JOPLIN, Mo. —
The city of Joplin is inviting community organizations to attend a planning meeting for events connected to the one-year anniversary of the May 22 tornado.
The meeting is scheduled for 5 p.m. Wednesday in the basement conference room of Joplin City Hall, 602 S. Main St.
In a statement released Friday, the city announced that the anniversary will include a “Walk of Unity,’’ which will cover a distance across the city roughly along the path of the tornado.
Any member of the community will be welcome to take part in the walk.
Patrick Tuttle, director of the Joplin Convention and Visitors Bureau, said the planning meeting is intended for civic and community organizations that are interested in helping to stage the event.
Tuttle said there will be several events, or stops, along the walk route with each focusing on a different aspect of the community. One will focus on the rebuilding of Joplin’s schools. Another will focus on the faith-based community. Another stop will focus on the children affected by the tornado.
The walk will culminate with an event at Cunningham Park.
Tuttle said he doesn’t want to make concrete plans until the community has an opportunity to provide input.
“At this point, we’re trying to be vague because we want to see what the community wants,” he said.
One thing of which Tuttle is certain is his desire to keep the event from becoming commercialized. He said the city does not plan on allowing vendors along the route.
Organizers are encouraging groups who participate to wear identifying shirts if possible to demonstrate the numbers of groups that participated in Joplin’s recovery. Tuttle said it is not necessary for those who plan on participating to attend the planning meeting. He said it is intended for organizations who are interested in coordinating the event.
For information on the meeting, call 417-625-4798.
May 2011 Joplin tornado
City plans for Walk of Unity
- May 2011 Joplin tornado
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FACES OF RECOVERY: 176,869 volunteers help put Joplin together again
They initially came in droves, pouring into Joplin by the thousands during the months following the May 2011 tornado to clear debris, clean up damaged homes and businesses and distribute donations of food, water, clothing and other necessities.
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SLIDESHOW: One year later, One day of unity, updated
Photos from a day of events commemorating the May 22, 2011 tornado anniversary
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Therapy dogs
Any question that Louie was bred to put people as ease is put to rest when the golden retriever trots over to where a visitor sits and puts his head on their knee, the dog’s eyes filled with a gentle affection.
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Nova Kluseman and Jeanne Morrow
Nova Kluseman has staked her claim on Wednesdays at the Mercy medical office clinics where she volunteers. The staff at Catholic Charities of Southern Missouri will know it’s Thursday when they see Jeanne Morrow walk through the door.
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Greentree Community Church
Every two months, Joplin plays host to some now-familiar faces. They’re members of Greentree Community Church in St. Louis, and they have “adopted” the city as one of their mission projects since the tornado.
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Virginia Laas
Virginia Laas isn’t an accountant or bookkeeper by trade. But when the tornado caused significant damage to Joplin Schools, and subsequently spurred a massive landslide of donations to the district, Laas voluntarily stepped into those roles to fill a need that administrators were too busy to handle.
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Rebecca Williams
Two years after the tornado, Rebecca Williams remains committed to helping people around the world keep up with the progress that has been made in Joplin.
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Community Outreach Team
While it didn’t yet have a formal name, the seeds of Freeman Health System’s Community Outreach Team were planted in the hours following the tornado.
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Jewish Disaster Response Corps
“Tikkun olam” is Hebrew for “repairing the world,” and the concept — of service to others, of helping those in need — is prevalent in Judaism.
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Dorothy Maples
Dorothy Maples always felt a calling to volunteer, whether it was participating in a fundraiser or giving a hand to help someone in need.
- More May 2011 Joplin tornado Headlines
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