DT | Be Your Own Trailblazer - 11:45 a.m.

Imagine being told "we don't hire women" or "you won't finish law school" simply because you are a woman.  It's unthinkable today but that was not the case in 1948 for Grace Day, who went on to build a successful family law practice and help countless families in Northwest Missouri despite the culture of the time.  The presentation will include the playing of the Kansas City produced documentary "Amazing Grace", which premiered at the Kansas City Jewish Film Festival in October.  "Amazing Grace," tells the story of this legal trailblazer who opened the door for future women lawyers as the lone woman in her law school class in 1948.  Heather McMichael worked with Grace Day at the same law firm and heard Grace share her stories.  When she learned Grace was retiring, Heather decided to create a film to document Grace's life for young people today who may not be aware of the struggles women endured in the 1950's.  Following the 30-minute film, Heather will discuss the process for creating the documentary despite working a full-time job and raising children.  The presentation will be insightful, thought provoking and you'll hear behind the scenes anecdotes that did not make it into the film.  We hope the presentation will inspire women to attain their personal and professional goals and become their own trailblazer.

Heather McMichael is a former television news anchor and reporter who was part of Fox4's #1 morning show for ten years.  She uses her writing and communication skills now as the Public Relations Manager for Polsinelli, a national law firm headquartered in Kansas City.  She has earned numerous awards for public relations and videos she created.  Active in the legal community, Heather is a member of the Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association Foundation's Marketing Committee and for the last two years has emceed its fundraising gala.  In November, Heather helped the KCMBA earn a Philly Award for nonprofits, co-producing a video campaign to create an awareness for the need for pro bono legal services for veterans.

Heather also assists with other legal volunteer projects including the Lawyers Encouraging Academic Performance's (LEAP) annual Back to School Breakfast for Operation Breakthrough which provides book bags and school supplies for hundreds of children.  In addition, Heather is also a board member and has provided her communications expertise for nine years to the Skywalk Memorial Foundation (SMF), the nonprofit building a memorial to honor the victims and rescuers of the Hyatt skywalks collapse in 1981 that claimed the lives of 114 people and injured more than 200.  In November, the SMF along with Kansas City Parks and Recreation dedicated the memorial and statue at 22nd and Gillham.  Heather is a Kansas City native and a University of Missouri-Kansas City graduate.