Despite the frigid weather, the annual Kansas Black Legislative Day at the capitol attracted a sellout crowd of individuals interested in learning more about the issues and legislative initiatives affecting African Americans across the state.
Kansas Black Legislative Day is sponsored by the Kansas Black Leadership Council, The Voice, and the Kansas African American Affairs Commission.
Again this year, the event was held on Presidents Day, which allowed students and others with the holiday off to attend.
Donnavan Dillion, an organizer with Loud Light, presented a workshop on community engagement. 
Having the event on Presidents Day helped attract students who were out of school as well as individuals who had the holiday off. 
Marilyn Shaw and Sherilyn Ray, owners of Restoration Family Services, Inc. the only African-American owned Foster Care Provider in Kansas, spoke to the group about issues and legislation and their impact on Black families in Kansas. 
New KS Rep.Wanda Brownlee Paige (D-KC) joined other African American members of the Kansas Legislature in providing attendees a legislative update. 
The audience was large and attentive.
Some of the workshops and topics covered included:
Protecting Public Schools, presented by Kansas State Board of Education member Dr. Beryl New
Issues in Foster Care, presented by Marilyn Shaw and Sherilyn Ray, of Restoration Family Services, Inc.
Collective Economic Empowerment featuring Lazone Grays, president and CEO of IBSA.
A highlight of the event each year is a presentation by Gov. Laura Kelly.
While at the capitol, some of the attendees sat in on the Senate and House general sessions and/or committee meetings. A popular session was a hearing on officially recognizing Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day. Another session included a hearing on a bill introduced by Sen. David Haley (D- KCK) that would authorize the governing body of the unified government of Wyandotte County to create a port authority.
