Johnson County Park and Recreation District has created a new division dedicated entirely to culture. JCPRD kicked off the launch of the new division with a celebration Oct. 30.
“We don’t launch new divisions; it just doesn’t happen,” said Susan Mong, who oversees the Culture Division. “So it’s a big moment in history for our organization to step into that space and be strategic about doing that well and providing that for the community.”
Mong said JCPRD staff believes that arts, culture and history are an important part of a healthy community.
“I think it’s a major economic driver and just really important to the health and vitality of our community,” she added. “Research shows that it creates better educational outcomes for our youth and it creates a more engaged citizenry, more compassion, and we could always use more compassion when we enter into other people’s stories.”
(Read more: Shawnee Mission Post – Community news and events for northeast Johnson County)