At this year’s annual State of the Community event, local leaders lauded upcoming development projects, asked Topeka and Shawnee County residents to show compassion and love for their neighbors, and spoke of efforts to increase the community’s focus on inclusion. The State of the Community, held Thursday afternoon at Stormont Vail Events Center’s Landon Arena, featured keynote speakers Mayor Michelle De La Isla and Shawnee County Commissioner Bill Riphahn. They were followed by the Greater Topeka Partnership’s Glenda Washington, who led a conversation about the capital city’s efforts to create a diverse and inclusive community where all of the city’s residents have a seat at the table. All of the speakers — as well as an inspirational video that kicked off the event — had a central message: we must move forward together. “When this pandemic hit our community, and when tensions started elevating, people actually started coming together,” De La Isla said. “I don’t think ever in our history have the city and county worked so closely.”
Source: Local News | Topeka Capital-Journal
