Last month, the governor announced an "influence campaign" involving the Kansas Leadership Center. The KLC has launched "Kansas Beats the Virus," what it calls a statewide, bi-partisan public health intervention to both activate and connect local leaders. This involves the Leadership Center's 12,000 leadership program alums holding virtual, nonpartisan meetings to bolster local support for COVID-19 safety measures.

Leadership Center CEO Ed O'Malley says over 650 meetings have already been slated across Kansas and more are planned. Locally, the Emporia Area Chamber of Commerce -- which has organized the Leadership Emporia program for 33 years and has partnered with the Leadership Center since 2007 -- is in the process of organizing at least 20 meetings in the area. The hour-long meetings would have eight to 15 people involved via Zoom, and the entire series of meetings will be done before Christmas.

More information is online at www.kansasleadershipcenter.org or by calling the Emporia Chamber at 342-1600.