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GROWING OUR NEXT GENERATION OF ENGINEERS AND
ENTREPRENEURS. ALSO THIS WEEK, WE TAKE YOU
INSIDE THE UNICORN, KANSAS CITY'S HOME FOR CUTTING EDGE THEATER.
PLUS WE PLUG INTO KANSAS CITY'S PLANS FOR ITS ELECTRIC VEHICLE FUTURE.
AND IT'S BEEN FREE FOR DECADES, WHY IT'S NOW GOING TO COST YOU TO ENTER THE OVERLAND
PARK ARBORETUM. PRINCIPLE FUNDING FOR THE LOCAL SHOW PROVIDED BY FRANCIS
FAMILY FOUNDATION, FREDERICK AND LOUISE HARTWIG
FAMILY FUND, KAUFFMAN FOUNDATION, HEALTH CARE
FOUNDATION OF GREATER KANSAS CITY, JOHNSON COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE, JOHN AND EFFY SPEES
MEMORIAL TRUST, RICHARD J. STERN FOUNDATION FOR THE ARTS, COMMERCE BANK TRUSTEE, AND KCPT
MEMBERS. THANK YOU.
HELLO I'M RANDY MASON. AND I'M NICK HAINES. WE'RE DELIGHTED TO HAVE YOU WITH
US AGAIN ON THE LOCAL SHOW. YOU KNOW, OUR LOCAL THEATERS EACH TEND TO HAVE THEIR
SPECIALTIES, COMEDIES, CLASSICS, FAMILY FARE, OR
IN THE CASE OF KANSAS CITY'S UNICORN THEATER,
CUTTING EDGE NEW PLAYS THAT ARE IN MANY CASES PULITZER PRIZE WINNERS OR WORLD PREMIERES.
THIS SEASON, THE UNICORN HAS ALREADY STAGED A PUNK ROCK MUSICAL ABOUT ANDREW JACKSON, A
TELEVANGELIST'S LAST BROADCAST AND A DARK CAMDY
ABOUT ADDICTION WITH A NAME WE CAN'T SAY ON TV.
WE GO BEHIND THE SCENES AT THE UNICORN IN THIS LATEST INSTALLMENT OF OUR PERFORM ARTS
SERIES IN CONJUNCTION WITH KC STUDIO MAGAZINE. I THINK YOU ALL KNOW THE
UNICORN THEATER OR WHY WOULD YOU BE HERE? THE UNICORN DOES WHAT NOBODY
ELSE DOES, RIGHT? ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR. ś.
WE DO ONES YOU'VE NEVER HEARD OF, THE BEST ONES OUT THERE BEING WRITTEN RIGHT NOW.
PEOPLE ASK ME, WELL, WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO NEXT YEAR? AND I HAVE TO SAY, I DON'T KNOW.
IT HASN'T BEEN WRITTEN YET. MAYBE I OVERREACTED. I PROMISE YOU THAT EVERY
SINGLE PLAY THAT WE DO IS HANDPICKED, BECAUSE I LOVE IT, BECAUSE I BELIEVE IN IT AND
BECAUSE I THINK YOU WILL ALSO LOVE IT. IF THIS UNICORN IS STARTING
SOUND MORE LIKE AN OLD FASHION OLD-FASHIONED REVIVAL, IT IS A TOPIC CYNTHIA LAVIN IS
PASSIONATE. CERTAINLY NO ONE ELSE HAS MORE FIRSTHAND KNOWLEDGE.
FOR 33, NEARLY 40 YEARS, SHE'S BEEN RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF IT ALL.
33 YEARS. ISN'T THAT CRAZY? I DON'T KNOW MANY OF MY
COLLEAGUES THAT STAY AT ONE THEATER FOR 33 YEARS, AND I HAVE TO TELL YOU, OVER THE YEARS,
THERE HAVE BEEN MOMENTS THAT I'VE TRIED TO ESCAPE. I'M NOT EVEN FROM KANSAS CITY.
I'M FROM THE EAST COAST, AND I'M LIKE, OH, SHOULD I TRY SOMETHING -- IT'S LIKE, EVERY
TIME I TAKE ONE STEP AWAY I REALIZE WHAT WE'VE GOT HERE. IN FACT, WE HAVE A RULE, YOU
KNOW, THAT WE TELL THE ACTORS. WHAT THEY HAVE HERE NOW IS LITERALLY A COMPLEX.
WHEN THE UNICORN MOVED INTO THE OLD BELLMAN GARAGE ON MAIN STREET IN 1986, THEY STARTED
WITH JUST ONE SMALL STAGE IN THE BACK. NOW THEY HAVE TWO STAGES, A
FRONT ENTRANCE AND A MAZE OF USABLE SPACE THAT JUST ABOUT ANY OUT OF THE MAINSTREAM THEATER
ANYWHERE WITH ENVY. YOU CAN COME THROUGH THIS BUILDING SOMETIME, AND THERE'S
THREE SHOWS BEING WORKED ON. THERE'S A SHOW BEING PERFORMED ON THE MAIN STAGE, A SHOW IN
REHEARSAL AND A SHOW THREE MONTHS DOWN THE LINE THAT'S BEING WORKED ON IN THE
CONFERENCE ROOM, AND THAT'S EXCITING. THE MULTIPLE STAGES ARE
HARDLY A LUXURY FOR THEATERS THESE DAYS, MAKING IT POSSIBLE FOR A BOX OFFICE FAVORITE LIKE
THE HOLIDAY COMEDY "INSPECTING CAROL" COPRODUCED WITH THE KANSAS CITY ACTOR'S THEATER TO
HAVE ITS RUN EXTENDED. OR FOR THE WORLD PREMIER OF "SOUL COLLECTOR" TO JOIN THE
SCHEDULE LATE IN THE GAME. OH, MY GOODNESS, 25, 30 YEARS AGO, IT WAS ALWAYS, LET'S DROP
THE NEW PLAYS. NOBODY HAS EVER HEARD OF THEM. NOBODY COMES TO THEM.
IT'S HARD TO GET AN AUDIENCE, AND IT WAS LIKE,
NO, THE WHOLE PURPOSE WAS TO GROW AN AUDIENCE,
AND HAVE I WATCHED THIS -- I HAVE WATCHED THIS HAPPEN. I HAVE WATCHED PEOPLE COME TO
PLAYS THEY'VE NEVER HEARD OF. THEY WALK IN THE DOOR, AND THEY GO, WHAT IS IT WE'RE SEEING
TONIGHT? THAT'S THE GREATEST COMPLIMENT I CAN GET.
IT'S LIKE, OH, MY GOD, YOU TRUST ME. IT IS FROM THIS DAY FORWARD,
IT IS FROM THIS DAY FORWARD. YOU CAN TELL EVERY PLAY AT THE UNICORN HAS A LOT OF THOUGHT
PUT INTO IT, NOT JUST IN THE PRODUCTION BUT A THOUGHT INTO HOW IT FITS INTO THE WHOLE
SEASON. HAVE YOU GOT EVERYTHING? YEAH, I DO.
CYNTHIA HAS DONE AN OUTSTANDING JOB OF INSURING THAT PRESENTING BOTH FEMALE
PLAYWRIGHTS AND NEW PLAYWRIGHTS AND GIVING THEM A STAGE. IN FACT, AS A CHARTER MEMBER
OF THE NATIONAL NEW PLAY NETWORK, THE UNICORN HAS BEEN AT THE FOREFRONT OF HELPING BRING
ORIGINAL SCRIPTS INTO PUBLIC VIEW. CRISTINA ANDERSON, A KCK NATIVE
AND MASTERS FROM YALE HAS HAD SEVERAL OF HER PLAYS SHOWN AROUND THE COUNTRY BUT NEVER ONE
PRODUCED HERE UNTIL NOW. I CALLED HER, AND I SAID, CRISTINA, I WANT TO DO A PLAY OF
YOURS. WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO DO AND SEE ON THE STAGE?
AND SHE SAID BLACKTOP SKY. I SAID BLACKTOP SKY IT IS. SHARING STORIES ABOUT THE
DISENFRANCHISED THROUGH CASTS THAT ARE OFTEN DIE -- DIVERSE HAS BEEN PART OF THE UNICORN'S
MISSION ALL ALONG. BUT THE PROCESS OF FINE TUNING THEM HAS CHANGED SOMEWHAT.
WITH MORE AND MORE EMPHASIS ON WORKSHOPS AND STAGED READINGS TO GET AUDIENCE FEEDBACK BEFORE
FULLY PRODUCING THEM. WHAT IF I TOLD YOU THAT WHO YOU VOTE FOR WON'T MATTER?
A SHOW THAT HAD A BIG IMPACT ON ME IN TERMS
OF, THIS IS WHY I GO TO THE UNICORN, IS HUNGRY.
WHERE WOULD I HAVE SEEN THAT ANYWHERE ELSE IN THE KANSAS KANS CITY?
UNICORN HAS ALWAYS BEEN ONE STEP AHEAD. WE DID A SHOW CALLED RUINED
ABOUT THE MUTILATION OF WOMEN IN AFRICA. A VERY TOPICAL ISSUE, AND ONE
THAT PRESENTED IT IN A REALLY POWERFUL WAY. UNICORN LAUNCHED A LOT OF
PEOPLE INTO THEIR CAREERS, YOU KNOW, AND SO FOR ME, IT IS THE -- IT'S THE MAIN THEATER
FROM WHICH A LOT OF OTHER THEATERS SPRUNG AND A LOT OF DIRECTORS AND ACTORS GOT THEIR
START THERE. I JUST KEEP DOING IT. YOU KNOW, I DON'T EVEN SOMETIMES
THINK ABOUT IT. I JUST KEEP DOING IT. AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, IT'S
LIKE, EVERY TIME THAT OPENING NIGHT COMES AND YOU DO THAT ONE PLAY, IT'S LIKE, OKAY, NOW THE
NEXT ONE, AND I'VE MOVED ON FOR THE NEXT ONE. IF MY STYLE HAS SHIFTED, IT
WOULD BE THAT I TEND TO MAYBE TRUST MORE PEOPLE NOW THAN I USED TO WHEN WE WERE STARTING
OUT AND SORT OF CREATING THE LOOK AND THE FEEL,
BUT I WANTED THIS THEATER TO HAVE IT, AND NOW
THERE'S QUITE A FEW PEOPLE THAT ALSO HAVE THAT FEEL AND THAT DESIRE, AND THEY KNOW WHAT WE
WANT TO ACCOMPLISH AND THE KIND OF THEATER THAT WE WANT TO BE A SUCCESS AT.
THAT'S THE ULTIMATE COLLABORATION. THAT'S WHERE IT BECOMES GREAT.
VISITORS HEADING OUT TO THE OVERLAND PARK ARBORETUM ARE NOW GREETED BY A BIG SURPRISE, A
TICKET CHARGE. AFTER MORE THAN 2 DECADES AS A FREE ATTRACTION, THE 300-ACRE
OUTDOOR VENUE JUST OFF OF 179th STREET AND 69 HIGHWAY IS NOW CHARGING $3 TO ENTER, A BUCK
FOR KIDS. THANKS IN PART TO THE CONTROVERSY OVER A BRONZE STATUE
OF A TOPLESS WOMAN, LAST YEAR WAS THE BEST EVER FOR THE ARBORETUM, WHICH IS TRYING TO
GET VISITORS TO THINK OF THEM AS MORE THAN JUST A PARK. JOINING US NOW ON THE LOCAL SHOW
IS THE CHAIR OF THE FRIENDS OF ARBORETUM, DENNIS PATTON. A LOT OF PEOPLE WILL HAVE
THESE NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTION, AND ONE OF THEM
MIGHT BE THEY WANT TO BE MORE COMMUNING WITH THE
OUTDOORS, PERHAPS GETTING A LITTLE HEALTHIER, PERHAPS HIKING TRAILS, WONDERING AROUND THE
OVERLAND PARK ARBORETUM, AND THEY'RE GOING TO
BE VERY SHOCKED BECAUSE IN JANUARY, AS YOU SAY,
YOU'RE GOING TO BE GOING THERE AND NOW BE PAGAN ADMISSION FEE, SOMETHING THEY'VE NEVER PAID
BEFORE. WHY? MANY PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE BUT
THE ARBORETUM WAS CONCEIVED BACK IN THE EARLY 90s, AND IT WAS ALWAYS DESTINED TO BE A
BOTANICAL GARDEN AND ARBORETUM. A LOT OF PEOPLE OVER THE YEARS JUST ASSUMED IT WAS ANOTHER
COMMUNITY PARK, AND A LOT OF PEOPLE DIDN'T COME ALONG WITH THE VISION THAT IT WAS DESTINED
TO BE SO MUCH MORE. AND IT GOT TO A POINT WHERE WE FEEL THAT IT WAS IMPORTANT NOW
TO START THAT TRANSITION FROM PARK TO CULTURAL DESTINATION, AND ALSO THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF
AMENITIES THERE THAT DO COST MORE MONEY TO UPKEEP, AND THE CITY ALONE CANNOT SUPPORT WITH A
WE REALLY WANT THE ARBORETUM TO BECOME IN THE FUTURE. BUT IT IS A SORT OF
PSYCHOLOGICAL HURDLE FOR MANY PEOPLE, WHEN YOU'VE
BEEN DOING SOMETHING FOR SO MANY YEARS WHEN
IT IS COMPLETELY FREE. I MUST ADMIT, IT'S NOT GOING TO BE AN EASY TRANSITION.
WE'VE GOT EAN A LOT OF OPPOSITION. WE'VE ALSO GOT A LOT OF PEOPLE
IN SUPPORT. YOU'VE GOT TO LOOK AT IT BOTH WAYS.
THERE ARE THOSE THAT ARE GOING TO BE OPPOSED TO PAYING ANYTHING AT ANY TIME.
BUT IF YOU ALSO THINK ABOUT THOSE THAT REALLY ENJOY THE CULTURAL PART, THE DESTINATION
OF IT, YOU CANNOT GO TO ANOTHER PARALLEL ATTRACTION LIKE POWELL GARDENS, MISSOURI BOTANICAL
GARDENS ANY OTHER PLACE AND NOT PAY A FEE TO GET IN. IT'S A NOMINAL FEE, AND ALL THE
MONEY WILL GO BACK INTO SUPPORTING, ESPECIALLY THE FRIENDS MONEY, SUPPORTING THE
GROWTH AND CONTINUED DEVELOPMENT. THERE IS A QUESTION WHERE THE
FUNDING IS GOING TO BE GOING. IS IT GOING TO OFFSET THE COSTS OF THE CITY OF OVERLAND PARK.
WE ALSO HAVE AN E-MAIL OF A JANUARY ASKING, IS THIS GOING TO PAY FOR THE NEW METAL ART OUT
THERE? GOOD QUESTION. CURRENTLY THE FUNDS THAT YOU'RE
GOING TO BE PAYING ARE GOING INTO THE OVERLAND PARK GENERAL FUND, BUT ALSO KEEP IN MIND THAT
THE IS CURRENTLY FUNDING ALMOST, I BELIEVE, AROUND $800,000 OF SUPPORT AT THE ARBORETUM, SO
THAT'S JUST OFFSETTING FEES. AS I SAID, THE MEMBERSHIP FEES ARE GOING DIRECTLY TO THE
FRIENDS GROUPS. THE FRIENDS GROUP ONLY EXISTS TO DEVELOP AND ENHANCE THE
ARBORETUM. AND THERE IS AN INTERNATIONAL CUP TURL -- SCULPTURAL GARDEN,
AND THAT'S GOING TO BE PART OF THE ARBORETUM AND PART ON KEMPER FARM.
IT'S A VERY COMPLEX ORGANIZATION FOR SOMETHING WITH A PRETTY SIMPLE GOAL AND MISSION, BUT IT
WILL HELP BUILD AND SUPPORT THE ART. THIS IS PART OF OUR CULTURAL
FUTURE. 157,000 PEOPLE CAME THERE UP UNTIL THE END OF NOVEMBER OF
LAST YEAR, YOUR BEST YEAR EVER. THAT EXCEEDS THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO WENT TO THE WORLD WAR
I MUSEUM IN KANSAS CITY. A LOT OF PEOPLE COMING OUT HERE. WAS THAT PARTLY DUE TO THE
CONTROVERSY OVER THAT BRONZE. SCULPTURE? BARE BREASTED SCULPTURE THAT
YOU HAD THERE? IF YOU ASK OUR VOLUNTEER GREETERS, THEY WILL TELL YOU THE
NO. 1 QUESTION THIS USER WAS, WHERE'S THE SCULPTURE. WHAT'S THE OLD SAYING?
ALL PRESS IS GOOD PRESS OR NO SUCH THING IS BAD PRESS. MAYBE IN THIS CASE IT DID HELP
INCREASE THE AWARENESS AND NUMBER OF PEOPLE. I THINK ONCE YOU GET OUT THERE,
YOU WILL SEE HOW MUCH THAT PIECE OF PROPERTIES HAS TO OFFER, WHETHER YOU'RE JUST A CASUAL
WALKER OR MORE INVESTED IN NATURE. ONE OF THE THINGS ABOUT THAT
WHOLE -- WE TALKED ABOUT IT A LOT ON KANSAS CITY WEEK IN REVIEW.
WE TALKED A LOT ABOUT THE CONTROVERSY OF THEIR ART, AND WE SAW THAT A LOT IN THE MEDIA.
BUT I ALSO THOUGHT ALSO, WOW, AND I GO OUT THERE A LOT. MOST PEOPLE DON'T HAVE A CLUE,
THEY DON'T GO OUT TO 179th AND 69 HIGHWAY. THEY'VE ACTUALLY NEVER SET FOOT
IN THIS PLACE. TELL US, WHAT IS THERE TO SEE IF YOU'VE NEVER SET FOOT THERE
BEFORE? I THINK THERE ARE SEVERAL REASONS TO GO OUT THERE.
ONE IS ABOUT FIVE MILES OF WALKING TRAILS, MOST GOING THROUGH THE TREES OF WORK CREEK,
BIRDS, WILDLIFE, 100 PLUS ACRES OF RESTORED PRAIRIE. SO FOR THOSE THAT DON'T REALLY
KNOW WHAT A TALL GRASS PRAIRIE LOOKS LIKE IN KANSAS, EVEN THOUGH WE'RE THE HOME OF THE
FLINT HILLS, THIS IS THE CLOSEST YOU'RE GOING TO SEE A LARGE ACREAGE OF PRAIRIE AND THE
WILDLIFE. OF COURSE, AS A HORTICULTURIST, SOMEONE WHO LOVES GARDENING,
THERE ARE A FEW GARDENS OUT THERE. THE MONET GARDEN IS VERY SPECIAL
TO ME. THAT'S AN ACRE PLUS OF HIGHLY MAINTAINED FLOWER GARDENS.
IF IT'S ALL ABOUT NATURE, WHY DO YOU HAVE TO HAVE ART THERE AT ALL?
BECAUSE THAT'S BEEN ONE OF THE BIG PARTS OF THE CONTROVERSY, IS YOU HAVE THAT INTERNATIONAL
SCULPTURE GARDEN. THERE MAY BE UP TO 100 -- THAT'S PART OF THE VISION, 100 PIECES
OF OUTDOOR ART THERE. DOES THAT HAVE TO BE THERE AT ALL?
I THINK THERE ARE A COUPLE OF WAYS TO ANSWER THAT. I THINK, FIRST OF ALL, GARDENING
IS AN ART. IT'S A DIFFERENT ART FORM THAN, SAY, SCULPTURE.
AND IF YOU GO TO ANY ARBORETUM BOTANICAL GARDEN, ART SCULPTURE IS PART OF THOSE GARDENS THAT
REALLY MAKE THEM COMPLETE OR WHOLE, AND I THINK THE OTHER THING IS THE WAY THE CITIES AND
THE FRIENDS GROUP ARE ENVISIONS THIS IS YOU'LL HAVE REALLY KIND OF TWO UNIQUE CULTURAL
ATTRACTIONS THERE. YOU'LL HAVE THE ARBORETUM, BOTANICAL GARDEN, AND SCULPTURE
GARDEN, WHICH WOULD BE MAYBE SEPARATED A LITTLE BIT. RIGHT NOW THOSE SCULPTURES ARE
ALL IN TEMPORARY HOMES. IF YOUR VIEWERS HAVE EVER HEARD THE TERM MAMMOTH SCULPTURE PARK,
THAT'S KIND OF WHAT THEY'RE TRYING TO DEVELOP,
AND THERE ARE A FEW OF THESE DOTTED AROUND THE
COUNTRY. THESE WOULD BE ON WALKING TRAILS, MORE IN SETTINGS THAT
WOULD BE MORE APPROPRIATE FOR THE ART THAN MAYBE WHERE THEY'RE JUST ON NOW, CURRENTLY THIS
QUARTER MILE WALKING TRAIL. HOW IS THE ASH ARBORETUM IN OVERLAND PARK DIFFERENT THAN
POWELL GARDENS? I THINK THOSE TWO ARE GOING TO COMPLIMENT EACH OTHER VERY
NICELY AS THEY DEVELOP. POWELL, OF COURSE, IS PRIVATELY OWNED AND OPERATED.
HERE AGAIN, YOU'VE GOT THIS KIND WHICH CITY-PRIVATE
RELATIONSHIP GOING ON HERE WITH THE ARBORETUM
BEING OWNED BY THE CITY OF OVERLAND PARK, BUT THEN YOU HAVE THE FRIENDS OF THE ARBORETUM,
OVERLAND PARK ARTS AND RECREATION FOUNDATION, PRIVATE BODY RAISING FUNDS TO SUPPORT
AND HELP GROW IT. WE KNOW GOVERNMENT TAX DOLLARS ARE NOT GOING TO BUILD THE DREAM
AND THE VISION, SO IT'S GOING TO TAKE THAT PRIVATE
SUPPORT, AND THAT'S FROM OUR FRIENDS GROUPS
ARE COMING IN TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN TAP INTO
THOSE PRIVATE STREAMS OF MONEY TO HELP REALLY
REACH OUR VISION. NOW, WHAT HAPPENS THEN, DENNIS, AS THE MONTH PROGRESSES
AND INTO THE SPRING AND PEOPLE SEE THAT FEE AND DECIDE NOT TO COME TO THE ARBORETUM?
WELL, YOU KNOW, I THINK WE'RE MATURE ENOUGH,
WISE ENOUGH TO UNDERSTAND THAT IT IS GOING TO
BE A BARRIER TO SOME. IT WILL NOT SURPRISE ME IF ALL OF OUR ATTENDANCE DROPS OFF THIS
YEAR AS PEOPLE ADJUST TO THAT. PEOPLE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT PAYING
THAT FEE EVERY TIME THEY GO OUT OR BUYING A
MEMBERSHIP FEE IS REALLY IN THEIR BEST INTEREST IN
GROWING THAT FACILITY AND MAKING IT MORE. DENNIS, PATTON, WE VERY MUCH
APPRECIATE YOU BEING WITH US ON THE LOCAL SHOW. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
IT'S BEEN FUN BEING HERE. WHERE WILL THE NEXT GARMIN'S AND CERNER'S OF THE WORLD COME
FROM? GROWING ENTREPRENEURS STARTS YOUNG.
IN THE BLUE VALLEY SCHOOL DISTRICT, IT'S STARTING IN AN INNOVATIVE $12.5 MILLION
BUILDING WHERE THE NEXT GENERATION OF ENTREPRENEURS, ENGINEERS AND LIFE SCIENCE
RESEARCHERS ARE GETTING A HEAD START WHILE STILL IN HIGH SCHOOL.
IT'S CALLED THE CENTER FOR ADVANCED PROFESSIONAL STUDIES OR CAPS.
WHILE MANY HIGH SCHOOL BIOLOGY STUDENTS ARE LEARNING ABOUT DNA FROM TEXTBOOKS, THERE
ARE TEENS HERE ACTUALLY EXTRACTING IT FROM THE SALIVA GLANDS OF FRUIT FLY LARVA.
MORE THAN 500 BLUE VALLEY JUNIORS AND SENIORS ARE GETTING THIS OPPORTUNITY IN A PROGRAM
THAT'S FAST GETTING NATIONAL ATTENTION. PRODUCER RICH MILLER TAKES US
INSIDE. CAPS IS REALLY A GOOD WAY FOR KIDS WHO GO TO THE BLUE VALLEY
SCHOOL DISTRICT OR WHO LIVE IN THE BOUNDARIES, I
GUESS, TO GET A REAL WORLD EXPERIENCE FOR WHAT
IT'S LIKE TO WORK IN THEIR FIELD OF STUDY. ESSENTIALLY IT'S A PROGRAM
THAT IMMERSES STUDENTS IN A REAL WORLD WORK
EXPERIENCE, BUT IT'S NOT JUST A SIMULATION, LIKE WHAT
SOME PROGRAMS I'VE BEEN IN AT SCHOOL. WE'RE WORKING ON ACTUAL PROJECTS
WITH ACTUAL CLIENTS AND ACTUAL PEOPLE WHO NEED US TO DO THIS WORK FOR THEM, BUT WE'RE
LEARNING AND WE'RE GETTING OUR HIGH SCHOOL CREDIT AT THE SAME TIME.
INSTEAD OF JUST LEARNING AND LISTENING TO LECTURES ENVIRONMENT, YOU'RE ACTUALLY
DOING PROJECTS TO ENHANCE YOUR ABILITY TO ACTUALLY WORK WORK WITH ACTUAL BUSINESSES AND
UNDERSTAND HOW THE ACTUAL WORLD WORKS. I DECIDED TO BECOME A MENTOR
WITH CAPS BECAUSE I LOOKED AT WHAT I HAD AVAILABLE
TO ME WHEN I WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL, AND I KNEW
THAT I WANTED TO GET INVOLVED IN REALLY INTERESTING ENGINEER PROJECTS, BUT THERE JUST WASN'T
ANY COURSEWORK AVAILABLE. WHEN I SAW WHAT THEY WERE TRYING TO MAKE AVAILABLE TO STUDENTS, I
SAID, I HAVE TO BE A PART OF THIS, BECAUSE IT'S SOMETHING I WISH I COULD HAVE DONE.
THIS IS ALL DESIGNED OFF OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, SO WE'RE DESIGNING PROGRAMS THAT MATCH
WHERE THE MARKET IS GOING. THE HIGH DEMAND, HIGH SKILLED JOBS IS WHAT THIS IS DESIGNED
AFTER. WHEN THE MARKET SHIFTS AND A CAREER IS BIG, THEN THAT'S WHERE
WE'RE HEADED. IF A CAREER OPPORTUNITY IS NOT, WE DROP IT.
WE'VE CREATED A PROGRAM THAT WE DIDN'T WANT TO BE ELITISTS. WE DIDN'T WANT JUST KIDS WITH
GRADE POINT AVERAGES ABOVE 4.0 HERE. WE WANTED KIDS THAT HAD AN
INTEREST AND MOTIVATION THAT THEY COULD COUPLE WITH THEIR ACADEMICS TO BE PART OF THIS, SO
WE DON'T HAVE ANY KIND OF A SCREENING PROCESS WHEN IT COMES TO GRADES OR WHATEVER.
THERE IS AN APPLICATION PROCESS. IF KIDS ARE
INTERESTED AND THEY CAN CONVINCE US THAT THEY'RE
SERIOUS ABOUT THIS, THEN WE WANT TO GIVE THEM THE OPPORTUNITY. THERE'S A HUGE DIFFERENCE
BETWEEN CAPS AND REGULAR SCHOOL. I MEAN, THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE JUST BY WALKING IN, WE
HAVE A DIFFERENT DRESS CODE. WE HAVE TO, YOU KNOW, DRESS TO WHAT IT'S LIKE TO BE IN AN AIF
AIF -- OFFICE FOR WHATEVER INDUSTRY WE'RE IN. I CHOSE BUSINESS.
WE GET THE CHANCE TO ACTUALLY WORK WITH REAL BUSINESS PEOPLE. THEY HAVE A REALLY GOOD SYSTEM
OF FINDING, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE WHO ARE WILLING TO WORK WITH CIZ KIDS AND MENTOR US OF WHAT IT
MEANS TO BE IN THE BUSINESS WORLD. WE HAVE OVER 360 MENTORS FROM
THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY AND 240 BUSINESS PARTNERS,
AND THAT IS THE ESSENCE OF WHY THIS THING IS
SO UNIQUE. THERE IS A SMALL BUSINESS THAT NEEDS A PROJECT DONE.
MAYBE THEY NEED A BUSINESS PLAN. MAYBE THEY NEED A SOCIAL MEDIA PLAN.
MAYBE THEY NEED A WEBSITE DEVELOLOLOPED. WE WILL DO THAT FOR THEM, AND
WE'LL PARTNER FOR THEM AND DO THAT AT NO CHARGE, BECAUSE IT'S A GREAT EXPERIENCE, YOU KNOW,
FOR OUR STUDENTS TO BE INVOLVED WITH THAT, AND THERE AGAIN, VERY, VERY RELEVANT.
IT'S A REAL WORLD EXPERIENCE, AND IT'S GREAT FOR THE BUSINESS BECAUSE THEY'RE RECEIVING A
QUALITY PRODUCT AT A PRICE, QUITE FRANKLY, THAT'S VERY ATTRACTIVE.
LARGE BUSINESSES THAT HAVE COME ALONGSIDE OF US, THIS IS A TREMENDOUS RECRUITING BASE FOR
THEM. YOU KNOW, I'M THINKING OF OUR ENGINEERING PROGRAM.
BASICALLY THE AEROSPACE ENGINEERING PROGRAM HERE AT CAPS KIND OF INTRODUCES STUDENTS JUST
TO THE FOUNDATIONS OF AEROSPACE IN GENERAL AND LET'S THEM KNOW, YOU KNOW, ALL THE DIFFERENT
AVENUES THAT THEY HAVE FOR GOING INTO AERONAUTICS
OR AEROSPACE. IN CLASS, WE TRY TO DO SOME OF
THE FOUNDATION THINGS AS FAR AS BUILDING MODELS OR USING SIMULATIONS TO LOOK AT THE
FUNDAMENTALS OF FLIGHT AND HOW THRUST AND DRAG AND THOSE TYPES OF THINGS WORK ON AIRCRAFT.
BUT THEN WE TRY TO TAKE THOSE TO THE NEXT LEVEL,
AND REAL WORLD PROJECTS WHERE THEY'RE WORKING
WITH A MENTOR ON SOMETHING LIKE BUILDING A FLIGHT SIMULATOR. GARMIN'S INVOLVEMENT WITH
CAPS PROGRAM HAS INCLUDED HAVING PEOPLE LIKE ME
AND SOME OF OUR OTHER ENGINEERS COME TO CAPS AND
MENTOR STUDENTS, WHICH INCLUDES ONE-ON-ONE ASSISTANCE WITH PROJECTS AND GIVING NEW IDEAS
AND DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES, HOW STUDENTS CAN DO PROBLEM SOLVING AND ENGINEERING.
OTHER THINGS THAT WE'RE INVOLVED WITH INCLUDE PROVIDING ACTUAL PHYSICAL RESOURCES TO THE
PROJECTS. MOST RECENTLY, WE PROVIDED A G 1000 CLASS COCKPIT SYSTEM FOR
THE NEW FLIGHT SIMULATOR. WE LOOKED AROUND THE COUNTRY, QUITE FRANKLY, BEFORE WE
EMBARKED ON THIS JOURNEY TO SEE IF THERE WAS SOMETHING WE COULD MODEL AFTER, AND WE JUST
COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING. WE FEEL LIKE THIS IS SOMEWHAT OF A PIONEERING EFFORT.
WE ARE NOW IN OUR FOURTH YEAR OF OPERATION, AND WE HAVE SEEN NATIONAL INTEREST IN THIS
PROGRAM. SO ABOUT 50 SCHOOL DISTRICTS NATIONALLY HAVE COME THROUGH THE
BUILDING, TAKEN A LOOK AT WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO
DO, BECAUSE IT'S ALL ABOUT AUTHENTIC LEARNING,
AND SCHOOLS AND SCHOOL DISTRICTS ARE REALLY ENGAGED
IN TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THE MODEL OF THE
FUTURE OF LEARNING IS GOING TO LOOK LIKE. BY NO MEANS DO WE FEEL LIKE
IT'S GOING TO REPLACE THE COMPREHENSIVE HIGH SCHOOL. WE THINK COMPREHENSIVE HIGH
SCHOOL HAS A PLACE AND THERE ARE KIDS THAT BENEFIT
GREATLY FROM THAT, BUT WE DO KNOW AND WE'RE
EVIDENCED THAT THERE IS A SEGMENT OF KIDS, IN FACT, A SUBSTANTIAL SEGMENT OF KIDS THAT
CAN REALLY BENEFIT FROM THIS TYPE OF RELEVANCE. BELIEVE IT OR NOT, STUDENTS
IN THE CAPS PROGRAM HAVE ALSO CREATED DOZENS OF BUSINESSES AND PRODUCTS, EVERYTHING FROM
RECHARGE SABL CELL PHONES TO A PROSTHETIC KNEE BRACE, RANDY. WOW.
SOME OF THESE TEENAGERS EVEN HAVE PATENTS ON THEIR PRODUCTS. NEXT WEEK ON THE LOCAL SHOW,
WE MEET SOME OF THOSE ENTERPRISING STUDENTS. LEAD FUNDING OF KCPT'S
REPORTING OF EDUCATION ISSUES IS FUNDED IN PART BY A GENEROUS GRANT FROM THE KAUFFMAN
FOUNDATION AND ADDITIONAL CIVIC FUNDERS. WHEN HE FIRST GOT ELECTED TO
OFFICE, PRESIDENT OBAMA SET AN AMBITIOUS GOAL OF PUTTING 1 MILLION ELECTRIC VEHICLES ON
THE ROAD BY 2015. WELL, THAT'S BEEN A TOUGH SELL WITH MANY AMERICAN CONSUMERS.
AND ACCORDING TO A RECENT KANSAS CITY STAR REPORT, THERE ARE FEWER THAN 100 PLUG-IN ELECTRIC
CARS AND TRUCKS IN OUR AREA. BUT THAT DOES NOT MEAN THE METRO ISN'T PREPARING ITSELF FOR
AN ELECTRIC VEHICLE REVOLUTION. WE TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AS PART OF OUR REPORTING PROJECT ON
SUSTAINABILITY ISSUES WITH STUDENTS FROM JOHNSON COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE.
I'VE HAD MY CHEVY BOLT SINCE SEPTEMBER. NOT TOO LONG AGO, I HAD WRITTEN
A BOOK ABOUT ENERGY, AND I DECIDED TO PUT MY MONEY WHERE MY MOUTH IS, AND DECIDING TO
PURCHASE AN ELECTRIC VEHICLE WAS AN OBVIOUS STEP FOR ME. WE STARTED IN 2009, AND AT
THAT TIME, ELECTRIC VEHICLES WERE JUST KIND OF A GLEAM IN EVERYBODY'S EYE, BUT NOW THAT
ELECTRIC VEHICLES ARE REAL AND THAT THE VEHICLES
AVAILABLE NOW ARE COMING QUICKLY FROM ALL THE
MAJOR MANUFACTURERS, THIS IS ACTUALLY A REALLY BIG CHANGE IN THE TRANSPORTATION INDUSTRY.
CONTINUES TO PARTNER WITH CLEAN CITIES, A NEW ISSUED CALLED LEK PHI THE HEARTLAND,
WHICH WE ARE SITTING ON PART OF THAT GROUP, AND
WE'RE LOOKING AT THE WAYS IN WHICH WE CAN NOT
ONLY HELP WITH THE DEPLOYMENT OF ELECTRIC VEHICLES BUT REALLY FURTHER PUSH THE DEPLOYMENT OF
INFRASTRUCTURE BOTH PUBLICLY AND PRIVATELY. KCP&L AND THE DEPARTMENT OF
ENGINE, WHAT THEY WANT TO FIND OUT IS WHAT DOES A SKELETAL ELECTRIC VEHICLE INFRASTRUCTURE
LOOK LIKE, HOW DOES IT BEHAVE, HOW DOES IT INTERFACE WITH THE EXISTING GRID, WITH CONSUMER
PATTERNS WITH THE WAY PEOPLE DRIVE. IN COMPARISON TO OTHER
CITIES, LIKE ST. LOUIS, WHERE I AM FROM ORIGINALLY, THERE ARE A LOT MORE PUBLIC CHARGING
STATIONS AVAILABLE. AND SO WE HAVE MORE CHARGING STATIONS IN KANSAS CITY NOW IN
THE MIDWEST THAN ANY OTHER CITY IN THE MIDWEST OUTSIDE OF CHICAGO, SO I'M VERY PROUD OF
THAT. SO WHEN YOU NEED TO CHARGE YOUR CAR, YOU DRIVE UP TO YOUR
PARKING PLACE, AND YOU PULL OUT YOUR CHARGE POINT CARD. IT'S A CHARGE PASS CARD, WHICH
WILL GET YOU INTO THE CHARGING STATIONS. YOU SIMPLY HOLD THAT CARD UP
HERE, NOTICE IT IS AUTHORIZING, DIALING OUT TO THE INTERNET TO AUTHORIZE YOU.
IT'S SAID IT'S AUTHORIZED ME, AND YOU SIMPLY TAKE THE CORD, GRAB IT, AND PLUG IT INTO THE
VEHICLE. WHEN ONE LOOKS AT THE CO 2 EMISSIONS BETWEEN A GASOLINE
VEHICLE AND AN ELECTRIC VEHICLE, ON AVERAGE, IT'S ABOUT ONE HALF THE CO 2 EMISSIONS FOR AN
ELECTRIC VEHICLE THAN IT IS FOR A GASOLINE VEHICLE. A 20-MILE GALLON GASOLINE
VEHICLE DOES ABOUT 2 POUNDS OF CO 2 A MILE. THE AVERAGE ELECTRIC VEHICLE
WILL DO ABOUT 1 POUND. MY ENERGY LEVEL IS DIPPING. I THINK I NEED TO BE PLUGGED IN
AND RECHARGED, RANDY. CAN YOU DO THE GOODBYES. WELL, I'M RANDY MASON AND FOR
A ZAPPED NICK HAINES, WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT TIME ON
THE LOCAL SHOW. PRINCIPAL FUNDING FOR THE
LOCAL SHOW PROVIDED BY FRANCIS FAMILY FOUNDATION, FREDERICK AND LOUISE HARTWIG FAMILY FUND,
KAUFFMAN FOUNDATION, HEALTH CARE FOUNDATION OF GREATER KANSAS CITY, JOHNSON COUNTY COMMUNITY
COLLEGE, JOHN AND EFFY SPEES MEMORIAL TRUST, BANK OF AMERICA TRUSTEE, RICHARD J. STERN
FOUNDATION FOR THE ARTS, COMMERCE BANK TRUSTEE, AND KCPT MEMBERS.
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