Page 6 - Kansas Appleseed Case Statement 2021

CHILDREN’S

CHAMPION

Tamisha Sewell is a School Board member in
Independence, who was inspired to serve her
community by her own struggles to find affordable,
quality daycare. “It’s well known that South East Kansas
needs more quality daycare. Families can be on waiting
lists for months, even years,” she explains. “I wanted
to help alleviate family poverty by offering all-day
preschool and daycare.”

Tamisha worked in local daycares and preschools for
years, before opening her own early education center,
The Tree House of Early Learning. She wanted to do
more, so she connected with Kansas Appleseed’s non-
partisan “Campaigning De-Mystified” trainings. She
learned how to run for local office, write speeches, host
political events, and use her voice to advocate within her
community. Tamisha fell just a few dozen votes short of
TAMISHA SEWELL winning the first time but ran again and won.
Independence Tamisha credits her success largely to skills and training

from Kansas Appleseed.

FOSTER CARE CHAMPION

As a former foster care youth, Natalie Zarate knows
first-hand what it’s like to be in the system. In 2018, she
joined the Kansas Appleseed-led coalition Strengthen
Families, Rebuild Hope and soon became one of its most
prominent voices. The mission was to reform the foster
care system, so Natalie’s experience is invaluable. With
Kansas Appleseed training and support, she testified
to the 2018 Child Welfare Task Force and continues to
volunteer for this ongoing work. She learned community
outreach and public speaking and recruited other young
people to join the fight. In 2021 Natalie was there when
NATALIE ZARATE Governor Laura Kelly signed the Executive Order creating
the Division of the Child Advocate to provide independent
Lenexa oversight and accountability to Kansas’ foster care system.

Natalie credits Kansas Appleseed with igniting her
passion for foster care youth to improve the lives of
Kansas kids.