Lee's Summit Town Hall Fredcasts

Hosts Nick Parker and Liesl Hays take a few minutes to discuss upcoming local events and since Wednesday is National 501c Day, the duo takes a few minutes to talk about some of the many local nonprofits serving the Lee's Summit community and how easy it is for residents to offer service be it donations of time, talent or treasure.

A now years-long effort to give teens a voice and help bring the community together in conversation about youth mental health continued this week with a community forum presented by Pro Deo Youth Center and ReDiscover at the Missouri Innovation Campus. The event was moderated by ReDiscover's Demetrios Walker and Lee's Summit West senior Ellie Johnson and included a panel of 12 local high school students and just under 150 residents. Walker and Johnson came to The Vault for a conversation with Nick Parker and Liesl Hays about their reactions to the event and where they think the conversation is headed next.

Everyone relax. Liesl is back home. After what seemed like a way-too-long hiatus, Liesl Hays rejoins Nick Parker for the latest episode of the Lee's Summit Town Hall podcast just in time to preview some weekend activities and discuss a recent guest column in Link 2 Lee's Summit discussing the role Political Action Committees are playing in our local elections and governance. Both Nick and Liesl are curious how others in the community feel about partisan political groups inserting themselves into local politics.

If you're feeling down, or a little overwhelmed, Steve Arbo has a suggestion — Find a local organization and volunteer. Service to others, he says, offers a reward of happiness you may not be expecting. Arbo, who has now been retired from his role as Lee's Summit City Manager for a year, entered The Vault this week for a conversation with host Nick Parker on his new life outside the bureaucracy and his dive into a role as community volunteer. Since leaving the northeast corner of City Hall, Arbo has enjoyed extra time traveling with his wife (who is also recently retired) and finding some local nonprofit organizations where he can share his passions and support Lee's Summit in new and profound ways.

In a little bit of a twist, host Nick Parker hands the reins to local Lee’s Summit West Senior Ellie Johnson, who talks with ReDiscover’s Jennifer Craig and LSPD Officer Amanda Geno about the upcoming community forum on mental health scheduled for 6 p.m. April 22 at the Missouri Innovation Campus. This episode was edited by Lee’s Summit Junior Charlie Parker. Both Johnson and Parker are part of the I Can Relate podcast project. 

Their chiropractic business isn't exactly what they thought it would be. She didn't plan on developing a passion helping young patients and he had no idea the directions his study and budding network would take him. Today, Doctors Alex and Lauren Nelson operate HML Functional Care in Lee's Summit and have a budding practice focusing on providing a holistic and collaborative approach to caring for kids with special needs. The duo drop by The Vault for an open conversation with host Nick Parker on their business and approach to healthcare.