore one of Atchison's finest resources, come to our monthly Cafe Boheme program.
There is FREE coffee and cappuccino, FREE cookies and snacks, FREE music and entertainment, FREE wi-fi. It's open to everyone, so if you sing, or play music, or write poetry, or perform magic, or interpretive dance come down and share it with the charming people of Atchison.

My name is Andrew Lewman, I was born and raised in Atchison, Kansas. I graduated in 2007 from Maur Hill, the catholic highschool here in town. I went to Kansas University my first 2 years of college, eventually coming back to Benedictine College in 2012 with my Bachelors in Business. I started working as a financial representative for Metlife in March this year. I spend most of my free time spending time with family and friends, golfing, and coaching youth basketball. I am taking this class to get more involved in the community. I have lived here most of life and know alot of people in Atchison but have never really been to involved. Building new relationships with different people here in Atchison will help me grow as a person but also as a leader. Leadership to me is something that is essential to the growth of businesses and communities. Leadership is giving guidance and influencing those around you.

EXPLORING YOUR DREAMS FOR ATCHISON

It is 20  years in the future here in ATCHISON, Kansas (the year is 2033).   What does the town look like? Tour the center of downtown ... what do you see (the mall? MGP? the YMCA?).   Move from neighborhood to neighborhood. What  do they look like?   Who is living here and how are they interacting to  form a community?  What does Benedictine College look like?  What about the Mount?  Maur Hill?  Look at the use of the land and buildings.  Think about what the Government and Business communitiy look like.   What about our health care?  What about activities for youth and for our seniors?    What about the arts and our centers of faith?     What does the leadership in Atchison look like?

1. Envision all of the above and describe / write about your dream for Atchison!     What is really working well in 2313?  What still needs to be developed?
2.  Envision and describe the steps that will need take place for your vision to become a reality.  Discuss these steps.
3.  List and discuss at least 2 roadblocks that could prevent your dream from becoming real AND make suggestions  for how you can overcome them.  
4.  WHAT  KINDS OF LEADERS ARE NEEDED TO MAKE YOUR VISION A REALITY?  and HOW WILL YOU PARTICIPATE in this adventure?

Me and the Town I've Come to Love: Atchison, KS

My name is Dominesha Newton but some people call me Nesha for short. I ended up in Atchison kind of randomly, but I am a strong believer that everything happens for a reason. Senior year of high school I had no deep desire to go to any particular college like many high school graduates; I just wanted to go to some school close enough to my home town (St. Louis, MO) but still far enough away. Benedictine was pretty and was the right distance so I arrived in Atchison in August 2009, and I have been here ever since. 

In this class I am hopping gain some community leadership experience while learning more about the Atchison community. Hopefully this class will help me gain more experience, and knowledge in improving a community. To me leadership is not only about leading others but leading yourself. This may sound weird, but what I mean by that is basically leading by example. It is very important for a leader to have their own actions under control before trying lead others.  

Haunted houses definitely remind me of Atchison and I'm sure that many other people will agree with me. This is one of the many haunted houses that are in town.

 Leopolds is another place that reminds me of Atchsion. It is the discount grocery store in town that provides fresh produce and very friendly and caring service, something I have come to love about most Atchison residents. 

Last but not least are the many brick roads that are around town. They are quite a pain to drive on but I have to admit that theses roads bring great character to the town. 

This is A brief History of the life and times of Josh Wheeler.  I was born in a small town called Arkadelphia, Arkansas. When I was two years old my Family moved to Columbus, Ohio and I lived there until I came to highland community college, In Highland, Ks. It was there that I met my girlfriend who just so happened to be from Atchison and in 2011 we moved here. I have been in Atchison ever since.

I am hoping to learn how to become a better more effective leader while learning from other leaders. I hope that our class project will be something that will better the lives of Atchison residents. If its fixing a sign, or painting apiece of art on a bridge. I want to make a difference. John C. Maxwell states, “Leadership is influence. Nothing more, nothing less.” and I couldn't agree more. I leader is someone who not only leads but teaches others to lead as well. 

 

The first picture is of my girlfriend and my dog. I chose this picture because she is the reason that I am still in Atchison. Also I think that Atchison is an active community If you drive around town you are bound to see someone jogging.

The Second picture is of my daughter Jada. She is swinging for the first time and is having a blast. I picked this picture because it was taken at Jackson park, which shows that there are plenty of activities for active families. It also shows my family. No matter where I end up in life I will always remember Atchison as where my journey began.

The last picture taken was from my event I picked this picture because is shows diversity and people helping each other. Atchison's biggest impact for me is its people. Everyone is friendly.

 

Leadership Atchison

     Hello, my name is Zach Keenan. I am currently a senior at Benedictine College. I love listening to music, playing sports and traveling to new places. My hometown is Alton, Illinois located about 20 miles north of St. Louis. Community leadership is a class I hope to gain many beneficial skills from. I will gain insights on becoming a better leader and also become more involved with my community. I look forward to this class because it allows me to burst out of my comfort bubble and become a more proactive citizen.

     I was raised in a town where people have a deep appreciation of history. My hometown is very similar to Atchison. In fact, I see my hometown in many places I go around Atchison. For example,Alton and Atchison  are both river towns, only Alton is located on the Mississippi River. Both towns are hilly with brick roads and old houses. Also both town have modernized bridges to cross when entering from the state of Missouri. Atchison is famous for Amelia Earhart, while Alton is famous for Robert Wadlow, the tallest man to ever live.

     I also see many differences between Alton and Atchison. When I return to my hometown I often reminisce and think about the good times from the past. Here in Atchison, I see change, growth and opportunity. I also see change and growth in myself because it was here in Atchsion, where I became an adult. Because I see so much of my hometown in Atchison, I have developed a emotional and familiar bond with this town.

                                                                          Willies

                                                                        My House

Missouri River

Hello J from Larissa Rice, the small town girl  down the road (from Horton, KS 30 mins west of here).  I never thought Horton was small growing up;  guess it all boils down to prespectives and life experiences.  I went to K-State, lived in Estes Park, CO (one of best summers ever) and then went to grad school in KC.  I love getting the opportunity to meet new people and see new places.  Traveling is my favorite thing to do.  I have enjoyed the last year seeing Atchison from a new pair of life lenses.

I’m very excited about our class for several reasons…

1.       Meeting all of you!

2.       Learning even more about Atchison and what it has to offer.

3.       Learning about the people of Atchison and how to best serve them.

4.       Being part of an amazing group that will be able to touch and effect many lives in a positive manner!

 

My encounters and thoughts about Atchison growning up…..

1)       It STINKS and why would you work or live there!!  Guess I should watched what I said and thought because now this is my CHOSEN place of work, and only a couple of blocks away from MPG.   Needless to say, the smell doesn’t bother me enough to keep me from investing my life here.

 

2)     

BASKETBALL..  If it’s summer and your not sweating your butt off at Memorial Hall then you’re not lving life!   I loved playing summer basketball in Atchison.  I enjoyed it so much that I came back and kept score one summer after college.   Who knew, a few years later, I would  get to enjoy sweating in Memorial Hall again for noonball!  Thankfully, the guys are nice enough to let me run up and down the court.   Side note, about Memorial Hall is that I got to experience gynmastics here thanks to a little sister who loved it.  Personally, I wasn’t thrilled,  actually I was a little upset I because this meant no  soccer, but, now that I’m

older, I appreciate the opportunity I had.

My encouters with Atchison now as a business owner and adult…….

 

1.        MY PASSION and baby,  Sunrice Chiropractic LLC!  This is where the majority of my life is spent nowadays.  I enjoy the opportunity to get away for a few hours and go exploring  Atchison and what it has to      offer.  The best part is getting to meet the people when I’m out and about!  I must say I missed a lot of what Atchison has a lot to offer when growing up.

 

 

 

 

        2.  Mr. G’s is getting me ready for winter, making sure that I’m going to be nice and warm with my insulation layer.  They keep me well fed!  I chose a photo of this buiness because it shows small businesses of Atchison, wich helps keep the community going.  Small business owners invest lots of time, money and energy to their communities.   They also represent the people of Atchison and how
friendly they are.

    3.        Last but not least:  Sunrises in Atchison County!  I actually don’t live in Atchison at the moment so I get the enjoyment of driving and seeing sunrises and sunsets!  To me this picture represents a lot.  Sunrises represent new beginnings to me, every day is a new opportunity. Growing up on a farm, studying at the college of ag and then living in Kansas City makes me appreciate agriculture and my heritage!  I love barns because to me they represent leadership, community, working together, service to others, determination, vision, and GUTS!  Why all this you may ask.  Because in the good old days there weren’t machines to build these magnetic barns.  It was man power and one man alone couldn’t do it.  He relied on his neighbors to stop what they were doing to help him succeed in life.  This allowed their community to grow and become strong.  So when I think of leadership, I think of the first group of people who built one of these barns or churches in this area. 

 

 

A short (and mostly true) history of Holly Hutchinson

The name is Hutchinson. That’s right, just like the town.  My story begins some thirty years ago in Hays, Kansas, AMERCICA. Born the daughter of two slightly brilliant people, and with a moderately-cool older brother, it was clear I was destined to be amazing. There was a call for super patient and wickedly smart teachers in this region, and my parents answered that call and thus blessed Northeast Kansas with our presence. After completing high school in Valley Falls, I continued to hone my awesomeness in the Theatre Program at Coffeyville Community College. Seeing as I hadn’t yet attained SUPER awesome potential, I continued to train at Emporia State University. I selflessly dedicated myself to the major of Education, so that I might bestow some of my awesome abilities (these mostly pertain to the visual arts) to a younger generation. Although teaching was a great way to pass on my skills, I knew I had more to share. After a brief hiatus, during which I fought robots in Japan, I was summoned back to the Northeast corner of the best state ever, to this very town. There was need of a skilled and motivated practitioner to champion the post of the BEST CHILDREN’S LIBRARIAN EVER! I was needed. I came to serve the people of Atchison.

What I would like to achieve through this course:

I am hoping to learn more about the community in general. I truly have an awesome job, but not living in the community has limited my experiences in Atchison. The reason I care for this town is all because of the people, not the places in Atchison. I want to discover how to better serve these people.

What Leadership means to me:

Being a good leader means knowing the people you serve and how to provide education, enrichment, and other opportunities to fulfill their lives. To be a leader is to support your friends, family and neighbors and help them find success in whatever they choose to pursue. To be a leader is to inspire and provide positive encouragement to all the people of your community. 

Some of what I love about Atchison

Most of my life in Atchison is centered around three places. The Library, The Mall, and the River.

I walk almost daily on the mall. I try to support as much local business as I can and I have made great friends with some of the mall business owners. I hung out for a little bit at the dedication of the Deafy statue last week. There are events and activities all along the mall throughout the year. 

I also love to go down to the river. Just to sit and read, or eat lunch. Sometimes I bring my dog over for a walk. I don't have any recent photos, forgive me. The weather was less that cooperative on the day I wanted to take pictures. These are from a few years ago after the flood. It is amazing to be reminded how things have progressed. There is so much beauty along the river.

And lastly for today, the Library. This is the heart of Atchison for me. This is what brought me to Atchison, but the people are what has kept me here. I love meeting people at the library. I love to provide programming and materials for them. I have a super fun and pretty awesome job working with kids. Everyone should be jealous. 

I am too busy to take pictures during a regular storytime, but here are some from a summer reading program in July.

 

proof of my robot fighting days. 

My name is Ashley Gill, and my family and I moved to Atchison about 15 years ago when I was in elementary school. I attended the public schools and later went on to graduate from Benedictine College in 2007, majoring in Business. I have been working at MGP since 2010 when I started my internship with the company. I am also actively serving on two boards. DoVES—a domestic violence and emergency services shelter, and Atchison Community Educational Foundation—a scholarship program offering students the ability to attend Benedictine College.

After taking this class, I hope to complete a community project that has a significant impact in Atchison. I want to build relationships that will help enable me to create positive change in the place I call home. Leadership is something that is truly valuable and it has the potential to create change for the good.

When I first arrived in Atchison, I remember asking my mom, “What is that smell?” never thinking that years later I would end up working for the company that creates the now familiar smell. MGP has been in Atchison since 1941, nearly 75 years ago, and provides a host of naturally derived specialty ingredients that have been developed for use primarily in food, beverage and household product applications. I enjoy working in my current role and am fortunate to work at a company that not only creates value for its customers, but also for the communities in which it operates.

Living in Atchison for nearly all of my life, Main Street has become fairly familiar to me. It was the first road I legally drove on after obtaining my license, and in fact is the road that I travel most living in Atchison. It has seen many changes over the years with several new developments being established along either side.

Atchison has some of the most beautiful scenery around, you just have to take the time to stop and take them all in. A great place to take a walk and enjoy the sunset is out at Warnock Lake.

My family is my rock. They have helped shape me into the person that I am today. They are what brought me to Atchison and what keep me in Atchison. This might sound strange considering my family no longer lives in Atchison; however, this still remains true. My family is not only my biological family, but the friends, colleagues and community members that support me to this day.

My name is Katie McDowell and I am from Lakewood, Colorado. I came to Atchison in 2004 to attend Benedictine College. I had no idea the impact that decision would have on the rest of my life! I came to BC and truly felt at HOME. I have only lived in two places...Lakewood and Atchison. The first time I ever moved was to college! 9 years later I am still here!

I hope to build new relationships and help better understand Atchison and how it all works. I want to do an amazing project that will impact everyone in town and be memorable. Leadership is important to me because it takes courage to lead and anyone can follow. You have to be willing to take rises and work hard!

The photos above are MY ATCHISON!
1. Benedictine College-the main reason I came to here in the first place and where it all started. BC is where I came as a kid and grew into an adult. I met the best friends in the entire world and have built lasting relationships.

2. My friends = my family. Those friendships have grown in to amazing relationships that are my family. My friends mean the world to me and made me a better person in every aspect of my life.

3. The brick paved road mean history in my book. Every time I drive on those bumpy roads I think about the buggies, horses, cars, bikes, feet that have been on those same bricks. Hundreds of years of experiences, adventures and stories have happened on those roads.

4. The Bridge- every time I cross that bridge I get a feeling of excitement and I look to my right and left and see all of Atchison. It is a crossroads that takes you to new places but it always leads you back!

5. My House- The first "big" thing I have ever done on my own. I am proud of the hard work it took to get the house and the continual work of maintaining it. This was a life changer for me because it truly meant I has making Atchison my home!

Pictures..

The business card for the band I am in.

WORLD WIDE WEB LINKS

Here are some links to resources that our Leadership Atchison Program is based on. During the program students will read the book Better Together by Robert Putnam and the Suguaro Foundation, The Community Leadership Handbook, and material from the Kansas Leadership Center.    We encourage everyone to learn more about building great communities by accessing and using these resources!

Kansas Leadership Center

• http://www.kansasleadershipcenter.org/

Kansas Health Foundation

• http://www.kansashealth.org/

Better Together

• http://www.bettertogether.org/

Blandin Foundation Community Leadership Program

• http://bclp.blandinfoundation.org/resources/
   

Bowling Alone

• http://www.bowlingalone.com/
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bowling_Alone

Community Tool Box at the University of Kansas

• http://ctb.ku.edu/en/default.aspx

BLOG CHALLENGE ONE - VISIONING ATCHISON (Assignment)

BLOG CHALLENGE ONE - VISIONING ATCHISON (Assignment)

Again, Participants in our LEADERSHIP ATCHISON 2013 CLASS, WELCOME!

You Blog Challenge this week is:

1. Post a short bio of who you are. Include in your statement your name, a short history of your life including how and when you came to Atchison, what you are hoping to get out of this class, and what leadership means to you.

2. Visioning Atchison. What does "your Atchison" look like? Have you explored the entire town? Please drive around our community with you camera and take pictures of what you think defines Atchison as a community. Upload your snapshots to the blog along with an explanation of their significance. Bring copies to class.

Everyone should post at least two photos but you are welcome to post more! Please try to complete this challenge by next Monday evening, Sept. 16th, 2013.

Be Excellent!
John Bunch

WELCOME TO LEADERSHIP ATCHISON 2013

This is the Blog for our LEADERSHIP ATCHISON 2013 Class. Leadership Atchison is a program co-sponsored by the Atchison County Chamber of Commerce and Benedictine College. It is a unique program because we bring together Benedictine College Students and Community Leaders to participate in our community leadership development program.

LEADERSHIP ATCHISON has been developing leaders in the Atchison community since the mid 1990s. In approximately 2004, the program was completely redesigned to incorporate the Kansas Health Foundation/Kansas Leadership Center model of Community Leadership Development. 2013 marks the FIFTH year of co-sponsorship with Benedictine College.

The 2010 Leadership Blog can be found here:  http://leadership-atchison-2010.blogspot.com
and the 2009 blog can be found here: http://atch-leadership-2009.blogspot.com/
(Unfortunately,  the Blogs for 2011 and 2012 were lost when the Postereous blog service was discontinued by Twitter.)

The Atchison Chamber of Commerce Leadership Council is very excited to be able to offer this program to the community for 2013. We want to Welcome everyone to this blog which will be a record of the class's activity during the Spring of 2013.