About Good Way Gardens
Elexa Dawson founded Good Way Gardens in 2022. She is a career musician with a degree in sustainable agriculture and a carrier of cultural teachings from her Indigenous community. She and her daughters are citizens of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation of Oklahoma.
From 2023 - 2025, Good Way Gardens produced a garden and a concert series on the first Sunday of the month at the Richard Howe House, bringing world-class performances to our rural community, and often attracting audiences of 100 or more in partnership with several local organizations, including Lyon County History Center, House of Morrow, Emporia Arts Council,
Emporia State University Theatre, and the ESU Clay and Print Guilds.
In early 2026, Rick and Colleen Mitchell offered Good Way Gardens the use of their
building at 225 East 6th Avenue. This generous offer grows Good Way Gardens
into a community center, where our vision for a strong creative community,
better food access and local empowerment can come to life!
eARTH + ART
Do you desire to be more connected?
Do you want to break free from the technology traps?
Do you want to be involved in an artsy, earthy
commmunity that centers the natural world?
You've found the place. Welcome.
Community Support
2026 has brought an exciting change with the in-kind donation of our physical location.
At the same time, our funding has taken a serious hit. We need your support to expand our services, and make good use of the gifts we've been given.
We want our services and events to be accessible to everyone.
We also believe in paying artists and cultural workers for their time.
Your support makes it possible.
Good Way Gardens is a fund of Emporia Community Foundation,
and we have been selected as a 2026 Match Day Agency!
The Emporia Community Foundation (ECF) connects the diverse citizens and communities of Lyon and its six contiguous counties through the charitable actions of a variety of funds established tor the purpose of bettering the lives of individuals within its communities. As a 501c3 Foundation, the ECF continues the traditional Kansas heritage of providing nonprofit service and supporting the charitable giving requests of donors who wish to enrich the quality of life of local citizens. ECF represents the Kansas counties of Lyon, Chase, Greenwood, Morris, Osage, Coffey and Wabaunsee.
Our team
Good Way Gardens is a volunteer run organization committed to building a stronger community.
Emily Wilson Barnes
Sarah Eimer
Colleen Mitchell
Melissa Tastove
Ed Smith
Kansas City Indian Center
Kansas Arts Commission
Music to Life
Raymond Rogers
Andante Piano Service
Board of Directors
Elexa Dawson
Eric Paul
Jordan Storrer
Be a Member
Support our programming and connect with nature through art and community at Good Way Gardens.
