Last Word: Jenny Torrence

Jenny serves on the board of the Chamber of Commerce and the NOTO Arts District where she supports, promotes and advocates for local small businesses.

TK talks to Jenny about the launch of the "I am Topeka" grassroots campaign.

It was actually Black Friday when my frustration came to a head with Topeka’s crazy low morale, and I realized we needed to do something as a community. An out-of-town couple came into Pinkadilly in NOTO, and in my quest to learn as much as I can about tourism, I started my litany of questions about their reasons for visiting. They proceeded to tell me how disheartening it was to be downtown and have someone tell them to just move on because there wasn’t anything to do in Topeka. I was mortified and couldn’t believe anyone would talk about the city they live in that way. And, if they truly did feel that way, why were they airing their dirty laundry to a visitor?

I went home and mulled it over that weekend. The more I thought about it, the more frustrated I became. I work extremely hard to better my city. I volunteer my time, I have financially invested in my city, and I do my part to spend money locally with mom and pops that have also made that investment. At the end of the day, it boils down to one thing: I am Topeka.

I am proud of what I do to better my city. I believe I am a great reflection of my city and help to show my little portion of the diversity and color in Topeka. At some point, we need to champion who we are instead of complaining and comparing and perpetuating the negativity. So, when people talk trash on Topeka, they are talking trash on me. And you, and everyone that is working so very hard to better our community. Each and every community is unique because of who it is made up of. We need to embrace our good, our bad and our colorful.

I decided it is all about Topekans changing our brain space on who we are as a city. And if someone doesn’t know what makes us so cool, (I feel sorry for them) I would be happy to give them a list of things that make our city stand out. They just need to look around. We all make up Topeka, and I am proud of us.