RESOLUTION NO. 220707

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Honoring and recognizing the extraordinary work of MO Hives KC (Managed honeybee farms).

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WHEREAS, MO Hives KC was inspired by the innovative work of Detroit Hives Inc. in 2019 to place beehives on vacant urban lots, creating bee farms that pollinate nearby food gardens, while invigorating the community with a wide range of experiential learning opportunities for Kansas City residents; and

WHEREAS, Despite the COVID pandemic, MO Hives KC launched its nature-based programming in April of 2020. Establishment of this Missouri nonprofit would not have been possible without generous support from sponsors, community partners, and volunteers; and

WHEREAS, MO Hives KC established a low-cost, long-term lease arrangement with Community Builders - KC for six lots that make up their main Wabash Avenue apiary site (between 50th and 51st Streets on Wabash in the Blue Hills Neighborhood) where the lots had been vacant for nearly a decade and were subject to illegal dumping; and

WHEREAS, MO Hives KC has created a beautiful pollinator prairie, multiple native plant and vegetable gardens and a thriving urban apiary and through education, community outreach, engagement, and technical support MO Hives KC has already made a significant and growing impact by exposing the urban community to STEM-related entrepreneurism and to a deeper level of apiary science; and

WHEREAS, through major funding from the Missouri Department of Conservation, MO Hives KC has developed a successful multiyear environmental STEM jobs readiness internship in urban beekeeping and urban apiary management. Additionally, this sponsorship will help MO Hives KC to expand from Kansas City into more cities throughout Missouri; NOW, THEREFORE,

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF KANSAS CITY:

That the Mayor and Council hereby recognize the extraordinary work of MO Hives KC for transforming our community by reactivating vacant lots and properties ...

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