Spring Cracks Open at Project Living Proof

History, Sustainability, and the Slight Madness of Kansas City Weather

By Kasi Darnell

Spring doesn’t arrive in Kansas City so much as kick down the door. One day you’re in a parka; the next you’re sweating through your shirt in a garden you forgot existed. Over on the corner of Emanuel Cleaver III Boulevard and Harrison Street, tucked into the historic RockHill neighborhood, Project Living Proof (PLP) is waking up.

The native Prairie Fire blossoms are elbowing their way out of the soil. The bees are back. Someone’s already mowed their lawn twice and cursed about it. And inside this 100-year-old house, something else is stirring—an idea. A mission. A really weird, really cool mash-up of old bones and modern brains: sustainability inside a historic home.

PLP is a living science exhibit disguised as your grandma’s house—if your grandma was into solar panels, high-efficiency HVAC systems, and water retention strategies. It’s operated by Metropolitan Energy Center (MEC), an organization that’s been quietly fighting the good fight for cleaner air, smarter buildings and more resilient cities since before it was cool.

MEC Director of People and Operations Royce Martin admires the garden at Project Living Proof.

PLP isn’t a showroom. It’s not a museum. It’s a real house in a real neighborhood, showing real people what’s possible. Want to know how to retrofit a drafty old house without ripping out the soul? This is where you go. Want to see what a stormwater system looks like before your basement floods? Right here.

But here’s the thing: this place doesn’t run on good vibes and compost tea. It runs on people.

So here’s your call to action:

We need hands. We need minds. We need people who give a damn.

Volunteer with us. Help keep the gardens growing, the systems running, the message alive. Or—if you’re short on time but long on generosity—make a donation. Every dollar goes into keeping this place real, relevant and open to the community.

Because PLP isn’t just about green tech or old houses. It’s about showing Kansas City what’s possible when we stop throwing things away—houses,

neighborhoods, ideas—and start building smarter.

Spring is here. The city is waking up. And we’re just getting started.

Get involved. Show up. Make it matter.

Future Work Is Here: Can We Take the Offer?

By Austin Taylor

The future of work is no longer a distant concept—it is unfolding right now. Yet, despite years of warnings and national campaigns urging Americans to prepare for careers in STEM, energy and technology, we still face a critical skills gap. Business and technology leaders like Elon Musk argue that many in the U.S. workforce are undertrained for the jobs of the future, and as a result, they increasingly lean on programs like H-1B to recruit talent from abroad. This claim is frustrating, but frustration alone is not a strategy. Instead of simply feeling insulted, we must take action.

For decades, we’ve been told that investing in education, workforce development and technical training is the key to securing our place in the global economy. If we don’t step up now, we risk losing these high-paying, high-growth jobs to those better prepared, whether they are here or overseas. The question is: Will we finally take action?

Energy Careers: A Barely-Tapped Opportunity

At Metropolitan Energy Center (MEC), we see this challenge firsthand. Our mission is to accelerate energy innovation and workforce development, ensuring individuals and businesses can thrive in the evolving energy landscape. From alternative fuel vehicle training to building efficiency programs, we work to create opportunities that not only power our communities but also provide stable, well-paying careers for those ready to step into them.

The energy sector is undergoing a massive transformation, and with it comes a surge in job openings—many of which don’t require a four year degree but demand specialized training. Fields like battery storage, hydrogen, biofuels, solar and wind energy, and grid modernization are growing quickly, but too few people are stepping into these roles. These jobs exist now. They are in high demand, they pay well, and they are important to the future of our economy and environment.

Despite decades of government-backed workforce programs, too many Americans are either unaware of or unprepared for these careers. This is where organizations like us come in. We’ve worked with local and national partners to develop training programs, connect people with technical certifications, and provide businesses with the resources needed to build a skilled workforce.

The Call to Action was 20 Years Ago

Do you know the two best times to plant a tree? 20 years ago and today. This is not just a call for young students—it’s a call for parents, career changers and anyone looking for stable, well-paying work in a growing field. We need to move beyond simply talking about STEM and energy careers and start actively preparing for them.

Parents must encourage their children to explore science, technology and hands-on technical skills.

Schools must expand apprenticeship and certification programs.

Local governments must invest in workforce development that meets industry needs.

Individuals must take initiative by seeking out training and education in energy and technology fields.

Business leaders argue that the United States lacks qualified workers, but the solution is not to accept that as a fact—it’s to prove them wrong. We cannot allow industry leaders to justify bypassing American talent due to lack of preparedness when the tools for training and upskilling already exist.

At Metropolitan Energy Center, we are committed to building a stronger, more resilient workforce. The future of energy and innovation is being written today. Will we be the ones shaping it, or will we continue to watch from the sidelines? The choice is ours.