Musical guest: Allie Sherlock pre-recorded

Community moment: Amanda Worthington

Featured speaker: Jon-Michael Richardson, “Building a Community of Inclusion in Independence”

It has become evident through West iNd (pronounced “West End”) Connection outreach, advocacy and community listening sessions that the LGBTQ+ community is asking for a place to commune, socialize, gain knowledge and find a #SAFESPACE from judgment in Independence, Missouri, supporting greater Jackson County. Over the last six months, West iNd Connection has built a team of very talented people to bring this vision to life, and Jon-Michael is proud to share with us an overview of their three-year plan.

Jon-Michael Richardson is an accomplished corporate-to-retail strategist and a values-driven leader with an exceptional track record with five global brands. He has a solid foundation in program management and brings a combination of team leadership and development, business strategy, sales operations and customer/employee experience. His focus on marketing, social media and technology enables West iNd Connection to bring their ideas to life in a way that engages the community, creates good vibes, and helps them achieve success. Jon-Michael is an avid movie watcher and enjoys vintage shopping with his husband, Gary, and son, Wyatt. Jon-Michael grew up in the Northland of Kansas City and started his retail experience at many KC Blockbuster locations. After moving to Dallas, Texas, Jon-Michael met his husband on the 30th floor of Blockbuster corporate headquarters, and 20+ years later they are still going strong. Jon-Michael and his family recently returned to the Kansas City area from Seattle.

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