October 6, 2025 • 14 mins
We share how Wonder Workshop is growing after a whirlwind summer, honoring Richard Pitts’ legacy while launching new programs, exhibits, and a reimagined Soul Food Dinner. We talk candidly about needs—supplies, volunteers, and funding—and how small actions keep the doors open.
• Remembering Richard Pitts and the roots of Wonder Workshop
• The giant blue chair as a beacon for new visitors
• Weekly preschool sessions with tripled attendance
• Rotating afterschool programs and Discovery Days
• Teen mentors supporting younger kids
• Soul Food Dinner moving to spring as an outdoor picnic
• Practical needs including supplies, volunteers, and donations
• Funding mix from grants, Grow Green Match Day, and sponsors
• New Evergy-funded energy exhibits and opening plans
• Address and visit details for first-time guests
Grow Green is a great opportunity. But if people are wanting to make year-in donations, there's a link on our website to do so.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
SPEAKER_02 (00:00):
Philanthropy Today is brought to you by the Greater
Manhattan Community Foundation.
In this episode, we feature arecently broadcast segment of
the GMCF Community Hour, asheard on News Radio KMAN.
And we are back with the GMCFCommunity Hour here on News
Radio KMAN.
And let's talk about things thatare happening at one of my
(00:20):
favorite places.
I always try to give, at leaston Grow Green Match Day, the
Wonder Workshop Children'sMuseum.
Katie Seal is the director.
And is this your first time?
You've been here before on thisshow as a director, haven't you?
SPEAKER_00 (00:34):
Not not without the director.
SPEAKER_02 (00:36):
Okay.
But welcome back.
SPEAKER_00 (00:38):
Well, thank you.
SPEAKER_02 (00:39):
Yeah.
It's good to be here.
So how's this gig treating you?
SPEAKER_00 (00:42):
It has been great.
It has been a whirlwind.
I started in May and got hereright as we were revving up
summer camp.
So it was a crazy summer, butwe're settling.
It's it's going really great.
SPEAKER_02 (00:55):
Good.
You're liking it.
SPEAKER_00 (00:56):
I love it.
Yeah.
Yeah.
SPEAKER_02 (00:58):
Did you hear the passion in her voice?
SPEAKER_00 (01:01):
Yes.
It comes from my toes.
I really do love it.
SPEAKER_02 (01:04):
So you were the only one on my sheet, but you brought
a friend along.
SPEAKER_00 (01:07):
I did.
Yes.
Yes.
This is Lauren Farwell.
She's the board president.
SPEAKER_02 (01:11):
How did you get involved in this, Lauren?
SPEAKER_01 (01:15):
Well, I went to Wonder Workshop as a child, and
then we were close friends withthe Pitts family.
And after Pitts passed away andit was COVID, Wonder Workshop
was shut down for a while.
Um, they asked if I would jointhe board.
And I've been on the board eversince.
And I'm in my third year aspresident.
SPEAKER_02 (01:37):
So well, I am a member, and I don't have a card.
I don't know if they ought tohave a card for the Richard
Pitts fan club.
SPEAKER_01 (01:44):
Yes.
SPEAKER_02 (01:45):
Uh such a dear friend.
And uh my daughter was afrequent flyer down there at the
museum when she was just alittle girl, and even after her
mother passed away.
And and so Wonder Workshop issomething that's uh very special
to our family.
And and Richard and my daughter,when she started teaching music
over in Junction City, she'dhave Richard come over and do
some things for her elementaryclass, and he just loved that
(02:07):
and she loved it more.
Yeah, yeah, and the kids, oh,they just thought that that was
the best.
Yeah.
SPEAKER_01 (02:12):
I don't know that anybody met him that didn't love
him, and vice versa.
Absolutely, yeah, absolutely.
SPEAKER_02 (02:18):
He was love, yeah, period.
Yep, for sure.
So one of the great angels we'veever had in our community.
So gone too soon.
SPEAKER_00 (02:25):
Yeah, that's right.
SPEAKER_02 (02:26):
But uh, you know, the the one of the legacies of
Richard is not only the memoryof his character, but also the
museum.
That's right.
And Katie, you talk about comingoff the summer, and it's busy,
busy, busy during the summer,and uh you got things,
obviously, in the works forfall.
It's October.
SPEAKER_00 (02:44):
I know.
It's weird.
I know.
Fall snuck up on us.
SPEAKER_02 (02:47):
Did I tell you I need to get my picture taken in
that big chair you have there inyour yard?
SPEAKER_00 (02:52):
You're welcome in the world.
SPEAKER_02 (02:53):
I think I need to do that.
SPEAKER_00 (02:54):
Yes.
Yeah.
SPEAKER_02 (02:55):
That's one of those where's Dave pictures.
Right.
Yeah, then everybody's gonnawant to do it.
SPEAKER_00 (02:59):
Well, you know, everybody who says, you know, I
I've always driven by here and II've always seen the blue chair,
but I didn't know what you guyswere.
So it's an eye catcher.
Yeah.
SPEAKER_02 (03:09):
That's a nice introduction to Wonder Workshop,
then, isn't it?
I hadn't thought about it fromthat perspective.
SPEAKER_00 (03:14):
It's a little bit of an eye catcher.
SPEAKER_02 (03:15):
What do you use it for?
SPEAKER_00 (03:16):
It the kids play on it.
Uh-huh.
So there's a little rock wall onthe side that they can climb up
onto it.
So it's kind of like a littleclimbing street.
SPEAKER_02 (03:23):
So if I come over for a pick, I get to climb the
rock wall.
Yes, I can.
Is it load-bearing?
I mean, is it handle handle awaytypically?
SPEAKER_01 (03:31):
Can it bear a load?
SPEAKER_02 (03:32):
Okay.
Well, Katie, tell me about someof the fall programs you got in
the works.
SPEAKER_00 (03:36):
Yeah, so summer was great.
Like I mentioned, it was a realwhirlwind of summer camp.
Um, so we took a couple of weeksin August to plan out our fall,
and we have a lot of fun thingsgoing on for really for people
of all ages, kids of all ages.
So I'll start on the youngestend with our preschoolers.
(03:57):
We are meeting once a week, oncea week at 10:30 on Thursdays.
And we have tripled ourattendance at those events
compared to last spring.
SPEAKER_02 (04:08):
Really?
Yes.
What do you attribute that to?
SPEAKER_00 (04:11):
I think maybe marketing.
Okay.
Um, people say when they haven'theard about us, they say, Oh,
you guys are the best keptsecret.
Well, I'm yeah, one of my maingoals is to not be the best kept
secret, is to really let peopleknow who we are, what we do, how
much fun their kids can have.
Because I think once they do,they'll be returning again and
(04:32):
again.
So for our pre-K kids, they comeonce a week.
We do lots of fun things withthem.
Um, for the afterschool kiddos,or the sorry, the elementary age
kiddos, we have an afterschoolprogram that we just started.
And we will rotate that eachmonth.
So we're right in the middle ofour October one, but we'll have
a new one in November and thenseveral more next spring.
(04:53):
So looking forward to that.
And then we also have our schooldays out for what we call those
discovery days for the schoolage program.
Um, those are a ton of fun wherewe go on field trips and we go
exploring and all the thingsthat I did when I worked for
Wonder Workshop in the 90s.
We're trying to bring them back,trying to really, you know, open
(05:15):
the kids' eyes to all kinds offun things.
And um, for our teenagers, wehave a volunteer program where
they can be mentors to theyounger kiddos.
So we really, we, we hit thewhole range of kiddos.
SPEAKER_02 (05:29):
Mm-hmm.
I just got a text message herefrom my friend Ryan who says, I
never took him to WonderWorkshop.
He feels unloved.
SPEAKER_00 (05:39):
Understandably so.
SPEAKER_02 (05:40):
He's going to want his picture in the chair too.
SPEAKER_01 (05:42):
I I definitely think you should start this picture in
the chair.
Don't you?
I do.
SPEAKER_02 (05:46):
I think that that's a great marketing idea.
Yeah.
SPEAKER_01 (05:48):
I love it.
Yeah, okay.
Yeah.
All right.
Yeah.
SPEAKER_02 (05:50):
Yeah.
Where's Dave?
SPEAKER_01 (05:51):
Yeah, that's right.
SPEAKER_02 (05:52):
And then whoever else wants to follow.
Where's Ryan?
Where's Lauren?
SPEAKER_01 (05:55):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_02 (05:56):
Have you had your picture in the chair, Lauren?
SPEAKER_01 (05:58):
Um, I don't think I have.
I have to do that.
SPEAKER_02 (06:00):
I know it's raining now, but you know, we uh we we
got a lot of things.
There's always um new programs,yeah, new exhibits, not just the
big chair.
SPEAKER_00 (06:10):
Right.
Yeah.
SPEAKER_02 (06:11):
But uh, you know, you talk about, you know, the
excitement and the marketingthat you've been doing and you
know getting increasedattendance.
That's just great to hear.
SPEAKER_00 (06:20):
Yeah.
It it's been it has been a lotof fun.
I think um anybody who knowsWonder Workshop loves Wonder
Workshop.
We just need to make sure thateveryone knows it's there.
SPEAKER_02 (06:31):
Yeah.
So Okay.
And and and just to be clear,let's give the address of the
Wonder Workshop so thateverybody does know where it is.
SPEAKER_00 (06:41):
You'll find the blue chair at 506 South Fourth
Street.
SPEAKER_02 (06:45):
It's an adorable craftsman house that you do a
lot of things.
How many kids you get in thereat a time?
Um, well Do you have a firemarshal capacity number?
SPEAKER_00 (06:55):
We do, but I don't know it off the top of my head.
But um Yeah, a bunch.
We our summer camp usually hasabout 25 kids at a time.
Okay.
Yeah.
SPEAKER_02 (07:05):
All right.
One of my favorite things, andit's been a while since I've
been able to do it because ofconflicts, but the soul food
dinner.
SPEAKER_00 (07:11):
That's right.
SPEAKER_02 (07:11):
It's fall.
SPEAKER_00 (07:12):
Yep.
Lauren is gonna share a littlebit.
Lauren.
Yeah, yes, yes.
SPEAKER_02 (07:17):
I didn't realize why you had actually been brought in
here.
SPEAKER_00 (07:19):
It was just she she brings the history, yeah.
SPEAKER_01 (07:22):
Yeah, okay.
So the soul food dinner has beenhappening for many, many years.
Richard started the soul fooddinner really to honor the black
community and bring soul food toManhattan.
And then it's also been the mainfundraiser for Wonder Workshop
each year.
Um, and then since Richardpassed away, it's also been a
(07:45):
time that we get to remember andhonor him as well.
We usually do it in November.
That's when it's always been,but we are making a little bit
of a shift and we are going tobe moving it to the spring.
SPEAKER_02 (07:59):
Really?
No.
SPEAKER_01 (08:00):
And we are going to combine it with like an outdoor
kind of a picnic type situation.
Picnic type where we'll havewe'll still have the same
delicious soul food.
And then, but we'll also havesome outdoor activities and
entertainment for everyone toenjoy.
SPEAKER_02 (08:17):
Awesome.
SPEAKER_01 (08:18):
Make it make it a bigger event than everyone.
Sounds like fun.
Yeah.
SPEAKER_02 (08:21):
Sounds like fun.
You don't have a date set yet,though.
SPEAKER_01 (08:24):
We do not yet, but it will be sometime in the
spring.
SPEAKER_02 (08:28):
All right.
We'll have you back for that.
Both of you, probably.
Both of you.
SPEAKER_01 (08:32):
I love that.
Okay.
SPEAKER_02 (08:33):
So the Soul Food Dinner in its new incarnation.
SPEAKER_01 (08:37):
Yes.
SPEAKER_02 (08:37):
In the spring.
Yeah, good to know.
So every nonprofit has somechallenges.
So let's talk a bit about someof the things that at Wonder
Workshop, what are some of yourgreatest needs?
SPEAKER_00 (08:51):
Yeah.
Well, that's a great question.
SPEAKER_02 (08:53):
Um, you wrote it out for me, so I uh I know.
It's hopeful.
SPEAKER_00 (08:57):
Just pat my own self on the back.
Um yeah, so we have a variety ofneeds.
Um I'll start with the mostbasic, you know, just supplies.
Um, regular old toilet paper,paper towels, Kleenex, all those
kinds of things are just alwaysa constant need.
(09:18):
Um, and they're things that wehave to dip into, you know,
whatever money that we have inorder to kind of make those
things happen.
So I'd say just those kinds ofsupplies are always necessary.
Volunteers are something thatI'd really like to increase at
Wonder Workshop.
I think there's a lot of peoplein our community who love
children, who want to give back,whether they're retired teachers
(09:42):
or people with college studentswith a little extra time on
their hands.
Um, we could always use thosevolunteers.
Those volunteers can make, canreally take us very far without
having to dip into that budgetfor programming.
Um, you know, if if it meansright now we have a great
volunteer who's coming in andhelping us clean.
(10:02):
So some people are behind thescenes, some people might want
to volunteer with um directlywith the kiddos.
All of those would be great.
So I would say if people have aninterest in working with kids,
we would love, or supporting agreat community organization, we
would love to have people.
Um and then of course, money.
Money is always, I think forevery nonprofit, the biggest
(10:26):
number one need is always tryingto find a way to keep the lights
on and pay the bills and do allthe things that we need to do in
order for the great programmingthat we have created.
SPEAKER_02 (10:38):
Do you have government grant monies that
come and help you?
SPEAKER_00 (10:42):
We don't have any state or federal money.
We have local city money.
Sure.
Um, hopefully, cross my fingers.
SPEAKER_02 (10:50):
We all are.
SPEAKER_00 (10:50):
Yeah.
Um, and then we mostly arefoundation grant funded.
SPEAKER_02 (10:57):
So things like Grow Green Match Day are big for you.
SPEAKER_00 (11:00):
They're huge.
SPEAKER_02 (11:00):
And what other fundraisers do you have?
SPEAKER_00 (11:03):
The Soul Food Dinner.
And then we do we do a lot ofcorporate sponsorship asking.
Okay.
So all right.
SPEAKER_02 (11:11):
Plenty of opportunities to give.
SPEAKER_00 (11:13):
Yes.
And you know, we're takingdonations year-round.
Grow Green is a greatopportunity.
Um, but if people are wanting tomake year-in donations, there's
a link on our website to do so.
SPEAKER_02 (11:23):
Okay.
Well, I am going to have toschedule a time to come down,
get my picture taken in the bigchair.
SPEAKER_00 (11:30):
You bet.
SPEAKER_02 (11:31):
And it's been a while since I've been in.
I bet it's changed totally.
SPEAKER_00 (11:34):
It has, yeah.
SPEAKER_02 (11:35):
I honestly I don't think I've been there since
Richard's been gone.
SPEAKER_00 (11:38):
Yeah.
You it will be wildly different.
It was when I went.
Yeah.
SPEAKER_02 (11:42):
Yeah.
What what's changed since you'vebeen you've been on the board
five years?
COVID time.
SPEAKER_01 (11:48):
At least, yeah.
Probably pro or probably aroundfive years.
Um, just lots of the exhibitshave changed in the way things
are set up, and it's just reallyfun.
I mean, you walk, you see thishouse and you're not sure what's
in, and you walk in and it'slike a world of fun, and there's
different rooms, and each roomhas a different theme.
And we're actually here in thenext few months, we'll have a
(12:10):
new exhibit.
Um, that we got a grant fromEvergy.
And so we're working on somereally fun energy related
exhibits.
So interesting.
Yep, and we'll have a big kindof opening party for that once
once that's up and running.
SPEAKER_02 (12:28):
Looking forward to hearing more about that.
SPEAKER_00 (12:29):
That'll be a good time for you to come take a
picture in the chat.
SPEAKER_02 (12:31):
That one?
That day?
Do I have to wait that long?
When's that gonna be?
SPEAKER_00 (12:35):
You could take two pictures.
Okay.
SPEAKER_02 (12:36):
I can take a picture every time I come up.
I'm down at the Hilton thisafternoon for it, event.
So just right across the street.
Yeah.
Yeah, I don't want to get mypants.
You might want to wait a towel.
Yeah, you might want to wait.
SPEAKER_00 (12:47):
Let's wait for a sunny day.
SPEAKER_02 (12:48):
We'll do that.
Anything else, Katie, you wantto touch base on?
SPEAKER_00 (12:51):
Um, I don't think so.
I think that about it.
Well, it's a delight to have youin.
SPEAKER_02 (12:55):
Thanks for coming down and joining us and sharing
the story about Wonder Workshopand the great things you got in
the works.
Lauren, thanks for all thevolunteer work that you do
because that is uh that's ashining example.
And you know, you and I firstmet through a chamber of
commerce.
Uh, you were one of the what, 15under 40?
SPEAKER_01 (13:10):
Yep.
SPEAKER_02 (13:11):
Something like that.
SPEAKER_01 (13:12):
Yep.
SPEAKER_02 (13:12):
And uh, you know, you understand the value of the
community of getting involved inthe community and and certainly
appreciate the work you're doingfor Wonder Workshop and out and
throughout the rest of thethings that you do.
SPEAKER_01 (13:22):
Well, thank you.
It's something I'm passionateabout as well.
And it's been very exciting.
SPEAKER_02 (13:27):
We need more of you.
SPEAKER_01 (13:28):
Katie join and the just seeing the vision for the
future.
SPEAKER_02 (13:32):
So Yeah, yeah.
Since May.
Since May.
Seems like you know what you'redoing.
unknown (13:37):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_01 (13:38):
At least you might have kind of gotten started a
little before.
SPEAKER_02 (13:41):
How old are your twins?
SPEAKER_00 (13:43):
They're 15.
Really?
Yes.
Yeah.
SPEAKER_02 (13:46):
They I remember when they were born.
SPEAKER_00 (13:48):
Yeah.
They they're gonna drive toschool tomorrow on their own for
the first time.
Oh my gosh.
So if you want to stay home.
SPEAKER_02 (13:55):
I got nowhere to go.
That's good to know.
Yeah.
Hey, delight to have you in.
Congratulations on everythingthat you're doing and on the new
gig.
And looking forward to hearingmore stories out of the Wonder
Workshop.
By the way, Wonderworkshop.orgis the website where you can
always find more and find YonForestry.
SPEAKER_00 (14:11):
Yeah.
Thank you so much.
Thank you.
SPEAKER_02 (14:13):
Back with the GMCF Community Hour in just a couple
of moments.
Carla Johnson is with theSalvation Army.
She's got her Chiefs Red going.
If you know Carla, you know shealways dresses for the occasion.
And we're going to about talkabout some things with Salvation
Army.
And uh, we're getting, you know,here in October, we're going to
talk about bell ringing season,among other things.
(14:33):
It's the GMCF Community Hourhere on News Radio KMA and back
in a moment.
Philanthropy Today is brought to you by the Greater
Manhattan Community Foundation.
In this episode, we feature arecently broadcast segment of
the GMCF Community Hour, asheard on News Radio KMAN.
And we are back with the GMCFCommunity Hour here on News
Radio KMAN.
And let's talk about things thatare happening at one of my
(00:20):
favorite places.
I always try to give, at leaston Grow Green Match Day, the
Wonder Workshop Children'sMuseum.
Katie Seal is the director.
And is this your first time?
You've been here before on thisshow as a director, haven't you?
SPEAKER_00 (00:34):
Not not without the director.
SPEAKER_02 (00:36):
Okay.
But welcome back.
SPEAKER_00 (00:38):
Well, thank you.
SPEAKER_02 (00:39):
Yeah.
It's good to be here.
So how's this gig treating you?
SPEAKER_00 (00:42):
It has been great.
It has been a whirlwind.
I started in May and got hereright as we were revving up
summer camp.
So it was a crazy summer, butwe're settling.
It's it's going really great.
SPEAKER_02 (00:55):
Good.
You're liking it.
SPEAKER_00 (00:56):
I love it.
Yeah.
Yeah.
SPEAKER_02 (00:58):
Did you hear the passion in her voice?
SPEAKER_00 (01:01):
Yes.
It comes from my toes.
I really do love it.
SPEAKER_02 (01:04):
So you were the only one on my sheet, but you brought
a friend along.
SPEAKER_00 (01:07):
I did.
Yes.
Yes.
This is Lauren Farwell.
She's the board president.
SPEAKER_02 (01:11):
How did you get involved in this, Lauren?
SPEAKER_01 (01:15):
Well, I went to Wonder Workshop as a child, and
then we were close friends withthe Pitts family.
And after Pitts passed away andit was COVID, Wonder Workshop
was shut down for a while.
Um, they asked if I would jointhe board.
And I've been on the board eversince.
And I'm in my third year aspresident.
SPEAKER_02 (01:37):
So well, I am a member, and I don't have a card.
I don't know if they ought tohave a card for the Richard
Pitts fan club.
SPEAKER_01 (01:44):
Yes.
SPEAKER_02 (01:45):
Uh such a dear friend.
And uh my daughter was afrequent flyer down there at the
museum when she was just alittle girl, and even after her
mother passed away.
And and so Wonder Workshop issomething that's uh very special
to our family.
And and Richard and my daughter,when she started teaching music
over in Junction City, she'dhave Richard come over and do
some things for her elementaryclass, and he just loved that
(02:07):
and she loved it more.
Yeah, yeah, and the kids, oh,they just thought that that was
the best.
Yeah.
SPEAKER_01 (02:12):
I don't know that anybody met him that didn't love
him, and vice versa.
Absolutely, yeah, absolutely.
SPEAKER_02 (02:18):
He was love, yeah, period.
Yep, for sure.
So one of the great angels we'veever had in our community.
So gone too soon.
SPEAKER_00 (02:25):
Yeah, that's right.
SPEAKER_02 (02:26):
But uh, you know, the the one of the legacies of
Richard is not only the memoryof his character, but also the
museum.
That's right.
And Katie, you talk about comingoff the summer, and it's busy,
busy, busy during the summer,and uh you got things,
obviously, in the works forfall.
It's October.
SPEAKER_00 (02:44):
I know.
It's weird.
I know.
Fall snuck up on us.
SPEAKER_02 (02:47):
Did I tell you I need to get my picture taken in
that big chair you have there inyour yard?
SPEAKER_00 (02:52):
You're welcome in the world.
SPEAKER_02 (02:53):
I think I need to do that.
SPEAKER_00 (02:54):
Yes.
Yeah.
SPEAKER_02 (02:55):
That's one of those where's Dave pictures.
Right.
Yeah, then everybody's gonnawant to do it.
SPEAKER_00 (02:59):
Well, you know, everybody who says, you know, I
I've always driven by here and II've always seen the blue chair,
but I didn't know what you guyswere.
So it's an eye catcher.
Yeah.
SPEAKER_02 (03:09):
That's a nice introduction to Wonder Workshop,
then, isn't it?
I hadn't thought about it fromthat perspective.
SPEAKER_00 (03:14):
It's a little bit of an eye catcher.
SPEAKER_02 (03:15):
What do you use it for?
SPEAKER_00 (03:16):
It the kids play on it.
Uh-huh.
So there's a little rock wall onthe side that they can climb up
onto it.
So it's kind of like a littleclimbing street.
SPEAKER_02 (03:23):
So if I come over for a pick, I get to climb the
rock wall.
Yes, I can.
Is it load-bearing?
I mean, is it handle handle awaytypically?
SPEAKER_01 (03:31):
Can it bear a load?
SPEAKER_02 (03:32):
Okay.
Well, Katie, tell me about someof the fall programs you got in
the works.
SPEAKER_00 (03:36):
Yeah, so summer was great.
Like I mentioned, it was a realwhirlwind of summer camp.
Um, so we took a couple of weeksin August to plan out our fall,
and we have a lot of fun thingsgoing on for really for people
of all ages, kids of all ages.
So I'll start on the youngestend with our preschoolers.
(03:57):
We are meeting once a week, oncea week at 10:30 on Thursdays.
And we have tripled ourattendance at those events
compared to last spring.
SPEAKER_02 (04:08):
Really?
Yes.
What do you attribute that to?
SPEAKER_00 (04:11):
I think maybe marketing.
Okay.
Um, people say when they haven'theard about us, they say, Oh,
you guys are the best keptsecret.
Well, I'm yeah, one of my maingoals is to not be the best kept
secret, is to really let peopleknow who we are, what we do, how
much fun their kids can have.
Because I think once they do,they'll be returning again and
(04:32):
again.
So for our pre-K kids, they comeonce a week.
We do lots of fun things withthem.
Um, for the afterschool kiddos,or the sorry, the elementary age
kiddos, we have an afterschoolprogram that we just started.
And we will rotate that eachmonth.
So we're right in the middle ofour October one, but we'll have
a new one in November and thenseveral more next spring.
(04:53):
So looking forward to that.
And then we also have our schooldays out for what we call those
discovery days for the schoolage program.
Um, those are a ton of fun wherewe go on field trips and we go
exploring and all the thingsthat I did when I worked for
Wonder Workshop in the 90s.
We're trying to bring them back,trying to really, you know, open
(05:15):
the kids' eyes to all kinds offun things.
And um, for our teenagers, wehave a volunteer program where
they can be mentors to theyounger kiddos.
So we really, we, we hit thewhole range of kiddos.
SPEAKER_02 (05:29):
Mm-hmm.
I just got a text message herefrom my friend Ryan who says, I
never took him to WonderWorkshop.
He feels unloved.
SPEAKER_00 (05:39):
Understandably so.
SPEAKER_02 (05:40):
He's going to want his picture in the chair too.
SPEAKER_01 (05:42):
I I definitely think you should start this picture in
the chair.
Don't you?
I do.
SPEAKER_02 (05:46):
I think that that's a great marketing idea.
Yeah.
SPEAKER_01 (05:48):
I love it.
Yeah, okay.
Yeah.
All right.
Yeah.
SPEAKER_02 (05:50):
Yeah.
Where's Dave?
SPEAKER_01 (05:51):
Yeah, that's right.
SPEAKER_02 (05:52):
And then whoever else wants to follow.
Where's Ryan?
Where's Lauren?
SPEAKER_01 (05:55):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_02 (05:56):
Have you had your picture in the chair, Lauren?
SPEAKER_01 (05:58):
Um, I don't think I have.
I have to do that.
SPEAKER_02 (06:00):
I know it's raining now, but you know, we uh we we
got a lot of things.
There's always um new programs,yeah, new exhibits, not just the
big chair.
SPEAKER_00 (06:10):
Right.
Yeah.
SPEAKER_02 (06:11):
But uh, you know, you talk about, you know, the
excitement and the marketingthat you've been doing and you
know getting increasedattendance.
That's just great to hear.
SPEAKER_00 (06:20):
Yeah.
It it's been it has been a lotof fun.
I think um anybody who knowsWonder Workshop loves Wonder
Workshop.
We just need to make sure thateveryone knows it's there.
SPEAKER_02 (06:31):
Yeah.
So Okay.
And and and just to be clear,let's give the address of the
Wonder Workshop so thateverybody does know where it is.
SPEAKER_00 (06:41):
You'll find the blue chair at 506 South Fourth
Street.
SPEAKER_02 (06:45):
It's an adorable craftsman house that you do a
lot of things.
How many kids you get in thereat a time?
Um, well Do you have a firemarshal capacity number?
SPEAKER_00 (06:55):
We do, but I don't know it off the top of my head.
But um Yeah, a bunch.
We our summer camp usually hasabout 25 kids at a time.
Okay.
Yeah.
SPEAKER_02 (07:05):
All right.
One of my favorite things, andit's been a while since I've
been able to do it because ofconflicts, but the soul food
dinner.
SPEAKER_00 (07:11):
That's right.
SPEAKER_02 (07:11):
It's fall.
SPEAKER_00 (07:12):
Yep.
Lauren is gonna share a littlebit.
Lauren.
Yeah, yes, yes.
SPEAKER_02 (07:17):
I didn't realize why you had actually been brought in
here.
SPEAKER_00 (07:19):
It was just she she brings the history, yeah.
SPEAKER_01 (07:22):
Yeah, okay.
So the soul food dinner has beenhappening for many, many years.
Richard started the soul fooddinner really to honor the black
community and bring soul food toManhattan.
And then it's also been the mainfundraiser for Wonder Workshop
each year.
Um, and then since Richardpassed away, it's also been a
(07:45):
time that we get to remember andhonor him as well.
We usually do it in November.
That's when it's always been,but we are making a little bit
of a shift and we are going tobe moving it to the spring.
SPEAKER_02 (07:59):
Really?
No.
SPEAKER_01 (08:00):
And we are going to combine it with like an outdoor
kind of a picnic type situation.
Picnic type where we'll havewe'll still have the same
delicious soul food.
And then, but we'll also havesome outdoor activities and
entertainment for everyone toenjoy.
SPEAKER_02 (08:17):
Awesome.
SPEAKER_01 (08:18):
Make it make it a bigger event than everyone.
Sounds like fun.
Yeah.
SPEAKER_02 (08:21):
Sounds like fun.
You don't have a date set yet,though.
SPEAKER_01 (08:24):
We do not yet, but it will be sometime in the
spring.
SPEAKER_02 (08:28):
All right.
We'll have you back for that.
Both of you, probably.
Both of you.
SPEAKER_01 (08:32):
I love that.
Okay.
SPEAKER_02 (08:33):
So the Soul Food Dinner in its new incarnation.
SPEAKER_01 (08:37):
Yes.
SPEAKER_02 (08:37):
In the spring.
Yeah, good to know.
So every nonprofit has somechallenges.
So let's talk a bit about someof the things that at Wonder
Workshop, what are some of yourgreatest needs?
SPEAKER_00 (08:51):
Yeah.
Well, that's a great question.
SPEAKER_02 (08:53):
Um, you wrote it out for me, so I uh I know.
It's hopeful.
SPEAKER_00 (08:57):
Just pat my own self on the back.
Um yeah, so we have a variety ofneeds.
Um I'll start with the mostbasic, you know, just supplies.
Um, regular old toilet paper,paper towels, Kleenex, all those
kinds of things are just alwaysa constant need.
(09:18):
Um, and they're things that wehave to dip into, you know,
whatever money that we have inorder to kind of make those
things happen.
So I'd say just those kinds ofsupplies are always necessary.
Volunteers are something thatI'd really like to increase at
Wonder Workshop.
I think there's a lot of peoplein our community who love
children, who want to give back,whether they're retired teachers
(09:42):
or people with college studentswith a little extra time on
their hands.
Um, we could always use thosevolunteers.
Those volunteers can make, canreally take us very far without
having to dip into that budgetfor programming.
Um, you know, if if it meansright now we have a great
volunteer who's coming in andhelping us clean.
(10:02):
So some people are behind thescenes, some people might want
to volunteer with um directlywith the kiddos.
All of those would be great.
So I would say if people have aninterest in working with kids,
we would love, or supporting agreat community organization, we
would love to have people.
Um and then of course, money.
Money is always, I think forevery nonprofit, the biggest
(10:26):
number one need is always tryingto find a way to keep the lights
on and pay the bills and do allthe things that we need to do in
order for the great programmingthat we have created.
SPEAKER_02 (10:38):
Do you have government grant monies that
come and help you?
SPEAKER_00 (10:42):
We don't have any state or federal money.
We have local city money.
Sure.
Um, hopefully, cross my fingers.
SPEAKER_02 (10:50):
We all are.
SPEAKER_00 (10:50):
Yeah.
Um, and then we mostly arefoundation grant funded.
SPEAKER_02 (10:57):
So things like Grow Green Match Day are big for you.
SPEAKER_00 (11:00):
They're huge.
SPEAKER_02 (11:00):
And what other fundraisers do you have?
SPEAKER_00 (11:03):
The Soul Food Dinner.
And then we do we do a lot ofcorporate sponsorship asking.
Okay.
So all right.
SPEAKER_02 (11:11):
Plenty of opportunities to give.
SPEAKER_00 (11:13):
Yes.
And you know, we're takingdonations year-round.
Grow Green is a greatopportunity.
Um, but if people are wanting tomake year-in donations, there's
a link on our website to do so.
SPEAKER_02 (11:23):
Okay.
Well, I am going to have toschedule a time to come down,
get my picture taken in the bigchair.
SPEAKER_00 (11:30):
You bet.
SPEAKER_02 (11:31):
And it's been a while since I've been in.
I bet it's changed totally.
SPEAKER_00 (11:34):
It has, yeah.
SPEAKER_02 (11:35):
I honestly I don't think I've been there since
Richard's been gone.
SPEAKER_00 (11:38):
Yeah.
You it will be wildly different.
It was when I went.
Yeah.
SPEAKER_02 (11:42):
Yeah.
What what's changed since you'vebeen you've been on the board
five years?
COVID time.
SPEAKER_01 (11:48):
At least, yeah.
Probably pro or probably aroundfive years.
Um, just lots of the exhibitshave changed in the way things
are set up, and it's just reallyfun.
I mean, you walk, you see thishouse and you're not sure what's
in, and you walk in and it'slike a world of fun, and there's
different rooms, and each roomhas a different theme.
And we're actually here in thenext few months, we'll have a
(12:10):
new exhibit.
Um, that we got a grant fromEvergy.
And so we're working on somereally fun energy related
exhibits.
So interesting.
Yep, and we'll have a big kindof opening party for that once
once that's up and running.
SPEAKER_02 (12:28):
Looking forward to hearing more about that.
SPEAKER_00 (12:29):
That'll be a good time for you to come take a
picture in the chat.
SPEAKER_02 (12:31):
That one?
That day?
Do I have to wait that long?
When's that gonna be?
SPEAKER_00 (12:35):
You could take two pictures.
Okay.
SPEAKER_02 (12:36):
I can take a picture every time I come up.
I'm down at the Hilton thisafternoon for it, event.
So just right across the street.
Yeah.
Yeah, I don't want to get mypants.
You might want to wait a towel.
Yeah, you might want to wait.
SPEAKER_00 (12:47):
Let's wait for a sunny day.
SPEAKER_02 (12:48):
We'll do that.
Anything else, Katie, you wantto touch base on?
SPEAKER_00 (12:51):
Um, I don't think so.
I think that about it.
Well, it's a delight to have youin.
SPEAKER_02 (12:55):
Thanks for coming down and joining us and sharing
the story about Wonder Workshopand the great things you got in
the works.
Lauren, thanks for all thevolunteer work that you do
because that is uh that's ashining example.
And you know, you and I firstmet through a chamber of
commerce.
Uh, you were one of the what, 15under 40?
SPEAKER_01 (13:10):
Yep.
SPEAKER_02 (13:11):
Something like that.
SPEAKER_01 (13:12):
Yep.
SPEAKER_02 (13:12):
And uh, you know, you understand the value of the
community of getting involved inthe community and and certainly
appreciate the work you're doingfor Wonder Workshop and out and
throughout the rest of thethings that you do.
SPEAKER_01 (13:22):
Well, thank you.
It's something I'm passionateabout as well.
And it's been very exciting.
SPEAKER_02 (13:27):
We need more of you.
SPEAKER_01 (13:28):
Katie join and the just seeing the vision for the
future.
SPEAKER_02 (13:32):
So Yeah, yeah.
Since May.
Since May.
Seems like you know what you'redoing.
unknown (13:37):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_01 (13:38):
At least you might have kind of gotten started a
little before.
SPEAKER_02 (13:41):
How old are your twins?
SPEAKER_00 (13:43):
They're 15.
Really?
Yes.
Yeah.
SPEAKER_02 (13:46):
They I remember when they were born.
SPEAKER_00 (13:48):
Yeah.
They they're gonna drive toschool tomorrow on their own for
the first time.
Oh my gosh.
So if you want to stay home.
SPEAKER_02 (13:55):
I got nowhere to go.
That's good to know.
Yeah.
Hey, delight to have you in.
Congratulations on everythingthat you're doing and on the new
gig.
And looking forward to hearingmore stories out of the Wonder
Workshop.
By the way, Wonderworkshop.orgis the website where you can
always find more and find YonForestry.
SPEAKER_00 (14:11):
Yeah.
Thank you so much.
Thank you.
SPEAKER_02 (14:13):
Back with the GMCF Community Hour in just a couple
of moments.
Carla Johnson is with theSalvation Army.
She's got her Chiefs Red going.
If you know Carla, you know shealways dresses for the occasion.
And we're going to about talkabout some things with Salvation
Army.
And uh, we're getting, you know,here in October, we're going to
talk about bell ringing season,among other things.
(14:33):
It's the GMCF Community Hourhere on News Radio KMA and back
in a moment.
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