A free event designed for Mainstream Members (now open to all)
6-7 pm on Thursday, Feb 25
over Zoom
Join us for this live conversation about how we bridge our differences to build stronger communities in Kansas and the nation. Political polarization has affected how our government works, how our communities interact, even how our families connect. How can we honor our real differences, while acknowledging facts, and still do the work needed to move forward? The conversation will range from political to spiritual, local to national, broad to personal.
This is a free event with limited seating, designed and offered first for members of the Mainstream Coalition, now open to non-members, but space is limited! This is the first in a planned series of events, the rest of which will remain for members only.
Our guests will be:
- Rep. Sharice Davids, U.S. Congress, 3rd District, Kansas
- Rev. Adam Hamilton, founding pastor of the United Methodist Church of the Resurrection
- Dr. Barbara Bollier, former KS State Senator and 2020 US Senate Candidate
- Stephanie Sharp, Political adviser, former KS State Rep and JCCC Trustee
- Moderator: Brandon Kenig, former Shawnee City Council Member and co-host of the Two Men in the Middle podcast
This conversation will start at 6 pm on Thursday, February 25, 2021, virtually over Zoom.
Learn more about our guests:
Rep. Sharice Davids is the sitting U.S. Representative from the 3rd Congressional District in Kansas. A resident of Roeland Park, she is one of the first two Native American women to serve in Congress, and sits on the Transportation & Infrastructure and Small Business Committees. Raised by a single mother and working throughout college at JCCC, UMKC, and Cornell Law School, Rep. Davids has centered her career on bringing more opportunities to the middle class. She says in her official bio, "In Congress, I'm putting Kansans first, working to limit the influence of special interests, and fighting to make health care more affordable and accessible to everyone."
Rev. Adam Hamilton is the founding pastor of the United Methodist Church of the Resurrection in Leawood, Kansas. A Kansas City native, he launched The Church of the Resurrection with his wife and two children in 1990. It has since grown to over 22,000 adults and children under his leadership. Today the church is the largest United Methodist Church in the United States with five locations around the metro. The congregation has a three-fold focus: Connecting with thinking people and inviting them to become followers of Jesus Christ, engaging in acts of justice and mercy in the community, and working to renew the United Methodist Church. Author of over 30 books, Adam has received recognition for his work in racial reconciliation, leadership, civility, and service to the community.
Dr. Barbara Bollier is a former KS State Senator, Representative, and was a 2020 U.S. Senate candidate. The daughter of a doctor and nurse, Barbara Bollier grew up in Fairway and Mission Hills where she attended Kansas public schools all her life, graduating from KU and earning a medical degree from the University of Kansas School of Medicine. In 2010, after a career as a doctor, Barbara served in the Kansas House of Representatives, then in 2016, in the Kansas Senate, as an independent voice for Kansans, earning a reputation as a leader willing to stand up to both political parties to solve the challenges facing our families. She is active in the education community, having served on the Shawnee Mission Education Foundation Board, tutoring, volunteering, and teaching.
Stephanie Sharp was elected three times to the Kansas House of Representatives (’03-’08) and twice to the Johnson County Community College Board (’09-’18). Her professional expertise is “Translating Politics Into English” for state & local candidates and organizations, and she created the VoteSharp.biz voter relationship management tool to help track voter interactions. Sharp has advised nonprofits, advocacy organizations, legislative, and local campaigns for more than 20 years, and is a frequent presenter on effective voter and policymaker engagement.
Our moderator is Brandon Kenig, Mainstream Board member, former Shawnee City Council Member, and co-host of the Two Men in the Middle podcast. Born in Kansas City, Brandon's unhealthy obsession with politics started as a high school freshman during the 2000 presidential election recount fiasco and has never wavered. Brandon is a political consultant who has worked on numerous campaigns at the federal, state, and congressional level (as well as a presidential campaign or two), and he participated in GOTV efforts for national political campaigns for elections in Canada and the United Kingdom, as well working as a staffer for U.S. Senator Jerry Moran. Brandon works in software technology and digital marketing, where he consults with major brands like Facebook, Google, and Microsoft as a strategist.