Author: Naquela Pack

The Office of Engagement is excited to be involved in bringing the first Open Streets ICT (OSICT) to WSU and Shocker Neighborhood, from 1 to 4 p.m. April 16.

The purpose of OSICT is to elevate the quality of life and health of the Wichita community. It does this by promoting healthy and active living, enhancing community connectivity, and building community pride through interaction with local businesses and nonprofit organizations.

The community can help OSICT by becoming a vendor and sharing their department’s, college’s or student organization’s message, fundraising and selling merchandise, or putting together a spin wheel for prizes, raffles, collect information, face paint and more. Or create a fun engaging way to connect and share information with the community by hosting an activity like games, dunk tanks, Zumba, yoga, etc. Community members can also help OSICT by volunteering for the day.

The route is along 17th Street from Oliver Street to Volutsia Street. With access to Fairmount Park to enhance community connectivity and build community pride through interacting with local businesses, organizations and the university community in Shocker Neighborhood.

United Way thanks WSU faculty and staff for their generosity and contributions to its United Way of the Plains campaign to improve the quality of life for WSU and the neighboring communities.

United Way of the Plains supports south central Kansas and helps those in need with health, education, financial stability and basic needs. In 2022, WSU faculty and staff raised a total of $29,533.40 and 10% were first-time donors.

Because of its donors, United Way is able to collectively make a greater impact on the community and could not do so without all of its generous Shockers.

Common Ground Producers and Growers and the Office of Engagement invite the university and neighboring communities to a pop-up market from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. on the first Friday of each month at Paradise Baptist Church, 4401 E. 17th St. North.

Seasonal local produce, resources, food, entertainment and other vendors will be there.

If you are interested in being a vendor, please reach out to naquela.pack@wichita.edu.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.