Author: Megan Voth

The WSU Community Engagement Institute invites you to join one, several or all of the spring 2025 interactive and free workshops centered on adjusting to change. All five, 60-minute sessions start at 11 a.m. and are open to everyone.

April 16 – Using data to make change (Dr. Tara Gregory, Dr. Sarah Jolley)
April 23 – Effective communication during change (Percy Turner)
April 30 – Navigating change: Understanding resistance and facilitating adjustment (Carri Wead)
May 7 – Managing stress during times of change (Percy Turner)
May 14 – Implementing change (Percy Turner)

Don’t miss the opportunity to enhance your skills, connect with experts and grow both personally and professionally.

The WSU Community Engagement Institute invites you to join one, several or all of its fall 2024 interactive and free workshops centered on enhancing organizations. All five, 60-minute sessions are open to everyone and via Zoom. Register for each session below:

• 11 a.m. Oct. 23: Adding AI to your Daily Toolbox
• 11 a.m. Oct. 30: Who’s the Fairest Board of All? The Self-Evaluation Approaches for Nonprofit Boards
• 11 a.m. Nov. 6: Generative Conversations: Don’t be Bored with your Board
• 11 a.m. Nov. 13: Solution-Focused Problem Solving
• 11 a.m. Nov. 20: Preserving Team Integrity

For questions, contact Zane May at zane.may@wichita.edu.

Wichita State’s Community Engagement Institute (CEI) turns 40 years old this year. Join the institute from 4 to 6 p.m. Oct. 28 at NICHE (124 S. Broadway) as it commemorates the four decades of navigating the successes and lessons learned that have shaped where it is now. The evening will be filled with reflection, gratitude and excitement for the journey ahead. Special guests include President Rick Muma and Shirley Lefever, executive vice president and provost.

The Community Engagement Institute will:

• Applaud its past: Reflecting on the individuals, efforts and impact that have shaped its historical journey.
• Appreciate its “now”: Expressing gratitude for the current work, collaborative efforts and immediate impact it is making.
• Ascend to its future: Anticipating and embracing the possibilities that lie ahead as it looks forward to the future.

“We look forward to celebrating this milestone with you — our inspiring staff, both past and present, our friends and families — and our valued partners who, through our collective efforts, have helped advance CEI’s mission of building vibrant communities and dynamic organizations that are supported, connected and empowered to drive meaningful progress,” said Dr. Scott Wituk, executive director.

The WSU Community Engagement Institute (CEI) invites the campus community to its Rising to the Challenge spring 2024 virtual workshop series.

Join one, several or all of the spring 2024 interactive workshops centered on navigating challenges with resilience and intention. All five, 60-minute sessions are open to everyone at no charge, where you will get the chance to gain a wealth of knowledge from a few CEI members.

The workshops are at 11 a.m. on Wednesdays. The schedule of events:

• March 27 – “Partnering with your Evaluator: The Key to a Good Evaluation” with Dr. Tara Gregory and Dr. Sarah Jolley
• April 3 – “Equity – A Key to Greater Teamwork!” with Patricia Houston
• April 10 – “The Work of Teaming” with Teresa Cornejo
• April 17 – “Worst Practices in Team Performance” with Carri McMahon
• April 24 – “Going Far, Together” with Cy Rogers

For more information or questions, contact Zane May at zane.may@wichita.edu.

Community Engagement Institute’s (CEI) Public Health Program specialists, Juliane Walker and Taylor Carter, won awards at this year’s annual Kansas Public Health Association (KPHA) Conference. CEI congratulates both on their awards.

Walker was awarded the Jane Addams Award, which is awarded to a social worker who exemplifies the qualities of Jane Addams. Qualities include a pioneering spirit, a trailblazer, one striving to improve the health of the poor and sanitary conditions of communities.

Carter was awarded the Emerging Leader Award, which is awarded to an individual who has exhibited public health leadership in Kansas through advocacy, community involvement and/or program innovation as a student or early career professional.

The WSU Community Engagement Institute invites the campus community to join one, several or all of its fall 2023 Rising to the Challenge interactive workshops centered on navigating challenges with resilience and intention. The hour long sessions are each at 11 a.m. and are open to everyone at no additional charge:

• The Power of Silence with Patricia Houston – Sept. 27
• Talk their Talk: Communicating with Different Types of People with Cy Rogers – Oct. 4
• Telling your Program’s Story through a Logic Model with Dr. Tara Gregory and Dr. Sarah Jolley – Oct. 11
• Moving from Criticism to Feedback with Percy Turner – Oct. 18
• Listening to your Community: How to Gather Useful Input for Decision-Making with Dr. Tara Gregory and Dr. Sarah Jolley – Oct. 25

Spread the word and share the event post on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn and find recordings of the spring 2023 workshop series on its YouTube page.

The WSU Community Engagement Institute invites students, faculty and staff to its Rising to the Challenge spring 2023 virtual workshop series.

Join one, several or all of the interactive workshops centered on navigating challenges with resilience and intention. The hour long Zoom sessions are open to everyone.

Learn more and register for each session:

• Self-Management for Improving Interactions Using the Process Communication Model: Cy Rogers – 11 a.m. Wednesday, March 22.
• Conscious Communication Culture: Seth Bate – 11 a.m. Wednesday, March 29.
• Workplace Belonging: Patricia Houston – 11 a.m. Wednesday, April 5.
• Healthy Boundaries: Janell Stang – 11 a.m. Wednesday, April 12.
• Self-Care: Percy Turner – 11 a.m. Wednesday, April 19.
• Navigating Conflicts and Difficult Situations: Percy Turner – 11 a.m. Wednesday, April 26.

Any questions can be sent to Zane May at zane.may@wichita.edu.

The Community Engagement Institute AmeriCorps programs have a dedicated group of members serving throughout Kansas, tackling the nation’s most pressing challenges.

A total of 21 AmeriCorps state members and 32 AmeriCorps VISTA (Volunteer in Service to America) members served in 2022, and a total of 189 members have served since 2019. AmeriCorps extends a thank you to all its members and supervisors for their dedication

Additionally, anyone interested in serving can apply to a number of open positions. To view or apply for these opportunities, go to my.AmeriCorps.gov and search “WSU.”

Paigton Mayes, Ph.D., MPH, was recently appointed by the American Public Health Association’s (APHA) executive board to serve a three-year term on the APHA Committee on Health Equity beginning on Nov. 9. Dr. Mayes is a Program Specialist for the Community Engagement Institute’s Center for Public Health Initiatives.

This committee is charged with assuring that APHA meets its diversity, inclusion, and social justice goals by monitoring the diversity of its sections, committees, councils, and boards; encouraging APHA to maximize inclusion in decision making at all levels; and recognizing and promoting best practices by APHA units, affiliates and caucuses.

With Dr. Mayes’ background in community psychology and public health, her passion for health equity, minority health, and healthcare access continue to grow. Join us in congratulating Dr. Mayes!