The first restoration roundtable was hosted by Kansas City Kansas Community College (KCKCC) on November 4 and 5, 1998 at the request of community activist Marvin Robinson, and was sponsored by a consortia consisting of KCKCC, Johnson County Community College (JCCC), Donelly College, and Longview Community College. Melanie Jackson-Scott, Dr. Valdinia Winn, Dr. Janice McIntyre, Dr. Steve Collins of KCKCC and Dr. Chuck Bishop and Dr. Kathleen Fuller of JCCC collaborated to organize this first Roundtable. The roundtable accomplished the assembling of interested parties for the first time in many years. The process of re-thinking the issues, formerly centered in isolated individuals and organizations, became a more complex group process which stimulated a great deal of thought and activity. As a result JCCC produced a musical focusing on Quindaro, KCKCC increased the number of tours of the ruins to complement the efforts of the Kansas City Kansas Chamber of Commerce and Marvin Robinson. These tours continue to increase awareness of the issues concerning the Underground Railroad. The Honors Program at KCKCC selected Quindaro UGRR as the yearly study topic and is producing a webpage containing an index of the Quindaro Chindowan.
The second restoration roundtable was hosted at KCKCC on November 3 and 4, 1999 and was again sponsored by Kansas City Kansas Community College and attended by a group of persons representing the property owners, and interested members of the community. Since the 1998 roundtable 1) the Unified Government of Wyandotte County and the Allen Chapel of the African Methodist Episcopol Church, agreed, on February 19, 1999 to jointly submit an application for National Historic Landmark Status. 2) At the second roundtable Larry Hancks of the Planning Office of the Unified Government announced that a grant was issued and an advertisement released seeking a grant writing team to author the application. 3) Greater understanding was developed concerning the proper procedures through which tours could be arranged through the Reverend Drew of the Allen Chapel of the A.M.E. Church to visit the grounds west of 27th street which are owned by the A.M.E. Church.
It is hoped that in the year 2000 Roundtable, we will receive word that the application for National Historic Site status has been submitted to the Kansas State Historical Society, passed, and forwarded on to the Department of the Interior. The college office of the Intercultural Council is continuing efforts to act as a nuetral clearinghouse for information about progress concerning Quindaro. We feel more optimistic even though we realize there are many more tasks ahead. We will continue to update this page with the latest information available to us.
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