A  free 12-week education and support program for families of individuals with mental illness will begin at Tri-County Mental Health Services Monday, Sept. 19.

The Family-to-Family meetings will be sponsored by the National Alliance on Mental Illness. The meetings are designed for parents, siblings, other family members and significant others of persons with severe and persistent mental illness. Topics include everything from family responses to the trauma of mental illness, problem solving and advocacy.

The weekly meetings from 6 to 8:30 p.m. will be at Tri-County Mental Health Services, 3100 NE 83rd Street, Kansas City.

To register for the meetings or for more information, contact Jen Boyden at NAMI-KC, jbkcami@aol.com or 816-931-0030.

May 20, 2011 7pm-10pm

In appreciate of mothers, Dragon Family Martial Arts Center is opening Mother’s Night Out to all families. Our moms have the gift of making it happen. By some type of super power they are able to put smiles on crying faces, juggle, band, soccer, and volleyball practice while helping the creation of science projects with dinner ready for the whole family. Mother’s Day is the special day of the year for us to pause and make up for the other 364 days that we may have missed ‘Thanks, Mom”. So hubbies, pamper your ladies and spend the night together as your kids enjoy a night of martial arts and fun.

Kansas City International Visitors Council (KCIVC) is excited to be presenting The Citizen Diplomacy Summit, Monday May 9, 2011, at the Kauffman Foundation, 4801 Rockhill Rd, Kansas City, MO 64110.

Two sessions are available, a luncheon will be held from 11:30 – 1:30 p.m. featuring Dr. Chris Kuehl speaking on “Global Opportunities and Challenges, Risks and Rewards” and Dr. Manfred Stinnes on the topic of “The Global Mindset – What it is, Why you need it, and How you get it.”

An evening session is scheduled from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m., with Dr. Stinnes speaking on “The Importance of Citizen Diplomacy in a Shrinking World. ” A reception follows.