(upbeat music begins) - Welcome back to another edition of Kansas City Experience.

I'm Catherine Hoffman.

This month on KCX, we take a look at how The Giving Grove is bringing orchards to communities around the Metro.

Plus, we approximate the recipe to Mrs. Truman's famous fruit punch.

Kansas City creators continue to leave their mark here in KC, and beyond.

We check out the fresh look for a local nonprofit that turns a spotlight on KC's women in film and media.

As students prepare to wrap up the most challenging school year in history, we check in with a few of them to hear about the experience of learning during a pandemic.

Also this month, we listen in on part of Lake Street Dive's virtual visit with 90.9 The Bridges Michelle Bacon.

But, we get started this month with a look back at the woman who helped integrate South Park Elementary in the 1940s.

In the late 1940s, a cross burned in the front yard of Ester Brown, a Jewish housewife in Merriam, Kansas.

Why?

Because she dared to want equal education for black children.

(acoustic music begins) Merrian, Kansas was established as an integrated community, with black and white children attending the same schools.

Over time the school segregated, and the black children attended The Walker School.

- [Andrew] That school had lots of issues.

It was built as a one-room schoolhouse in the 1800's.

The roof leak there, there was no electricity.

The plumbing was outside.

- [Catherine] In the mid 1940s, the town held a bond election and raised $90,000 to build a new school, South Park Elementary School.

It opened in 1947, and boasted a cafeteria, room for more than 200 students, a new playground, indoor plumbing, and higher paid staff.

Everyone in the town paid for the construction of the school, but the white residents of Merriam decided it would only be for white children.

(acoustic music continues) - [Andrew] When they continued to refuse, the families banded together.

And so did the teachers, and about 39 or 40 of the students walked out with the two teachers.

- [Catherine] In 1948, all but two children from the Walker School boycotted the inadequate facility.

Corinthian Nutter was a teacher at the Walker School, and was instrumental in the year-long school walkout.

Nutter, and fellow teacher Hazel McCray Weddington, held classes in living rooms and church basements.

During the boycott, the families decided to take their fight to court, and Brown was one of the driving forces behind filing the case, as well as orchestrating the walkout.

She worked tirelessly to organize the families, raise money for teacher salaries during the boycott, and start a local NAACP chapter.

(acoustic music continues) And that's the story of how two women fought to integrate South Park Elementary School.

- [Rob] It's time to get back to a place that we used to be, not that long ago, which is growing your own food.

Back in 2012, we had a group of people that came together and realized that part of the work that they were doing was putting healthy food in backpacks for young children to take home on the weekend.

But we really realized that we weren't making a sustainable change to that child's life.

So, we put our heads together and we came up with this idea that we can empower individuals, communities of faith, neighborhoods, to grow their own little food system by way of growing fruits, berries, and nuts.

And so after about seven, eight years of doing that, we now have over 200 little neighborhood orchards in Kansas City.

(inspirational music begins) They lead, they manage, they're part of the food distribution.

They're part of building the community.

That's what makes it a 50-year food system, because it's theirs.

And all we have to do is do a little coaching along the way.

What I am told by many of these families is that certainly the food security that these orchards brings is meaningful, but the community that builds around the orchard may be more meaningful than just the nutrition that comes out of the orchard.

So, we're really delighted that the orchards are creating and strengthening community, bringing people together.

It's really wonderful to see kindness create a connection to people in these neighborhoods.

- [Emily] What's the recipe for Mrs. Truman's famous punch from Stephenson's Restaurant?

(piano music begins) Stephenson's had this drink on their menu called Mrs. Truman's Famous Fruit Punch, a secret recipe made with, one server confessed, lots and lots of rum.

Bess Truman had this recipe in a recipe book of hers.

As Bess would say, let's have it with a little authority.

(piano music continues) - [Female Narrator] We're women from all walks, all orientations, all races, all backgrounds.

- [Courtney] The video itself is like a manifesto of our new brand and our new vision for the organization.

It was kind of the brain child of brand lead Katie Raggatt, who's with Austin Hall Studios here in town.

I'm just plugging all of these incredible women.

And Johanna Brooks, with Johanna Brooks Films, who's another freelancer, she's a DP.

- [Female Narrator] Creative directors, media buyers, actors, editors.

And we have one thing in common.

For us, a seat at the table is just the start.

- [Courtney] Katie really had the idea.

We have this kind of ongoing Google Doc, and all of the board members kinda helped tweak the script and work on it.

And then Johanna really took that and brought it to life.

- [Female Narrator] We are allies, who come alongside.

We are media makers, ready to make a mark.

- [Courtney] She shot all of those women and our allies, because our group's not just for women, and that's kind of what we were trying to get across.

And you actually see most of our board members make an appearance in it.

So it's kind of a fun, you know, like plug for that.

- [Female Narrator] We are directors, writers, producers, camera operators, art directors, photographers.

- [Courtney] Everyone in it are people that work in the industry and are here.

They're freelancers, they're professionals.

And so it's just kind of fun to catch all those faces in it.

(pop music begins) It was so cool to see the old logo transform into the new one.

And, you know, I literally squealed like a excited school girl when that came through an email, 'cause it was just so cool to see that, like, happen.

(pop music continues) The website has a new facelift.

So when you go you can become a member, and there is a membership directory.

And once you sign up, you can make a profile.

And what that allows is, if you come in or if crews come in from out of town, they'll come and they'll be able to search through our directory.

And if they're looking for directors, and ADs, and audio women, and producers, and coordinators, all of that.

If you have a profile on our website, you will pop up, and it will be sort of like a LinkedIn-esque, where you'll have a picture, and your resume, and kind of a bio about you.

So, it'll be a great place for networking, in that regard.

And for people who want to crew up, because there is a big push to, you know, find women that are talented and put them into the position that they are totally qualified for.

And then for networking, if you're a PA or you're interested in getting started, it's a great place to go and find people's contact info to reach out and say, "Hey, I'm so interested in what you do."

And we've all been in that position, so getting an email, or an Instagram, or a LinkedIn message like that is incredible.

We love to share.

We love to network.

We love to help people out.

So, that's something I'm always trying to encourage people to like, don't be too shy to just email and say, "I want to do what you do."

We're all there for that.

(alternative music begins) I think things that WIFilm offers that people don't realize is not only the networking with other incredible women, because the pool of women in Kansas City is incredibly deep, not just in film but in news, and in marketing, and in advertising, and all of these other facets that maybe prior when it was women in film and television they didn't think that they were welcome or really checked the right box to be part of the organization.

And we changed television to media to really try and let people know from the name, like, you are welcome here.

There's a place for you here.

People would benefit from what you have to teach them.

And vice versa.

On top of our new content library, online for members, we're gonna have great workshops.

We have recognition events, you know, award ceremonies or spirit awards, things like that.

Incredible networking opportunities.

Also fiscal sponsorships, which, because we're a nonprofit, if you're a member and you're looking to apply for grants, or get help making a project, that's actually another thing that we do that some people don't realize.

And so, you know, especially for independent up and comers, that's something I think is very beneficial to have, money, to make your passion project.

So I think there's so many more benefits to membership that we're really trying to get the information out about.

That at least checking us out, following us on Instagram, and seeing what we're all about is my, kind of, call to action for everyone.

- [Tamara] My name is Tamra Day, and I buy and restore a really inexpensive, old mansions.

What do you think?

- What have you gotten us into?

- [John] You're amazing!

Tell people about what you do, and most specifically the bargain mansion thing that you did.

And you talk about a woman bringing great stuff to Kansas City, you working on that and everything.

So tell me about Courtney Hopkins, and then your amazing ride with Bargain Mansions here in KC.

- [Ward] I thought you should've burnt the place down.

- [Male Narrator] But it will be worth it.

- [Courtney] A big part of my time in Kansas City has been spent on the show, and it was incredible.

When we started, it felt so grassroots and, you know, I'd never produced a reality TV show before.

Tamra Day had never been a show host before.

It's so new for everybody, and we just kind of came together in this very fun collaboration.

- [Ward] Knock knock.

- [Tamara] Oh hey dad, how's it going?

Been waiting for you.

- [Male Narrator] The show based in Kansas City, teaming Tamara up with her dad as they restore huge homes that everyone else has given up on.

- Like I said, it felt so grassroots, 'cause we were just going around being like, "Do you want us to come?

Like, can we come shop?

Can we come make spindles?

Can we, you know, do these activities?"

And a lot of people were like, "Who are you?

What are you?"

And then it became so surreal.

As, you know, we got to season two, and then we got to season three, and then they picked up more episodes.

So it's just a weird to like, you know, you go from "I'm with a show called Bargain Mansions.

It hasn't aired yet."

to driving I see billboards with Tamara on them now.

Like what?

- [Ward] The only word is, wow, - [Tamara] It feels modern, for something so old.

Kinda like you.

- How did school change for you?

- It's being really different.

So, like, instead of worrying about, "Oh, did I have enough time to make lunch?"

I have to worry about, "Oh, it was my computer charged?"

and "Oh, do I have internet and everything?"

(trivial music begins) - It was kinda difficult, 'cause I couldn't really figure out how to get into my Zooms, and it was hard to get scheduling to everybody.

And every time we had a question, we would have to email the teachers.

And then I also, wasn't good at emailing, and I wasn't very, like, familiar with that.

So it was kind of hard to reach out to people.

- At usual school, I had to, like, stay at school for seven hours.

And now at virtual school, I just have to stay here for four hours.

- In person, normally I come in, I greet my teacher and everything, but online it's kind of hard to paint, but you just see people in screens and sometimes, like, the camera's off, so you don't know if they're there.

So, yeah.

- [Interviewer] Did you like virtual learning?

- Yeah.

- [Interviewer] What did you like about virtual learning?

- Learning about leaves, that we could print it on the paper.

- What was going through your mind?

How are you feeling about it all?

- I wasn't really super excited, 'cause, like, I wouldn't have been able to see my friends.

- Yeah, yeah.

Were you able to at least chat with them?

Do you FaceTime with them?

- Yeah, sometimes.

But all of our friends also have, we all have schoolwork now.

- I can to see my friends, but now Coronavirus just took over, and then can't see them anymore.

Can't go near them.

- Me, personally, I learn better in person, having that one-on-one attention.

But I think it's definitely safer to do online, 'cause how much the Coronavirus is spreading.

But I do just miss seeing my friends, and I just learn a lot better in person.

So it's hard.

- What do you miss the absolute most?

- Missed talking to people face to face.

Like even just asking you for a pencil.

I think people take things for granted, and now that we don't have that, it's just hard to like do it without it.

- We all can't get hugs or play with each other, or share toys.

- [Interviewer] How do you feel about that?

- I'm sad because we don't get to hug each other.

- [Interviewer] If there was one thing that you want adults to know about learning during a pandemic, what would that be?

- I think adults and parents they underestimate how hard it is, because I know some adults they're just just like, "Oh, online's easy.

You just sit in front of a screen and listen to people, and just do work."

But it's actually a lot harder than that.

And it's easy to feel sad and vulnerable.

And people are getting depressed in that way, and kids and adults, like they're not talking about it.

And that's how they just feel lonely and all alone.

So, I hope adults know that it's not as easy as you would think.

- We're trying to do our best.

Like it's kinda hard to like get everything done super fast.

Like we get distracted and work's just kind of hard to do.

And we just kind of look at a screen all day.

So it's hard to keep our heads going, I guess.

- It's hard.

People been dying a lot, just breaks my heart.

Try to be careful.

Can't do that.

Can't go to that much places anymore.

- Hopefully this pandemic ends.

- Okay, Rachel, you guys have had the same lineup since 2004, up until Akie joined as a touring member in 2017.

And one of my favorite things about Lake Street Dive is that you have this really vast musical vocabulary, but you also share similar musical instincts, and you have a personal comradery that comes through in all of your live performances, in all of your content.

And I know that's not an easy thing to maintain, especially when you've spent the last 16 years constantly gigging, constantly creating, constantly touring.

So my question to you is as an original member, how did you feel like Akie fit into that equation for you all, and both on a musical and personal level?

- Well, the brief answer would be wonderfully.

Perfectly and magically.

Magically because it's a hard thing to find another musician after you've been together, I don't know, 10 years we've been together that fits so well into the band in a way that we felt almost like we'd been stupid to not have this any earlier we're like, "Wow, what have we been doing all this time?

How have we lived without it?"

And without it, I mean is Akie's playing, his musicianship and personality-wise.

Yeah, we just got along with him really, really well.

It was always such an embarrassing moment for Akie when we have to just talk about it.

But yeah, I mean I'll keep it brief, but that's just to say it went really, really well, the first tour that we did, and ever since then it just gets better and better.

- That's awesome.

And Akie, I heard a podcast that you did and, correct me if I'm wrong on this, so you were formally asked to join the band while you guys were out on tour in Chicago.

- That is correct.

- And so each member of the band presented you with a plastic engagement ring?

Is that correct?

- It was just one ring.

I like the way that it's growing though.

- No, no.

It was four rings.

- There was four rings?

- Yes, yeah.

- Oh wow.

Oh, I forgot that detail.

I was like, "We presented four rings?"

- Yes.

They were placed on my salad plate when I was distracted and I turned around.

- Wow, I remembered there only being one.

I'm so glad this detail has come to life.

- It was very strange, like rom-com style situation.

- Right, 'cause there was like a ring pop.

- Yeah, something like that.

- There was like a ring pop, there was like the kind that you get out of like a machine for 25 cents.

- Totally, yes.

- Yeah.

- Okay, so you had a variety of rings.

- I did, yeah.

I should be wearing them, I think they're all too small, for any of my fingers.

- I believe that's what you said on the podcast.

♪ I just wanna love you ♪ ♪ I just wanna try ♪ ♪ I ain't always the subject ♪ ♪ Of a thousand prying eyes ♪ ♪ I worry about the gossip ♪ ♪ Do you think that will be fine?

♪ ♪ There ain't no way to stop it ♪ ♪ So I won't change my mind ♪ ♪ Oh I would run away with ya, any day ♪ ♪ If we could ♪ ♪ But I don't think that running anywhere ♪ ♪ Would do us any good ♪ ♪ We just keep on making ♪ ♪ The same old news ♪ ♪ People talk about us ♪ ♪ But what they do without us?

♪ ♪ It's the same old news ♪ ♪ I just wanna love you ♪ ♪ But it's causing so much trouble ♪ ♪ I guess it's the same old, same old news ♪ ♪ I just wanna love you ♪ ♪ In some old fashioned way ♪ ♪ Instead, we're picked apart for everything we say ♪ ♪ I would change my name for ya (what would ya change it?)

♪ ♪ To anything for what it's worth ♪ ♪ But I hope that they find us anywhere ♪ ♪ At the corners of the Earth ♪ ♪ We just keep on making ♪ ♪ That same old news ♪ ♪ I'm feeling overtired from being so hardwired ♪ ♪ It's the same old news ♪ ♪ Causing such a fuss, 'cause they want to lock us up ♪ ♪ Well ain't it a shame ♪ ♪ The way they exclaim ♪ ♪ Like being in love is something they want us to explain ♪ ♪ But I guess it's the same old ♪ ♪ Same old news ♪ ♪ Ah let's move to an island ♪ ♪ A million miles from shore ♪ ♪ At least until they build a tower ♪ ♪ Where there wasn't one before ♪ ♪ We just keep on making ♪ ♪ That same old news ♪ ♪ Oh, oh, people talk about us ♪ ♪ But what they do without us?

♪ ♪ It's the same old news ♪ ♪ I just wanna love you ♪ ♪ But it's causing so much trouble ♪ ♪ It's the same old news ♪ ♪ Every time we kiss I can hear them stop to whisper ♪ ♪ They know all of our secrets (yes they do) ♪ ♪ And they know where we've been ♪ ♪ Well, they're inside our head ♪ ♪ And underneath our skin, yeah ♪ ♪ Oh but haven't you heard ♪ ♪ It's so absurd ♪ ♪ I think it's a waste ♪ ♪ But it's still a basic human urge ♪ ♪ To keep spreading the same old ♪ ♪ Same old, same old, same old ♪ ♪ Same old, same old news ♪