The challenge of curbing this horrible virus is daunting. However, with the arrival of vaccination options and the commitment of Kansans to model behaviors that slow the spread of COVID-19, there is an end in sight. That end to the pandemic won’t come by simply waiting. It will require mobilizing Kansans to continue to generate local, community-based solutions. That’s where partners like you come in.
As a concerned Kansan we are simply asking you to use the skills and influence you already have with the people you already know to help your community try creative things to end the threat of COVID-19. With our 2020 efforts, more than 300,000 people were impacted by Kansas Beats the Virus projects. And while we won’t claim all the credit, in the weeks right after our 2020 surge, rates of infection in Kansas dropped dramatically in comparison to neighboring states! Now, we must be flexible enough to continue to work on new challenges, such as vaccine hesitancy. The big idea is that 10,000 Kansans coming together for another 1000 action projects will help put the pandemic behind us.
Whether you run a non-profit, a business or are just a concerned individual, you are a part of this work. This is possibly the biggest challenge of our lifetime. We need many voices from all over the state coming up with amazing ideas to energize our fellow Kansans. In 2021, we won’t aim to hit 1000 projects in just six weeks. Instead, we will approach the work in a series of surges. The target of the first surge, for instance, is vaccinating the “movable middle.” Once a surge target need is identified, it starts with one meeting and one great project and cascades from there. This work will look different for every group, but read on for some structure that will help you be a part of this bold endeavor.
