One of my favorite former politicians is Lloyd Daniel, a poet and educator who spent two terms in the Missouri House of Representatives in the mid-'90s.
These days Daniel writes, travels the country giving lectures, and once in awhile, puts on a cool poetry reading accompanied by a sax player, like he did with the young and talented William Sanders on the Saturday before election day at the Bruce R. Watkins Cultural Heritage Center. The morning served as a reminder that words, music and action all go together and can sometimes create something beautiful.
Now, Daniel is putting on another Saturday-morning event in hopes of channeling some of that energy so many people put into politics over the last few months. "Looking for a Leader? Find Yourself" is slated for 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on December 20 at the Watkins Center.
Daniel promises a "dynamic and motivational" session focusing on ways in which "candidates without oceans of money, but with a vision and popular grass-roots support can win virtually any race, even when the odds are against them."
Or, as he tells me in an e-mail: "I've established a process designed to stir things up a bit in Kansas City, for the purpose of bringing some new blood and ideas into local politics. Ideas like not being crazy."
The session isn't free -- a ticket is $50 (to get one in advance call Sheila Morris at 816-838-6156) -- but Daniel says he'll talk about how to finance campaigns, so maybe aspiring candidates will be able to recoup their fifty bucks on the campaign trail. Other topics Daniel says he'll cover:
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