spark@umkc.edu
March 25 – April 28 | 1:30 pm | KC Gems last 1-2 hours depending on the topic and presenter. Enjoy all 6 sessions of our Spring 2026 for a reduced price! Kansas City Gems Week 1: An American Journey (1860-1900) with Chris Hodges Kansas City Gems Week 2: Democracy Needs Journalism with Yvette Walker […]
April 28 | 1:30 pm | In Person or Online KC Gems last 1-2 hours depending on the topic and presenter. Women have influenced the history of Kansas City business, education, medicine, sports, entertainment, etc., but we know very little about them. As early as the mid-19th century, caring and diligent women of independent minds changed […]
April 21 | 1:30 pm | In Person or Online – $10 KC Gems last 1-2 hours depending on the topic and presenter. Alphonse Mucha created some of the most famous posters in the world. The Nelson-Atkins show of his work opens April 18. This class will explore his art and that of other […]
April 14 | 1:30 pm | In Person Only -$10 KC Gems last 1-2 hours depending on the topic and presenter. Detective David Starbuck spent years investigating a variety of cases including those focused on gang activity. Join this free-wheeling discussion on drugs and gangs, their connections and hierarchies. Because of its sensitive nature, this presentation […]
April 7 | 1:30 pm | In Person or Online – $10 KC Gems last 1-2 hours depending on the topic and presenter. In 1949, Kansas City-born Esther Brown orchestrated a legal battle that led to the integration of a public school in what is now Merriam, Kansas. Learn about the direct throughline from that case to […]
March 31 | 1:30 pm | In Person or Online – $10 KC Gems last 1-2 hours depending on the topic and presenter. Democracy doesn’t just need facts—it needs voices. This lecture zooms in on the opinion section and why it plays such an important (and often misunderstood) role in journalism. From sharp editorials to personal […]
