We catch up with Lisa Isaacson on how the Flint Hills Community Accelerator is expanding childcare in Manhattan through eight licensed suites and a hub built around education, health care, workforce, and family support. We dig into what it takes to keep providers from burning out, meet hard-to-serve needs like overnight care, and build a model other Kansas communities can copy.
• rapid build-out and first months of operations at the Flint Hills Community Accelerator
• eight childcare suites filled with KDHE-licensed family child care providers
• how the four pillars shape daily work: education, childcare, health care, workforce
• early childhood education credits launching with Manhattan Area Technical College
• realistic look at childcare churn and how support keeps providers open
• provider transitions into the community and the challenge of finding locations
• exploring overnight childcare for shift workers and first responders
• childcare support for military families living off Fort Riley
• why other towns can start accelerators without new buildings
• safety practices families value: codes, sign-in, badges, cameras
• conference space rentals and partnerships that sustain the building
tell them that you are supporting the Flint Hills Community Accelerator on the 15th from five to seven

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CFAs

We talk with Brady Armstrong, interim CEO of Boys and Girls Clubs of Manhattan, about the 27th annual Casino Night and why it fuels real, everyday support for local kids. We also look ahead to summer programming and how families can find openings across Manhattan and beyond.
• what Casino Night funds for youth, including scholarships, healthy snacks and meals, and field trips
• what to expect at the event, including the Monte Carlo theme, dinner, raffles, and the golden ticket prize
• how the silent auction and live auction work, plus standout items and experiences
• where the club serves kids each day across Ogden, Manhattan, and Wamego
• why the club focuses on youth development beyond childcare, including leadership and academic enrichment
• summer program locations, hours, staffing needs, and open enrollment
Go to bgclubmanhattan.com and fill out that enrollment info if you’re looking for something for your youth to do this summer

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We talk with Kendra Coleman from the Manhattan Arts Center about how a single weekend can bring 3,000 neighbors together and still raise real money for programs. We trace how festivals, partnerships, and match-day giving turn into scholarships, equipment, building fixes, and a bigger arts season for Manhattan.
• mac and cheese festival growth and what worked
• large-scale printmaking with K-State and the road flattener reveal
• artist market, live music, costume garage sale, and the annual art contest theme Unravel
• how proceeds support ceramics, Common Table, and youth programming scholarships
• outdoor classroom plans including murals, furniture, Wi‑Fi, electricity, planters, and a small stage
• auditions and upcoming shows including Radium Girls and youth theater
• season highlights including a Britney Spears musical, The Nutcracker partnership, and more
• why Grow Green Match Day funding matters for maintenance, space, equipment, and supplies
ManhattanArts.org is the website. You can always find out more there.

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We talk with Emily Wagner, executive director of the Manhattan Emergency Shelter, about how a long career in social services turns into leadership and what it really takes to keep a shelter stable. We dig into Bids for Bags, the stress of restrictive grant funding, and the changing faces of homelessness in our community.
• Emily’s 25-year path from volunteer to director
• Bids for Bags event details, auction items, and how donations work
• Why unrestricted funds keep operations steady
• Grant season pressure, increased competition, and shifting requirements
• Grow Green Match Day as a major support and a safety net during delays
• Trends in shelter guests, including unaccompanied youth and seniors on fixed incomes
• The value of nonprofit collaboration and community spirit in Manhattan
Go to our website, www.MESIKansas.org

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We talk with Dr. Rachel Dirks about how the Manhattan Symphony Orchestra forms, grows, and keeps concerts free for the community. We dig into programming choices, real-world logistics, and the partnerships and donations that help a new orchestra dream bigger without losing its values.

• spotting a gap in Manhattan’s arts scene and deciding to start a community orchestra
• using practical startup steps and an open call that draws more than 90 interested musicians
• building an ensemble with pros and amateurs from ages 11 to 81
• programming a Mid-Century Modern classics concert with Bernstein, Howard Hanson and Paul Reade
• selecting repertoire by balancing player ability, time, and a single anchor work
• handling logistics with a working board and shared leadership
• covering expenses like music, venues and specialist players such as harp
• keeping musicians unpaid by design so concerts can remain free and accessible
• partnering with McCain Auditorium and performing alongside Celtic Woman
• planning future runouts, community venues and a September 11 commemorative performance
• inviting new musicians, sponsors and community partners to get involved

Just go to the website and give, learn. Check us out, learn more, join us uh in any ways you you think appeal to you.

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We catch up with Rick Hernandez from Manhattan Free Clinic on a big year of growth, including a second location and thousands of patient visits. We also talk about what real healthcare access looks like, how new tech helps patients learn at home, and why Grow Green matters for funding patient care.
• celebrating 20 years and honoring Dr Jim Reed’s foundational impact
• opening a second clinic location near the hospital for easier access
• offering sick care and comprehensive care on set days each week
• removing barriers like transportation and bus fare for patients
• doubling patient volume over six years to 1,600 people and nearly 6,000 touches
• serving more uninsured patients after eligibility expands to 300% of federal poverty level
• using touchscreen patient education tools and email follow-ups to improve understanding
• explaining Grow Green match details and how donations go straight to patient care
MHKfreeclinic.com is her website.

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We share how GMCF’s new strategic plan responds to rapid growth and sets a 2035 vision for being the community’s trusted philanthropic partner. We walk through the three goals guiding our next decade and the practical steps we’re taking to strengthen staffing, grow resources, and deepen measurable impact.
• why reaching $400 million in assets changes expectations and operations
• the 2035 vision to be the community’s philanthropic choice and trusted resource
• three strategic goals driving decisions: build capacity, grow resources, increase impact
• capacity plans including cost revenue study and clearer staff roles
• adding executive leadership in development plus investment and real estate management
• criteria for deciding when to join major community initiatives
• how board retreats and staff retreats shape alignment and accountability
• turning strategy into execution through “by whom, by when” ownership
• resource growth through community leadership engagement and a focused marketing plan
• donor-advised funds education and alignment with community needs
• planned giving as a priority while complementing existing financial advisors
• impact measurement, impact communication, and a comprehensive grant strategy

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We sit down with Scott Voos from Be Able and hear from Gary, a program graduate who goes from jail and instability to recovery housing and a real plan for the future. Gary shares how basic needs, accountability, and community help him rebuild his health, reconnect with family, and aim for a traditional lease.
• winter pressure points and why cold months are harder
• what a Be Able program graduate means in practice
• Gary’s path from jail and probation to stability
• why showers, clean clothes, and a safe bed unlock employment
• rebuilding trust and family connection through consistent change
• how peer examples create hope inside a recovery community
• the biggest barrier after progress starts: renting with a record
• how Be Able’s transitional recovery housing program is growing and staying structured
Find out more about their efforts at BeAbleCommunity.com
On the 28th, just in front of the houses at 10:30, 500 block of Yuma
Don’t forget Grow Green Match Day is coming up, too

GMCF

CFAs