Numbers tell a story, but you can’t ask them questions. Alongside gathering census data, we conducted interviews with community stakeholders, including mental health professionals, small business owners, local legislators, county librarians, parks and recreation employees, faith leaders, and other community members to identify core strengths and weaknesses of Johnson County and to learn how third places impact their professional and personal lives. The results were powerful and speak to both the current landscape of Johnson County and the critical role Third Places have in reducing social isolation and increasing community connection.
"We are the richest county in Kansas. So we have a lot more access to resources that other counties don't necessarily have."
- Johnson County Mental Health Employee.
The first strength highlighted across almost every interview was the wealth and financial resources of Johnson County.
"Johnson County is wealthy. That is kind of a strength of ours."
- Johnson County Mental Health Employee
"They definitely have money. They have wealth."
- Anonymous Student
Wealth is nice, but that isn’t why people enjoy living in Johnson County. Interviewees identified this wealth as leading to improved infrastructure.
"The libraries are really great resources."
- Johnson County Mental Health Employee
"Great school districts"
- Small Business Owner
"There's wonderful parks and activities available all over the county if you have the means to get there."
-Johnson County Librarian
County employees were also identified as a core strength:
"I think a big strength of Johnson County would be the folks that work for the county. They really want to be here. They want to be a part of making the community better and helping people. And they want to work together to do that."
- Johnson County Librarian
Interviewees also spoke to the collaborative spirit of Johnson County and how businesses, social service agencies, and county resources worked together effectively.
"We've been working with Johnson County community college. We also work with Johnson County Mental Health, and we are working to build bridges again with the city of Olathe, with the Chamber of Commerce, and also with Nami Johnson County."
-Social Service Director
"Restart is our newest affiliate, but we've had partnership with workforce partnership, renewed hope, and 1st call KC. We're trying to branch out to as many different community services as possible."
-Johnson County Librarian
"I think we work really well with cities. It's a multiplier when we can work with the cities as opposed to thinking of these systems as isolated."
-Johnson County Parks and Rec Employee