On Wednesday, March 6, six Sisters joined members of the Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth staff, and two of their Associates in Topeka for a rally to support the expansion of Medicaid in Kansas.
Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth and Sisters of St. Joseph of Concordia were represented in Topeka. The Sisters who attended were Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth Charlotte White, Vickie Perkins, Amy Willcott, and Helen Therese Mack, and Sisters of Saint Joseph of Concordia Judy Stephenson and Carm Thibault. SCL Executive Director of Mission John Shively, SCL JPIC Coordinator Rebecca Metz, SCL Community Engagement Coordinator Nick Keehler, and SCL Associates Director Don Stubbings represented the Cantwell staff. SCL Associates Joanie and Roger Underwood also joined the delegation.
Governor Laura Kelly spoke passionately about the expansion of Medicaid in Kansas. Shively said that he is grateful for the governor’s work on moving this topic forward. “She has a practical, common sense vision,” Shively said. Further, he said he appreciates her moral voice on this issue.
The rotunda was full of supporters, according to SCLA Director Don Stubbings. The capitol rotunda reverberated as the crowd yelled a chant for the expansion of Medicaid.
April Holman, executive director for Alliance for a Healthy Kansas also addressed the supporters. She reaffirmed the need for Kansans to continue to call and write their legislators to hold hearings on this issue.