2024 Thorpe Menn Award goes to…

On Saturday, October 5,  John Moessner (center) was announced Winner of the 2024 Thorpe Menn Literary Excellence Award for his book of poetry, Harmonia. Second Place went to Catherine Browder (pictured right) for her novel, The Manning Girl, and Third Place to Jenn Bailey for her children’s book, Henry Like Always. Moessner was awarded $300, and the two runners up each received an award of $100. All three were presented a personalized framed certificate of their award.

Desideria Mesa, 2023 Thorpe Menn Award winner for her novel, Bindle Punk Bruja, was the keynote speaker at the award luncheon before 55 attendees. The luncheon was held in the Auditorium at Woodneath Library Center, Mid-Continent Public Library. This was the 46th year the award, sponsored by AAUW-Kansas City Branch, was presented to authors
residing in the Greater Kansas City area.

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE 2024 THORPE MENN AWARD NOMINEES

Henry Like Always by Jenn Bailey

The Phantoms of Wakarusa by Fran Borin

The Spirit of Quindaro by Fran Borin

The Manning Girl by Catherine Browder

Same Window Different Views by Tyree Colbert

Benny’s Bump by John E. Davis

What Lies in the Middle by Bekki Diefendort

No Sacrifice Too Great: The 1st Infantry Division in World War II by Gregory Fontenot

When Heart Shall Fail: A Second Chance in Frontier Oregon by Theresa Hupp

Infantrymen of the Air: An Operational History of the Royal Italian Airborne Forces in the Second World War, 1936-1942 by Jeffrey W.S. Leser

Self-Defense by Corey Mertes

Harmonia by John Moessner

Court of No Records by Jenny Molberg

BridgeKeeper by L.S. Moore

Bull in the Ring by Al Ortolani

Skywalks: Robert Gordon’s Untold Story of Hallmark’s Kansas City Disaster by R. Eli Paul

The Receipt by Trish Reeves

Everything I Know by Claudia Recinos Seldeen

Zaiya’s First Road Trip by Rochelle D. Slaughter

The Book of Charlie: 109 Years in the Pursuit of Happiness by David Von Drehle

Click here for guidelines to entering or nominating an author for the 2025 award.

Pledge Your Support for Fair Wages and Earned Sick Time in Missouri

Missouri Jobs with Justice and numerous other state organizations are participating in getting signatures from Missouri registered voters to support a statutory mandate to:

• Incrementally raise the minimum wage in Missouri to $15 per hour by 2026.

• Provide employees with one hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours worked.

We, AAUW members, have a terrific opportunity to participate and get this initiative on the 2024 ballot.

Pledge Your Support for Fair Wages and Earned Sick Time

Signature collecting training and more information available by calling Caitlyn Adams, 816-668-4849.

Alice Kitchen, AAUW-KC, Public Policy Chair

Announcing The 2023 Thorpe Menn Literary Excellence Award Winner

Desideria “Desi” Mesa (center) was the winner of the 2023 Thorpe Menn Book Award for literary excellence on Saturday, October 7, 2023 for her debut novel Bindle Punk Bruja. Second Place went to Catherine Browder (left) for her book of short stories, Resurrection City: Stories of the Disaster Zone, and Third Place to Olivia Hill for her memoir, Travel North Black Girl: 3,000-Mile Journey in Search of Love, Peace, and Home. Desi was awarded $300, and Catherine and Olivia each received an award of $100. They all received a framed certificate of their award.

Alvin Brooks, 2022 Thorpe Menn Book Award winner for his memoir, Binding Us Together, was the keynote speaker at the Award Luncheon before 61 attendees. The luncheon was held in the Auditorium at Woodneath Library Center, Mid-Continent Public Library. This was the 45th year the award, sponsored by AAUW-Kansas City branch, was presented to authors residing in the Greater Kansas City area.


Congratulations to these authors nominated for the 2023 Thorpe Menn Literary Excellence Award.

My Brother Speaks in Dreams: Of Family, Beauty & Belonging by Catherine Anderson

The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy by Megan Bannen

By the Side of the Road by Marla Bernard

The Fall of Faith by Jeff Berney

Orion O’Brien and the Ghost of Samuel Grayhawk by Fran Borin

Salt Holds No Secret But This by Steve Brisendine

To Dance with Cassiopeia and Die by Steve Brisendine

Resurrection City: Stories from the Disaster Zone by Catherine Browder

made of earth by Alisha Christensen

Ripple: A Long Strange Search for a Killer by Jim Cosgrove

Home is the Road: Wandering the Land, Shaping the Spirit by Diane Glancy

Love of Ornamental Fish by Beth Gulley

Travel North Black Girl: A 3,000-Mile Journey in Search of Love, Peace, and Home by Olivia Hill

The Fork Who Ate Cake by Alyssa Suzanne Hodges

The Thread by Andrew Michael Johnson

Invisible Storm: A Soldier’s Memoir of Politics and PTSD by Jason Kander

One-Match Fire by Paul Lamb

The Undead Truth of US by Britney S. Lewis

Stealing Chaos by Sarah Leyton

Bindle Punk Bruja by Desideria Mesa

Comets: Relationships That Wander by Annie Klier Newcomer

From the Heart of the Hood to the Pinnacle of Paris by Steve Penn

An Old Woman Walks into a Bar by Deborah Shouse

The Salt of My Tears by Latonya Stephens

Memory Box by John L. Swainston

Call Me Fool by William Trowbridge

2022 Wagy Award Recipients

A grand total of $9,240 was awarded to local organizations to help fund their programs that promote equity, education, intellectual growth, individual worth, and development of opportunities for women and girls, at the Wagy Awards & Holiday Luncheon on December 3 at Pierpont’s in Union Station.

2022 Wagy Award Recipients:

• Front Porch Alliance received $2,800 for their Beyond Sex Ed Program.

• Kansas City CARE Clinic received $1,800 to fund three patients in their Dentures for Women with Low-Incomes Program.

Kansas City Girls Preparatory Academy received $1,800 to fund Xello Curriculum for their Changing Lives Through Education Program.

Salvation Army – Kansas & Western Missouri Division received $1,440 to fund new under garments, socks, and hygiene/beauty products for Gloria’s Closet.

• Unicorn Theater received $1,400 to fund performers salaries for the regional premiere production of Marys Seacole.

Please consider making a donation to the Wagy fund! Make checks payable to AAUW Wagy Fund/Amer01 and mail to: Kelli Doyle, Greater Kansas City Community Foundation, 1055 Broadway, Suite 130, KCMO 64105. Or donate online https://gkccf.kimbia.com/gkccf

Elected Officers 2021-2022

President Dr. Luna Mukherjee

President-Elect Corrine Mahaffey

Program Vice President Wanda Perkins

Finance Officer Linda Berube

Membership Vice President Pat Taylor

Secretary Lynette Procopio