Stand Together

The VA MISSION Act promised better health care options for veterans, but the VA has failed in implementing the law. It’s time to empower veterans with true choice in their health care.

9.5 million unfilled jobs, 6.5 million unemployed. A solution? Flexible, skills-based education tailored to job market needs, with Unmudl Skills-to-Jobs Marketplace. Let’s bridge the gap and empower working learners.

From the Smart Brothers, DJ Humphrey, Vantage Records, Big Chief Henry’s Indian String Band, concerts at Herman Hill, the Ark Valley Boys, battle of the bands at the Cotillion, to John McBride of Blackbird Studios, the musical history of Wichita runs deep. Not only were we in for two days of great music, but Elsewhere Festival & Conference was also packed with panels, workshops, and one-on-one sessions designed to help musicians, social change entrepreneurs and their organizations, and those behind the scenes grow and connect. Huge thanks to my co-founders and partners Jessie Hartke and Adam Hartke for bringing this vision to life.  The energy at the fest was amazing, and it’s awesome to see this movement catalyze. So many talented artists, music professionals, and community members from Wichita and across the country coming together to support and learn from each other. I am so excited for what’s to come! https://lnkd.in/e2t9P3wc.

Employers are partnering with community colleges to train a new workforce of skilled talent — and it could close the employment gap:

How do you stay motivated during tough times?

The microschool movement is gaining momentum as families seek personalized education tailored to their children’s needs. This shift towards smaller, community-based learning environments is how parents are taking back control.

Almost 30 years ago, Bishop W.C. Martin and his wife Donna, led the charge in showing their town in East Texas that there is a better way to look after children who have been placed in foster care.   Instead of letting dozens of these kids feel like they have been forgotten about and given up on, 22 families in their town adopted them to provide them with a fair shot at pursuing their dreams and to show them that they do have a support system that believes in their gifts and talents.   I was deeply moved by the power of community in Possum Trot, Texas, and know that this – building stronger and safer communities – is the key to solving poverty, social division, addiction, mental health struggles, and many other seemingly unsolvable problems in our country. I encourage you all to see its story brought to life on the big screen: https://lnkd.in/eHVEqcnG.

This Independence Day, veteran Russ Duerstine reminds us that America’s founding ideals of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness are still alive and worth fighting for.

Who is the most influential person in your life, and why?

Congress makes the laws, the Courts interpret them, and the Executive branch implements them. This is civics 101. And the genius of our system lies, in part, in its simplicity. Chief Justice Roberts reinforced the genius of our system of constitutional limited government on Friday when he issued the Opinion of the Court in Loper Bright v. Raimondo, a case litigated by Cause of Action Institute, one of the organizations in the Stand Together community. Congratulations to the fishermen (Loper Bright), Paul Clement, who argued the case, the team at Cause of Action, and the American people on a big win. In overturning Chevron deference, the doctrine that told courts to defer to administrative agencies when interpreting a statute, the Court helps restore the separation of powers, the erosion of which has had real consequences for everyday Americans, like the fishermen who brought this case.   The United States is a democratic republic. And as I wrote when the Court decided to take the case, this is a victory for our country’s twin ideals: democracy and limited government. The growth of the administrative state has given Congress a pass on its core responsibility – making laws and being accountable to the people for the consequences of those laws. And it’s also concentrated increasing power within the executive – a problem no matter which party is in power. The unintended consequences of this downward spiral are evident today in the divisive politics and general disarray in Washington in more ways than most people realize. And while one decision by the Supreme Court won’t fix this overnight, it’s a critical part of the solution and a great start.    https://lnkd.in/eshw9BEy.