Topic: Workforce training
Interview of Alicia Salisbury, October 23, 2020
Interviewed by Patty Clark
Former Senator Alicia Salisbury grew up in a political family--both father and grandfather served in the legislature--so her sixteen years of service as a Kansas Senator continued the family tradition. She also was a serious legislator who believed in community service as witnessed by the numerous boards and committees on which she served, both volunteer and elected. Salisbury's driving interests were improving the economy of Kansas and bringing growth in wealth to her community and state. Salisbury's 2020 oral history interview chronicles her work ethic. With her children no longer at home, she had the Show Moretime and the interest to dive into a wide assortment of issues, from workforce development, to interstate banking, to telecommunication reform, to a blue ribbon panel on workers compensation. Salisbury worked long hours and focused on constituent services. She boldly asked for the committees that interested her and championed changes where necessary. Salisbury succeeded in changing the Labor and Industry Committee into the Commerce Committee to handle everything from economic development strategies to workers compensation. She tackled tough issues with a sense of humor and the skills of collaboration learned as a volunteer leader. This interview describes her determination, her commitment, and her legacy to the state of Kansas as Vice President of the Senate. Show Less
Interview of Ed Berger, May 12, 2025
Interviewed by Mark Tallman
This oral history interview of former Senator Ed Berger and former President of Hutchinson Community College focuses on the role of the community college in the educational system of Kansas. Community colleges were chartered in the 1960's in Kansas and required a local referendum to be approved by the public. Seward, Barton and Johnson counties were the last 3 to charter new colleges in 1969. By 1990 there was a move to changed their governance to the Kansas Board of Regents. Several interviews in this series cover these changes, but Berger's interview really focuses Show Moremore on the community aspect of these institutions and how their educational goals changed as the community needs matured. Distance learning, technical education and linkages with economic activity of the communities were discussed and highlighted. The interview concludes with a discussion of Berger's service in the Kansas Senate as they tried to unwind the "Brownback Tax Experiment" which had led to great fiscal disruption of state finances. Berger's outlook is best described in this quote: "...Kansans are creative and resilient and...will find a way to adjust to it and still serve its public well..." Show Less