The calendar shows events we are part of and events we are sponsoring. Do you have an event we should know about? Send us a message.

Feb
18
Tue
February JEDI Book Club – Master Slave Husband Wife by Ilyon Woo @ Online Via Zoom
Feb 18 @ 7:30 pm – 8:30 pm

For our February 18th JEDI Book Club, we will be reading Master Slave Husband Wife: An Epic Journey from Slavery to Freedom by Ilyon Woo.

To register, click here to email Anne Melia, JEDI Book Club organizer.

Anne shares: “This book has been on my list for a while, and Nancy was riveted by its first chapter, so it is our second book of 2025.”

Here is the Summary from Goodreads:

The remarkable true story of Ellen and William Craft, who escaped slavery through daring, determination, and disguise, with Ellen passing as a wealthy, disabled White man and William posing as “his” slave.

In 1848, a year of international democratic revolt, a young, enslaved couple, Ellen and William Craft, achieved one of the boldest feats of self-emancipation in American history. Posing as master and slave, while sustained by their love as husband and wife, they made their escape together across more than 1,000 miles, riding out in the open on steamboats, carriages, and trains that took them from bondage in Georgia to the free states of the North.

Along the way, they dodged slave traders, military officers, and even friends of their enslavers, who might have revealed their true identities. The tale of their adventure soon made them celebrities, and generated headlines around the country. Americans could not get enough of this charismatic young couple, who traveled another 1,000 miles criss-crossing New England, drawing thunderous applause as they spoke alongside some of the greatest abolitionist luminaries of the day—among them Frederick Douglass and William Wells Brown.

But even then, they were not out of danger. With the passage of an infamous new Fugitive Slave Act in 1850, all Americans became accountable for returning refugees like the Crafts to slavery. Then yet another adventure began, as slave hunters came up from Georgia, forcing the Crafts to flee once again—this time from the United States, their lives and thousands more on the line and the stakes never higher.

With three epic journeys compressed into one monumental bid for freedom, Master Slave Husband Wife is an American love story—one that would challenge the nation’s core precepts of life, liberty, and justice for all—one that challenges us even now.

Feb
22
Sat
Late Winter Walk at Burr Oak Woods @ Parking Lot of the Burr Oak Woods Conservation Area Visitor's Center
Feb 22 @ 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm

Late Winter Walk at Burr Oak Woods

Free Event hosted by The Resilient Activist (donations welcome) 💚

Meeting Spot: Parking Lot of the Burr Oak Woods Visitor’s Center

Ages 12+

Register Here

This February, join us for a crisp, revitalizing walk at Burr Oak Woods and listen for barred owls at dusk 🌙

Limestone boulders perch on Bethany Falls Trail, Burr Oak Woods.
Limestone boulders perch on Bethany Falls Trail, Burr Oak Woods.

Highlights for the Walk

Burr Oak Woods is located in Blue Springs just north of I-70. In Blue Springs, take Highway 7 north of I-70 for 1.10 miles, then west 1 mile on Park Road to the conservation area.

The conservation area features steep forested hillsides along Burr Oak Creek, large limestone boulders and outcrops, restored prairies and woodlands, and a trail complex that will guide visitors through many of these unique environments.

We’ll meet at the parking lot of the Visitor Center, which is open until 5pm (see the Burr Oak Woods Conservation Area Map).

What to Wear & Recommended Accessories

A person walks down a forested trail at Burr Oak Woods, Blue Springs. | Photo Credit: Bob | Reddit
A person walks down a forested trail at Burr Oak Woods, Blue Springs.

Wear warm shoes, preferably water-resistant, with good tread. Wool or warm socks, warm layers, gloves/mittens, and a good winter coat and hat are essential. Waterproof pants over warm pants are a wonderful addition to keep you dry.

A warm beverage in an insulated travel mug is a nice addition. Cameras/smartphones are welcome and stopping for photos is encouraged.  

“A walk in nature walks the soul back home.” – Mary Davis

Why Nature-Connection is Important

We *are* nature but our culture and lifestyle can separate from our connection with our environment. Re-establishing our sense of awareness and belonging in nature by breaking down barriers and spending more time outdoors helps each of us in different ways. It can reduce anxiety and depression, improve physical health, inspire creativity, improve clarity of thought, facilitate problem-solving, and help us gain perspective.

In a society where loneliness is an epidemic, rediscovering our sense of belonging within nature can help us feel a little less adrift and provide comfort amidst life’s constant changes.

Contact Anna Graether at 816.985.2337 with questions.

Burr Oak Woods Map

 

About Trail Leader and Board Member, Anna Graether

Anna Graether is a board member of The Resilient Activist, a Johnson County Master Naturalist, and a Deep Roots Nature Advisor.

Her focus is on impacting climate change through speaking about, writing about, and planting more native plants at home, in her neighborhood, and in her city. 

 

Feb
24
Mon
Climate Café Gathering @ Online via Zoom
Feb 24 @ 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm

Overwhelmed by Climate Change?

You’re Not Alone.

Resilience grows from community. The insular winter season offers us a chance to rest, dream, and collectively envision a more equitable and vibrant Earth. Together, we’ll cultivate strength, nurturing our planet and each other. This shared mission transforms these simple gatherings into powerful forces for renewal.

The Resilient Activist Climate Café Gatherings offer a valuable opportunity to connect with a community that gets you, fill your cup, and gain resilience insights. Our community is full of folks who are experiencing many of the emotions that climate change has brought out in your heart and mind.

Running for about 90 minutes, our Climate Café Gatherings include an introspective meditation, invitation to the topic of the evening (i.e., burnout, isolation, nature connection, etc.), breakout room conversations, and an ending group discussion.

There is nothing for you to commit to except to gather your favorite beverage, a journal, find a comfortable spot with your Zoom window open, and just be you.

Each session includes facilitators from The Resilient Activist as well as a Climate-Aware Therapist to guide the conversations in ways that are supportive and nurturing.

Register here for our February Climate Café Gathering.

Here are some musings from past participants:

“Each time I attend a Climate Café, I feel more connected to others, knowing that our communal love for Mother Earth is so strong and enduring. I come away more grounded, knowing that in the midst of so much chaos, there is compassion, care, and action for all living creatures.”

“Community support is vital for dealing with anxiety around environmental issues. I’m so happy TRA has facilitated discussions like tonight’s Climate Cafe’ and look forward to future conversations.”

“I faced my problem, now I can work on it. This is huge.”

“If you are looking for like minded people who are working in a positive way toward goals for climate advocacy, this is your group!”

Feb
26
Wed
Gardening for Wildlife: Planting with Purpose @ Online via Zoom
Feb 26 @ 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm

Wednesday, Feb. 26 | 12:00 – 1:00 pm CT

Free Presentation held on Zoom

Get Your Tickets Here

Offered at prime time for garden planning, this presentation by Master Naturalist Anna Graether explores the radical impacts of native gardening vs. traditional lawn management, native gardening’s role in revitalizing local ecosystems, and practical steps to incorporate it into your own outdoor space.

Learn about the opportunities in your own backyard to…

  • Create precious habitat for pollinators while beautifying your outdoor space
  • Restore local food webs and increase biodiversity
  • Discover a joyful and grounding way to practice your love for the planet
This event is geared toward those who are “native plant curious” – we will focus on typical suburban-sized gardens instead of prairie plantings or large acreages. Examples will be Midwest-based, but the process is applicable no matter where you’re gardening.
Together, we’ll learn about the inter-relationship between plants and insects (and us!), and why it’s important to honor these relationships by creating native plant landscapes.
Presented by gardening aficionado and Extension Master Naturalist Anna Graether, this presentation offers the opportunity to ask Anna your personal questions about native gardening to better guide you on this exciting journey. Anna has successfully created, planted, and maintained many native gardens in her time – check out one of her garden plans as laid out in this blog post.

Come prepared to ask questions, take notes, and in general, fill your cup with native gardening inspiration!

 

Anna Graether

Anna is a lifelong learner and leader, currently working to create and encourage landscapes that are not only beautiful but sustain life, sequester carbon, feed pollinators and manage water. Trained in commercial interior design, Anna worked at the intersection of design, facilities and sustainability for corporate, non-profit and government employers for thirty years.

In this, she was happiest when focused on good design that supports people in the workplace while reducing the impact of buildings on the environment. Anna has been on the boards of Burroughs Audubon, Kansas City Community Gardens and MainCor.

Mar
18
Tue
March JEDI Book Club – He/She/They by Schuyler Bailar @ Online Via Zoom
Mar 18 @ 7:30 pm – 8:30 pm

For our March 18th JEDI Book Club, we will be reading He/She/They: How We Talk About Gender and Why It Matters by Schuyler Bailar.

To register, click here to email Anne Melia, JEDI Book Club organizer.

Anne shares: “Nancy came across this book, and we both feel like it does a great job of laying out the language around gender identity and provides understanding for those who have not had much opportunity to engage in this important conversation. I’m about a third of the way through the book, and have found Schuyler’s writing style to be engaging and informative.”

Here is the Summary from Goodreads:

Go‑to expert on gender identity, Schuyler Bailar, offers an essential, urgent guide that changes the conversation. Anti-transgender legislation is being introduced in state governments around the United States in record-breaking numbers. Trans people are under attack in sports, healthcare, school curriculum, bathrooms, bars, and nearly every walk of life.

He/She/They clearly and compassionately addresses fundamental topics, from why being transgender is not a choice and why pronouns are important, to more complex issues including how gender-affirming healthcare can be lifesaving and why allowing trans youth to play sports is good for all kids. 

With a relatable narrative rooted in facts, science, and history, Schuyler helps restore common sense and humanity to a discussion that continues to be divisively coopted and deceptively politicized.

Schuyler Bailar didn’t set out to be an activist, but his very public transition to the Harvard men’s swim team put him in the spotlight. His choice to be open about his transition and share his experience has touched people around the world.

His plain-spoken education has evolved into tireless advocacy for inclusion and collective liberation. In He/She/They, Schuyler uses storytelling and the art of conversation to give us the essential language and context of gender, meeting everyone where they are and paving the way for understanding, acceptance, and, most connection. He/She/They is more than a book on allyship; it also speaks to trans folks directly, answering the question, “does it get better?” with a resounding yes, celebrating radical trans joy.

Myth-busting, affirming, compassionate, and fierce, He/She/They is a crucial, urgent–and lifesaving–book that forever changes the conversation about gender.

Mar
31
Mon
Climate Café Gathering @ Online via Zoom
Mar 31 @ 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm

Resilience grows from community.

As spring draws near, we cultivate strength and direction, nurturing our planet and each other. Our shared mission transforms these simple gatherings into powerful forces for renewal.

The Resilient Activist Climate Café Gatherings offer a valuable opportunity to connect with a community that gets you, fill your cup, and gain resilience insights. Our community is full of folks who are experiencing many of the emotions that climate change has brought out in your heart and mind.

Running for about 90 minutes, our Climate Café Gatherings include an introspective meditation, topic introduction (i.e., burnout, isolation, nature connection, etc.), breakout room conversations, and an ending group discussion.

There is nothing for you to commit to except to gather your favorite beverage, a journal, find a comfortable spot with your Zoom window open, and just be you.

Each session includes facilitators from The Resilient Activist as well as a Climate-Aware Therapist to guide the conversations in ways that are supportive and nurturing.

Register here for our March Climate Café Gathering.

Here are some musings from past participants:

“Each time I attend a Climate Café, I feel more connected to others, knowing that our communal love for Mother Earth is so strong and enduring. I come away more grounded, knowing that in the midst of so much chaos, there is compassion, care, and action for all living creatures.”

“Community support is vital for dealing with anxiety around environmental issues. I’m so happy TRA has facilitated discussions like tonight’s Climate Cafe’ and look forward to future conversations.”

“I faced my problem, now I can work on it. This is huge.”

“If you are looking for like minded people who are working in a positive way toward goals for climate advocacy, this is your group!”

Apr
13
Sun
Bluebell Valley Walk: A Nature Connected Event @ Bluebell Valley - Rock Island 98th Street (Vale) Trailhead
Apr 13 @ 10:00 am – 11:30 am

Springtime in Bluebell Valley: A Nature Walk to Reconnect and Renew  💙

Date: Sunday April 13, 2025

Time: 10:00 AM- 11:30 AM
Location: Bluebell Valley (Meet at the Rock Island 98th St (Vale) Trailhead parking lot)
12600 E 98 St, Kansas City, MO 64138

Join us for our April Nature-Connection Event, a rejuvenating springtime walk through one of Kansas City’s most beautiful and serene landscapes—Bluebell Valley, located just off the Rock Island Trailhead. This rich, vibrant bottomland along the Little Blue River comes alive each spring, blanketed with the delicate hues of Virginia Bluebells (Mertensia virginica) and other stunning spring ephemerals. It’s a breathtaking celebration of nature’s renewal and the return of warmer days.

This walk offers more than just a scenic route—it’s an opportunity to slow down, reconnect with nature, and restore your own sense of balance and peace. We’ll take our time to enjoy the beauty around us, appreciating the wildflowers, the sounds of the river, and the quiet serenity that this area provides.

Highlights for the Walk

While the trail along the river is mostly flat, there is one short, steeper hill on the way down from the Rock Island Trail. Be prepared with sturdy shoes that can handle a little mud, and leave your worries behind as you engage fully with the natural world around you.

After the walk, take some time to reflect, chat with fellow participants, and absorb the peace of the surroundings. It’s not just a walk—it’s a chance to deepen your connection to nature, cultivate resilience in the face of life’s challenges, and foster a sense of community.

Details:

Location: Rock Island Trailhead, Bluebell Valley
Distance: Short but meaningful (with time to linger and connect)
Footwear: Sturdy shoes suitable for mud and uneven terrain
For more information or any questions, please contact Anna Graether at anna@theresilientactivist.org.

We hope to see you there for a walk that will nourish your spirit and deepen your connection to the natural world.

Why Nature-Connection is Important 🍄‍🟫

We *are* nature but our culture and lifestyle can separate from our connection with our environment. Re-establishing our sense of awareness and belonging in nature by breaking down barriers and spending more time outdoors helps each of us in different ways. It can reduce anxiety and depression, improve physical health, inspire creativity, improve clarity of thought, facilitate problem-solving, and help us gain perspective.

In a society where loneliness is an epidemic, rediscovering our sense of belonging within nature can help us feel a little less adrift and provide comfort when relationships with others fall short.

Walk Leader

This event is led by Anna Graether, a dedicated The Resilient Activist board member who will guide you through this immersive experience, sharing her knowledge and appreciation of the land, its history, and its healing power. Whether you’re new to the area or a seasoned local, this walk offers a fresh perspective on the beauty of Kansas City’s spring landscape and provides the perfect opportunity to pause, breathe, and simply be present.

 

Photo Credits: Anna Graether

May
3
Sat
KC Farm School Work Day @ KC Farm School
May 3 @ 10:00 am – 12:00 pm

a farm landscape with a flowering bush and a sign that reads "KC Farm School at Gibbs Road"

KC Farm School Work Day: A Morning of Gardening & Community 🌻

Date: Saturday May 3, 2025

Time: 10:00 AM- 12 PM
Location: KC Farm School
4223 Gibbs Rd, Kansas City, KS

Join The Resilient Activist and the staff of KC Farm School for this work day event. Depending on weather, we’ll help with planting annuals or work in the greenhouse transplanting seedlings. Wear clothes that can get dirty (layers are recommended), bring some water and get ready to enjoy working as a community!

KC Farm School

“KC Farm School at Gibbs Road, established in 2018, is a 14.5-acre urban farm in southern Wyandotte County bringing the community on-farm, hands-on to connect to land and soil, food community and opportunity. Through educational opportunity and equitable access to local food for all, we create tomorrow better than today in our shared communities across KC. Our food and programming are always Pay What You’re Able. When we all share as we’re able, we all have what we need. The Farm School at Gibbs Road Inc., doing business as KC Farm School at Gibbs Road, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.”

Highlights for the Day

Depending on the weather during our work day we could be inside of the Greenhouse or working outside in the sun. Be prepared with sturdy shoes that can handle a little mud, layers are a good idea as the greenhouse can heat up quick.

If it’s your first time at the Farm set aside some time after to take a tour of their beautiful and extensive plot. If you’re lucky enough someone from the Farm School might be able to give you a guided tour with history of the land and their plans for the future.

Why Nature-Connection is Important 🍄‍🟫

We *are* nature but our culture and lifestyle can separate from our connection with our environment. Re-establishing our sense of awareness and belonging in nature by breaking down barriers and spending more time outdoors helps each of us in different ways. It can reduce anxiety and depression, improve physical health, inspire creativity, improve clarity of thought, facilitate problem-solving, and help us gain perspective.

In a society where loneliness is an epidemic, rediscovering our sense of belonging within nature can help us feel a little less adrift and provide comfort when relationships with others fall short.

Work Day Leader

This event is led by Anna Graether, a board member of The Resilient Activist, a Johnson County Master Naturalist, and a Deep Roots Nature Advisor.  Her focus is on impacting climate change through speaking about, writing about and planting more native plants at home, in her neighborhood and in her city.  

 

Photo Credits: Anna Graether

May
31
Sat
Yoga at the Park @ Gillham Park (45th & Gillham) South end of Park
May 31 @ 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm

Yoga in the Park – Resilience in Our Community

Date: May 31, 7-8 PM
Location: 45th & Gillham, South End of Park

Join us for a special evening of resiliency and connection as Sarah Mayerhofer leads a sunset flow designed for all levels of yoga.

Whether you’re new to yoga or have been practicing for years, this class will offer a supportive space to cultivate resilience, both individually and as a community.

Bring your mat, some water, and a friend — and let’s come together in the beautiful outdoors to nurture our minds, bodies, and spirits.

In times of change, yoga helps us build strength, balance, and connection to the world around us. Let’s embrace this moment of collective renewal.

We can’t wait to see you at Gillham Park!

Jul
12
Sat
Roots & Remedies: A Plant Medicine Event @ Location available upon RSVPing
Jul 12 @ 9:00 am – 11:00 am

Roots & Remedies: An Exploration into Plant Medicine 🍄‍🟫

Date: July 12th, 2025

Time: 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM CT

Location: Kansas City (full address available after you RSVP)

Join The Resilient Activist community and Luke Welsh for a native garden tour, discussion on local medicinal plants, community connection, and a chance to take some promising seedlings home!

While walking through the garden, Luke will share the physical and emotional benefits of utilizing the medicinal plants we find that are currently in season. Once you leave the event with a seedling or two of your own, you’ll come away with an enhanced understanding and appreciation of what these native plants can offer.

The event location will be available once you RSVP.

Native gardening can be a powerful form of self-care and activism. One of the best ways to support wildlife  is to plant natives, because insects and birds have evolved alongside the plants they rely on. Without specific plants, we wouldn’t have specific insects. When we provide a healthy environment for insects to thrive, birds and pollinators get to eat, birds and pollinators pollinate, and humans are able to eat and be nourished!

Mushroom logs at Luke’s property

Along with supporting ecosystem balance, the process of native gardening and connecting with the soil can lower our blood pressure, calm our mind, and nourish us on a deeper level.

Why Nature-Connection is Important 🍄‍🟫

We *are* nature but our culture and lifestyle can separate from our connection with our environment. Re-establishing our sense of awareness and belonging in nature by breaking down barriers and spending more time outdoors helps each of us in different ways. It can reduce anxiety and depression, improve physical health, inspire creativity, improve clarity of thought, facilitate problem-solving, and help us gain perspective.

In a society where loneliness is an epidemic, rediscovering our sense of belonging within nature can help us feel a little less adrift and provide comfort when relationships with others fall short.

Contact TRA Board Member Anna Graether at anna@theresilientactivist.org with questions.

To learn more about how you can start your own native garden, read Anna’s informative blog post: “From Lawn to Wildlife Habitat: Conservation Starts in Your Own Backyard.

“Using plants [facilitates] a biochemical conversation which is far beyond our comprehension or our understanding.” – Bevin Clare

Photo Credit: Sarah Mayerhofer