Dee Kemp, a sponsor of multiple support groups and a security guard at Free State, is also among a group of successful Lawrence community and business leaders recently recognized in the annual Best of Lawrence competition.
Kemp’s charitable work through his start-up non-profit organization, Kindness is Key, earned him fourth place in the competition for community leader and first place for community leader on racial justice and equality issues.
Best of Lawrence, an annual competition that is determined by votes cast by Lawrence residents, is described in The Best of Lawrence Magazine as a “celebratory reflection of the values and aspirations our city chooses to honor.”
Kelly Schellman, the advertising support manager of the Lawrence Journal-World, said that the competition is special because it’s decided by the Lawrence community, and that the competition itself is vital to our community.
“At its heart, the Best of Lawrence is an opportunity to celebrate Lawrence and what makes it so unique, by recognizing individuals and businesses that work hard to provide quality services to the community,” Shellman said.
Furthermore, Kemp added that he started Kindness is Key as a way to give back to Lawrence by looking out for its most vulnerable families and people. Many Free State students that are involved with Kindness is Key have experienced the importance of nonprofit work in the form of donating learning kits, care bags, and the trade skills job fair that it organizes. Beyond the school, Kindness is Key has been known to offer financial assistance to Lawrence residents experiencing economic hardship.
In regards to being recognized for his hard work, Kemp mentioned that persistence and commitment are some of his key principles.
“It’s not even about winning, but you know, it’s just nice to get the acknowledgement that people are paying attention,” Kemp said.
Despite his modesty, this recognition certainly shows that the people who voted in the competition see Kemp’s work as something special. According to Shellman, Best of Lawrence is an opportunity to celebrate and recognize individuals and businesses that work hard to provide quality services and contributions to the community of Lawrence. If you see Kemp in the hallways, be sure to congratulate him
