Historical society to host “Diverse Cultures Help Kansas Communities”

The Jackson County Historical Society will host “Diverse Cultures Help Kansas Communities,” a presentation and discussion by Ron Wilson at 6 p.m. on April 17 at the Trinity Lutheran Church, 401 Cheyenne Ave. in Holton. Members of the community are invited to attend the free program. Contact the society at 785-364-4991 for more information. The program is made possible by the Kansas Humanities Council.

This annual Founders Day event will have a catered meal served by Trails Cafe beginning at 6 p.m. The menu is slow roasted sliced roast beef, mashed garlic potatoes, homemade brown gravy, roasted carrots, dinner roll and chocolate cake.

Tickets must be purchased in advance for the meal at the Denison State Bank, 421 New York Ave., Holton, or by calling 785-364-4991. Ticket cost is $20. Those who wish to attend the program only should arrive at 6:45 p.m.

Ron Wilson produces a weekly radio program and news column about rural Kansas called Kansas Profile. He can be heard locally on KNZA radio.

A number of rural communities have grown in recent years because of Latino and South Asian immigrants who are working and raising their families in Kansas. This presentation highlights real-world examples of people who have used their diverse cultural backgrounds to contribute constructively to Kansas communities.

Wilson is director of the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development at Kansas State University. He has served as a legislative assistant; a staff member for the U.S. Senate committee on agriculture, nutrition and forestry; and as vice president of the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives.

“Many threads are interwoven in the fabric of Kansas culture,” Wilson said. “This presentation will celebrate the contributions of Latino, African-American and Native American populations to our communities today.”

“Diverse Cultures Help Kansas Communities” is part of the Kansas Humanities Council’s Humanities Speakers Bureau, featuring presentations and discussions that examine our shared human experience – our innovations, culture, heritage and conflicts.

The Kansas Humanities Council conducts and supports community-based programs, serves as a financial resource through an active grant-making program and encourages Kansans to engage in the civic and cultural life of their communities. For more information about KHC programs, contact the Kansas Humanities Council at 785-357-0359 or visit online at www.kansashumanities.org.

For more information about “Diverse Cultures Help Kansas Communities” in Holton, contact the Jackson County Historical Society at 785-364-4991 or visit sites.google.com/site/jchsks/home