Provide input on the 2023-25 Community Health Improvement Plan

The Office of Engagement recently convened with the Sedgwick County Health Department at the Marcus Welcome Center to hear the key findings from the 2022 Community Health Assessment (CHA) and to introduce health equity and how it relates to the CHA.

The second part of these efforts is to hear from community partners to set priorities for a healthier Sedgwick County at the Sedgwick County Extension Office- 7001 W. 21st St.

  1. Select Health Issue: 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 18
  2. Develop Goals, Objectives & Strategies: 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Mon. Nov. 14
  3. Discuss Health Equity in CHIP work: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tues. Dec. 13

Register by emailing Daisy.Urbina-Ceja@Sedgwick.gov.

Group photos of Shocker Neighborhood walkers.

Join Shocker Neighborhood Coalition Saturday morning walks

The Shocker Neighborhood Coalition has partnered with Bike Walk Wichita and its neighbors in Fairmount Neighborhood to meet every Saturday morning at 8 a.m. for a 1.5- to 2-mile walk on the Redbud Trail beginning at Fairmount Park located at the corner of 15th and Gentry streets.

Dogs are welcome if they are on a leash and can walk alongside people and other dogs without any issue. Dog owners must also clean up any waste from their pets.

To volunteer as a walking assistant, sign up at the Bike/Walk Connector Fairmount page below.

Group picture with Wu in the middle of four Wu Reads volunteers.

WU Reads requesting volunteers to read virtually Friday afternoons

Wu Reads is requesting volunteers to read children’s books aloud virtually to Gordon Parks Elementary School students on Friday afternoons. Volunteers will also ask the students questions about the books to help them better understand the story.

To participate, volunteers are asked to commit to 20 minutes from 2:40 to 3 p.m. on Friday afternoons for a year.

Wu Crew Read is part of an effort to help USD 259 reach its long-term strategic goal of increasing third-grade reading proficiency, which aligns with Wichita State’s mission to becoming an educational driver for Kansas and the greater public good.

Join WU Reads, read virtually to elementary students

Wu Crew Reads (WU Reads) is requesting volunteers for fall 2022. The pilot program is a partnership between Wichita State and Gordon Parks Elementary School located in the Shocker Neighborhood near Wichita State’s campus. Volunteers in the program will spend 20 minutes every week reading to and with third-graders or fourth-graders via a virtual platform.

For more information, contact naquela.pack@wichita.edu.

Earn community service hours with Shocker Neighborhood

Students are invited to help Shocker neighbors with a Shocker Neighborhood clean-up will take place Saturdays during the fall 2022 semester. Upon registering, volunteers will receive an email the week before the event letting them know what neighborhood and time they are assigned to. All volunteer locations will be within proximity to the Wichita State campus.

For more information, contact Naquela Pack, director of engagement, at 316-978-5955 or naquela.pack@wichita.edu.

An image featuring the Ulrich's outdoor sculpture "Ernest & Ruth," alongside an image of the animated movie, 'Space Jam.'

Attend Sculpture Glow, Shockers Under the Stars July 21

The Office of Engagement and Ulrich Museum will host a glowing after-hours exploration of the Martin H. Bush Outdoor Sculpture Collection 6-8 p.m. July 21. This event is free and open to the public

After touring the sculptures, participants are invited to venture over to the Duerksen Fine Arts Center to view local vendors beginning at 7 p.m. The Amphitheater will then begin a showing of “Space Jam: A New Legacy” at 9 p.m.

For more information, visit the Ulrich event’s website.

Attend Sculpture Glow, Shockers Under the Stars

The Office of Engagement and the Ulrich Museum will host a glowing after-hours exploration of the Martin H. Bush Outdoor Sculpture Collection 6-8 p.m. June 21.

After touring the sculptures, participants are invited to venture over to the Duerksen Fine Arts Center Amphitheater to watch “Encanto” at 9 p.m. Food trucks, books and popcorn from Storytime Village will also be available at the event. This event is free and open to the public.

Sankofa has been described as "unashamedly Afrocentric and proud...artistic..challenging and essential" and "an unrelenting but never exploitative portrayal of the great slave diaspora of the 18th and 19th centuries" by Letterboxd. Specail performance by local creative BLK Sol before screening. 5PM Sunday Feburary 20 Wichita State University Hubbard Hall 208 (1845 Fairmount st, wichita Ks 67260) Sankofa Film Screening cosponsored with: mama.film Office of Engagement. Phone 316-978-3034, email diversity@wichita.edu, web wichita.edu/odi office of Diversity and Inclusion

Join SANKOFA Film Screening Feb. 20, 22

The Office of Engagement is partnering with mama.film and Wichita State’s Office of Diversity and Inclusion during Black History Month for the SANKOFA Film Screening at 5 p.m. Feb. 20 at Hubbard Hall and a panel discussion at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 21 via Facebook Live.
The events will include the following:
  • SANKOFA Film Screening: Sankofa has been described as unashamedly Afrocentric and proud…artistic, challenging and essential and an unrelenting but never exploitative portrayal of the great slave diaspora of the 18th and 19th centuries by Letterboxd. This is a free screening of the recently restored and highly lauded and moving film, originally released in 1993. There will also be a special performance by local creative Blk Sol before the screening. Learn more about Sankofa.
  • Panel discussion: Sankofa Film and Black Emancipation: After the film screening, join a conversation on Facebook Live where guests will unpack the themes in the 1993 film Sankofa. The conversation will address Black emancipation then and in the 21st Century.
All participants must register to attend. For more information, contact the Office of Diversity and Inclusion at 316-978-3034 or visit the mama.film website.
Picture of Rick Case reading to two children as part of Wu Crew Reads.

Volunteers requested for WU Crew Reads

Wu Crew Reads is a pilot program between Wichita State and Gordon Parks Elementary School. As part of the program, volunteers from the Wichita State community read to and with third-graders 9:45-10:05 a.m. Wednesday mornings from 9:45-10:05 a.m. via a virtual platform.

The program officially kicked off in fall 2021 and is continuing in the spring 2022 semester. To volunteer, visit the WSU Sign Up for Wu Crew website.

Title: Providing direct support to your Shocker Neighborhood Last year, United Way of the Plains supported individuals in the Shocker Neighborhood over 35,400 times. 211 alone assisted this neighborhood 16,328 times. The top service support categories were emergency social services and case management, food assistance, homeless prevention and developmental support for children.Last year, United Way-funded United Way of the Plains supported individuals in the Shocker Neighborhood more than 35, 400 times, and 211 alone assisted this neighborhood 16, 328 times. The top service support categories were emergency social services and case management, food assistance, homeless prevention and developmental support for children.

Shockers and United Way make impact

Last year, United Way-funded United Way of the Plains supported individuals in the Shocker Neighborhood more than 35,400 times, and 211 alone assisted this neighborhood 16,328 times. The top service support categories were emergency social services and case management, food assistance, homeless prevention and developmental support for children.

This year, WSU would like to increase its donations by 4-5%. Every dollar donated equals $2.09 worth of impact because United Way leverages resources, grants, donated goods and volunteers, a dollar goes further and has a greater impact in the community. Where else can you get a return on your investment like that?

For 2022, members are invited to give to United Way at the level that’s right for them. A gift of any size makes a difference. To donate, fill out the ePledge form.