The Diversity Corner
| Publication year | 2017 |
| Pages | 40 |
Hobbies (or Staying Happy and Healthy in Highly Stressful Profession)
After two years serving as the KBA Diversity Committee's Article Chair, I find myself struggling to find innovative ways to get lawyers to think about diversity. I am a female, amputee lawyer so that definitely checks some of the traditional diversity boxes?but that is not all I am. I played high school and college golf; I have a biology degree; I did two years of medical school; I'm one of five kids; and the list goes on and on. The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines diversity as "the condition of having or being composed of differing elements." Our profession is made up of an amazing array of individuals with unique talents. This month I want to highlight the diverse hobbies enjoyed by our colleagues.
In our profession, we have numerous artists working in all mediums. One of my favorite former KU law school professors, Sandra McKenzie, has been painting watercolor, acrylic and mixed media since about 1998. I can personally testify that her work is amazing. She credits her painting in helping her make it through some very difficult times. JoAn Hamilton Lindfors started sewing at five years old, and to this day still sews whenever she can find the time to destress. She writes "I grew up in Lindsborg, Kan., and left for Washburn University in 1968 with the hope to be a sewing/ home economics teacher or tailor. My professor was not encouraging at W.U., so I switched majors to elementary education, and here I am a lawyer, graduating from Washburn Law School in 1975." She is currently assisting with the costumes for the Lindsborg's outdoor theater's production of "Beauty and the Beast."
Knitting is apparently a very popular hobby across the state. In Wichita, the Yarn Harlots meet once a month at the Anchor. If you are interested, I am sure they would love to have you. If you are in the Topeka area and want to learn how to knit hats, hit up Stacy Edwards.
Music was a very popular response. We have a wide array of hobbies from singers in bluegrass bands to classical musicians. In Wichita, the Lawyers Pulling Strings have been playing together for 30 years. They were at a Wichita Bar Lunch and realized they had a quartet and the rest is history. They have been booking gigs for years. In her abundance of spare time, Ann Zimmerman is a singer-songwriter who performs about 100...
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