Earth/Work: Artists & Sustainable Living feat. Carl Stafford

3333 Wyoming Street,Kansas City MO 64111

25 March, 2023

Description

The second speaker in the series is Carl Stafford. Born and raised on the west side of District Five in Kansas City, Missouri, Carl Stafford is the founder and visionary of MY REGION WINS! (MRW!), a non-profit whose mission is to transcend everyday challenges by using the arts to nurture creative and undeveloped ideas that shape society. His vision is to have art and nature be instrumental in addressing environmental and social injustice issues. Audiences will hear short, informal presentations about what led each speaker to embark on their creative paths and what keeps them moving forward. Participation, discussion, and questions encouraged. Stafford's work includes transforming blighted areas into vibrant native plant gardens, organic gardening, coaching, speaking, restoring, and advocating. His goal is to revive the west side of KC's District 5 by using natural resources as assets, generating revenue to compensate residents with the aim for neighborhoods to become self-sustaining economies. His work on Boon Area 1 an environmental artwork installation that also acts as a community garden, was a 2022 recipient of the Charlotte Street Foundation Cultural Producer Grant. In 2021, Carl Stafford was recognized as an "Innovator to Watch" by Grinnell College for his efforts to rectify damage created by redlining, systematic divesting, and environmental degradation in Kansas City. Stafford is a graduate of the Kansas City Art Institute in New Media. EARTH/WORK SPEAKERS March 11 – Matthew and Tia Regier of Matfield Green, Kansas March 25 – Carl Stafford of Boon Area 1 April 8 - Brooke Salvaggio of Urbavore Farm and Compost Collective April 22 - Ryan Tenney of Sankara Farm Earth/Work: Artists & Sustainable Living is organized by Elizabeth Stehling Snell in partnership with the Charlotte Street Foundation.