Independence Strong: Resilient, Connected & Thriving

What can we say? Our family is pretty awesome. We share, we connect, we communicate and we come together. In times of 'normalcy' and now historically unprecedented health and weather crises, we've proven we're indeed, standing . Thank you Independence for looking out and caring for each other.

Happy Chiefs VICTORY Sunday Independence Thrivers. Remember, in the life of thriving well and in community with others - comparison can become toxic, but healthy competition, goal-setting and intrinsic motivation is great for the mind and spirit. When we see others win, their moment of glory, most likely there’s an even greater story underneath the surface: defeat, struggle, determination and eventually VICTORY! Here’s to celebrating our own hometown team’s tale to triumph!

The month of February means so many beautiful things for our greater KC metro community - the hope of another Chiefs Super Bowl victory, the celebration of love and all the ways we're creating connection around our Independence community, and worldwide recognition of Black History Month. While the words 'diversity and inclusion' may stimulate questions or even feelings of uncertainty, we encourage you to embrace everything that is beautiful about celebrating culture and the diversity that exists within our great city.

How can I do that? You may be asking. Well if you're new to the idea or want to better understand how to jump into the conversation around inclusion... start with 'I' or you. Here's a great video from an industry partner explaining how . At the core, everyone desires and deserves to be seen, valued, acknowledged and loved.

The best we way to create authentic, community connection is to celebrate each other; our uniqueness, our colors and cultures, our talents and heritage, our character traits and who we are at the core. We are for and beyond! https://youtu.be/2g88Ju6nkcg

Inclusion Starts With I is a discussion around the importance of a positive, inclusive work environment. Starring a group of Accenture people, this video demon...

“One of the main goals is bringing communities together so we can expand our community and not separate our community." Well done Thaddy McCullough and WestiNd Connection. Thank you for all you do to bring Independence ! ❤️

HeART 2 HeART Connection raises funds for Independence arts group Giant hearts attached to street poles will line a roughly one-mile stretch of Winner Road and Lexington Avenue in Independence, Missouri, throughout the month of February as part of the annual HeART 2 HeART Connection fundraiser.

It’s a and a great day to celebrate all that is good in the City of Independence, MO,! So many have asked about the hearts along Englewood. The Heart 2 Heart Campaign is hosted by our fabulous friends of the WestiNd Connection and we’re so proud of their work and dedication to share the love, embrace diversity and uplift the beautiful spirit of togetherness that thrives within this city! ❤️❤️❤️

2021 Hearts to Hearts For more info, visit: westindconnection.com

May your courage be as strong as your convictions; to love boldly, act justly, love mercy and walk humbly in all you do.

The word “courage” can sometimes feel like it’s weighted with expectation. Do we have the courage to rise, to step out, to speak up. But really, courage is very personal thus should be nothing but authentic. In 2021, what if the most courageous thing you can do is operate from a place of vulnerable authenticity? Embracing your story- your joys, your hang ups, your wins and your most painful life points, just might be the resilience story that saves someone’s life. There is no shame in your story and every day there’s an opportunity to write a beautiful new page.

Hello Independence Thrivers, good morning and Happy New Year! While this page has been dormant for a while, we've spent a lot of time listening, learning and leaning into all things fostering resilience. In 2021 our team of educators, public servants and community volunteers are committed to using this page to provide you with informative and uplifting tools and resources to help you navigate through the many stresses and conditions of life. All in the name of creating a healthy personal resilience, and building a stronger Independence that works, lives and thrives together. Ready? Let's go to work!

What's more than a Stay Tru shirt benefiting the Truman library renovations? Nothing that's what.

Check them out, order one, and let me know if you have questions 😊

Junior Service League of Independence | Online Store

The greatest gift we could give is nothing money can buy, but the most sacred gift within and of ourselves - loving relationship. Love has the power to break chains, strongholds, biases and barriers. Today and every day, love always prevails. Today let your love be . ❤️

Never forget, the heart and mind were created with a divine capacity to experience and embrace healing.
Trauma hurts, and healing has the power to radically transform.

Loss is never easy. And a connected community grieves, helps and heals together. Our hearts our saddened at the passing of Sergeant Young. May his surviving family and the entire Independence Police Department find peace and comfort knowing your community is grieving with you and we stand ready to support you however we can. 💙

IPD News Release: IPD Sergeant Dies In Off-Duty Vehicle Crash

With heartfelt sorrow, we regret to inform you that Independence Police Department Sergeant Jason Young, a 24 year veteran, died as a result of injuries sustained during an off-duty vehicle crash that occurred on the night of January 2, 2020 in Gladstone MO. Sergeant Young was 48 years old.

Sergeant Young began his career with Independence Police Department in January of 1996. During his tenure, he served his community in the Patrol Division, Criminal Investigations Unit, the Jackson County Drug Task Force, the Special Victims Unit and as a Tactical Medic Sergeant.

During his watch, his contributions to this department went above and beyond expectations. He will be sorely missed by his police family.

Please keep his family and friends in your thoughts and prayers at this time.

What an awesome way to build community! ‘Tis the season to celebrate the many faces, stories, families and cultures that call Independence home. ❤️

😍 We're creating a giant wreath for the holidays, but we need your help to bring it to life.

Submit a photo now: indep.us/wreath

Need a sweet heart story to start your Wednesday morning? Well here’s a beautiful tale right here in our own backyard where a kind gesture led to an unlikely friendship between a sanitation worker and an elderly woman in Independence- where neighbors still see and serve each other. 💕

Sanitation worker caught on camera going out of his way to help 88-year-old metro woman INDEPENDENCE, Mo. -- A kind gesture led to an unlikely friendship between a sanitation worker and an elderly woman in Independence. Colette Kingston often monitors movement around her 88-year-old mother’s home on East 8th Street South. She had a Ring camera installed to check on her mother, Opal Z...

Data drives work. Stories change mindsets and have the power to transform everything.

There is something so powerful about a group of people taking a moment together to pause, breathe, and think about how taking care of ourselves helps us to take care of each other.

Giving families a different educational experience starts with four simple words: You are welcome here. Recognizing the value and importance of one’s culture is fundamental to authentic school-family relationships. Well done Korte Elementary School!

There are so many beautiful stories of connection, healing and compassion around this amazing community we call home here in Independence. Stories like this one recently shared by the Independence Police Department. Independence Strong is a new collaborative of people who've been around a long time and are ready to bring those stories and opportunities to the surface. Keep in touch with us. Information about our first Community Connect will be announced after Labor Day!

This photo was taken by Officer Holt over the weekend and he wrote this:

"Kinda long but I’m touched by this kid.

So today I experienced something that actually set me back a little. It didn’t set me back because i was shocked but because I got to witness it first hand.

With all the hate fueled by color, belief, sexual preference or race it actually pi**es me off. Why, because most of it is based off what they read in the papers. Most isn’t based-off personal experiences.

This young black male (teen) exited the backseat of a van he was in while it was pouring rain took his coat off and protected this elderly white female from the environment the best he could all the way to her car. He then walked back to his car all while not saying a word to his Auntie or Mom when he exited or re-entered.

I followed him to the van and approached the driver who was his mom. I told this young man I was impressed and he should be proud because I was. His mom had no idea what was happening, because she thought she had done something wrong since I was in uniform.

I told his mom that she has done amazing with him and I hope and pray he goes places. She started tearing up, because I was a cop and took time out of my day to call him out on what I witnessed.

I know the chances of this reaching his mom is slim, but kid you impressed me.

This kid cared less about race, religion or color. The only thing this kid cared about was being kind.

Kiddo If you see me on the street again this guy owes ya a dinner. You ever need anything I will come running to ya."