Every once in a while, we’ll use the Beeswax to let you know about some meaningful happenings around the Willoughby world. This April, three Kansas City events are hitting close to our hearts.

Last spring in Western Kansas, 95 percent of the town of Greensburg was destroyed by an EF5 tornado. Today, the city is rebuilding as one of the greenest cities in the country. Simran Sethi, host of the Sundance Channel’s The Green, will moderate a panel on the green redesign. The discussion will feature BNIM Architects’ urban planner Stephen Hardy and Greentown director Daniel Wallach. The Sundance Channel will also screen segments from The Good Fight series. An In-Kind Partner for the event, Willoughby invites you to join us in learning how sustainable design is impacting an entire community! Local tastes will be provided by Blue Bird Bistro, Eden Alley Cafe and Local Burger, with drinks from Benziger Family Winery and New Belgium Brewing.		Thursday, April 17 Cocktail Reception, 5:30-6:30 p.m. Panel Discussion, 6:30-8 p.m. Scarrit Building 818 Grand, Kansas City, MO located across from the 8th and Grand MAX stop Off-street parking available for $3 $15 recommended donation, to be given in full to the nonprofit Greensburg Greentown; visit AIGA Kansas City to register or make a donation

Harvesters, Kansas City’s only food bank, will host its largest annual fundraising event this month. Proceeds from Forks & Corks, the food and wine tasting gala, enable Harvesters to provide nearly one million meals to those in need in our community each year. For the 12th year running, Willoughby has provided the event’s artistic support. Numbered prints of this year’s artwork, signed by Ann Willoughby and Jessica McEntire, will be up for auction that evening. This year’s Forks & Corks will be held in the Grand Ballroom at the Kansas City Convention Center, featuring more than 40 local restaurants and beverage purveyors and the lively jazz of David Basse and the City Light Orchestra.		Thursday, April 24 6-9 p.m. The Grand Ballroom at the Kansas City Convention Center 16th & Wyandotte, Kansas City, MO $85 per ticket, a portion of which is tax-deductible

Kansas City’s first annual Chalk Walk will be held at Concourse Park in the Historic NE on April 26 and 27. Hosted by Mosaic Brain, a non-profit organization that promotes creativity within disenfranchised youth, Chalk Walk is a fundraiser for inner-city student arts programs that compete with the pressures of delinquency and gang culture. The Diversity Committee of AIGA Kansas City, which is chaired by our own Stephanie Lee, is one of many event partners. The goal of the event is to connect professionals with kids from area schools, creating sidewalk art side-by-side. Throughout the weekend, the event will also feature local food, a puppet show and live music. One selected piece of chalk design will be featured on the 2009 Chalk Walk calendar cover. Please RSVP by April 18 to diversity@kansascity.aiga.org. Sponsorship: AIGA Kansas City encourages your company to sponsor an amount of space. Represent your company yourself or form a team of artists to chalk it up! Your sponsorship will get you your own square, complete with company name, to chalk alongside AIGA Kansas City’s sponsored squares as well as Chalk Walk t-shirts. Click here to download a company sponsorship form.		Saturday, April 26 10:30 a.m.: Check-in at the tent to receive supplies and space assignment 11 a.m.-5 p.m.: Come-and-go chalking time Sunday, April 27 9 a.m.-2 p.m.: Optional time to finish and refine your square 2 p.m.: Judging starts (you’ll want to be there!) Concourse Park in the Historic NE near Kansas City Museum 200 South Benton Boulevard, Kansas City, MO* $15 recommended donation for professionals, Free for students; visit AIGA Kansas City to register or make a donation