Wichita Journalism Collaborative

Wichita City Councilmembers and Sedgwick County Commissioners met together this week. Topics included a satellite law school in Wichita and the intersection of homelessness, mental health, and drug use, as well as ways for the city and county to coordinate services for people experiencing these issues. Read the meeting notes from Wichita Documenters.

Broadway was a particularly contentious topic, with commissioners Jim Howell and Jeff Blubaugh suggesting that the city has not done enough to prevent homelessness along the corridor and reporting that businesses have gotten in touch with them to complain about conditions there.

Wichita Chief of Police Joe Sullivan responded that he hadn’t received any emails from business owners regarding Broadway and that the WPD's holistic approach has made the area safer.

Read notes: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1gjExbnH57jgOlXy-nsT48c7qYKG9d3XTbwlQLIR8biU/preview?tab=t.0

The Wichita Journalism Collaborative participated in safety training for journalists provided by the IWMF at the Wichita Public Library this week. During the free training, WJC editors and reporters learned how to keep themselves safe online and in the field. We appreciate this opportunity at a time when more journalists face harassment and threats of violence for their work. Training like this is essential! Wichita Foundation

We'd love for you to join us tonight at Roxy's Downtown to hear from our storytellers about a time their vision of the American Dream was tested. Doors open at 5:45 and you can order food and drinks. The event runs from 6-7 p.m. and includes time for reflection and discussion. Curious about what our storytellers are thinking about? Check out this story from The Journal at the Kansas Leadership Center that features videos by Allison Campbell of The Wichita Eagle. https://klcjournal.com/hear-from-the-speakers-wholl-discuss-testing-the-american-dream/