Wichita Launches One Heart Project with Film Viewing

Key Points:

• Viewing of feature film “One Heart” at the Dunbar Theater was the kickoff of the expansion of the “One Heart Project” to Wichita. 
• One Heart Project aims to help justice-involved and at-risk youth find opportunities for success.
• Walmart contributed $30,000 to the launch of the program. 
• Event also focused attention on ongoing renovation efforts at the Dunbar.

The historic Dunbar Theatre in the heart of the McAdams neighborhood at 1007 N. Cleveland came to life on a recent evening. 

Elected officials, community leaders, dignitaries and their guests gathered in the theater to watch a private screening of the feature film “One Heart,” an inspirational movie about the power of love to change lives.

The movie is based on a real-life football game played in November of 2008  between Grapevine Faith Christian School and the Gainesville State School Tornadoes, a team from the maximum security prison housing some of the most violent juvenile offenders in the Texas system.

At the encouragement of Grapevine Coach Kris Hogan, members of the Grapevine community and school rallied behind and gave support to the Gainesville team, something they’d never received.  It proved to be a positive and emotional moment for both sides.  

Eterne Films CEO Steve Riach, Eterne president Russell Lake and film producer Carmen Studer all had children who attended Grapevine and witnessed the events that unfolded.

“It was a night that changed the lives of both teams,” said Riach, who decided to base a  feature film “One Heart,” on the events of that night. The film was completed last year and is expected to be in theaters across the country by the end of this year. 

In addition, Riach and others started the One Heart Outreach Program that equips justice-involved and at-risk youth with the skills, tools, and healthy relationships they need to navigate life successfully upon leaving the judicial system. That initiative was launched in 2014.

Wichita One Heart Project Launch

The event at the historic Dunbar was the launching point for the One Heart Project in Wichita.  After the screening, Walmart, a longtime supporter of the Dunbar Theater, presented a check for $30,000 to support the launch of the Wichita One Heart Project.

One Heart has been active in northeast Kansas for about eight years, but it was a meeting before the Kansas Senate Committee on Juvenile Justice Oversight that connected Sen. Oletha Faust-Goudeau  with Raich and led to the expansion of the program into the Wichita community.  Raich was testifying before the committee about the One Heart Program.

“She [Faust-Goudeau] said it [One Heart Program] should be here and I agreed,” said Riach, who attended the screening and praised local efforts.  

“We are so thankful for Walmart’s partnership and Sen. Faust-Goudeau’s leadership in making the screening of One Heart in the historic Dunbar Theatre possible,” Riach said. “Providing the opportunity to gather community and state leaders and potential partners, around collaboration on a proven initiative that can change the futures of youths in the greater Wichita area is powerful. We are honored to work with these great leaders to impact the youth of this community.”

“One Heart Project’s mission will enhance the City of Wichita by providing social and economic growth for future generations to come,” Faust-Goudeau said

Dunbar Restoration Effort 

Screening the film at the Dunbar had a dual benefit of launching the One Heart Project for Wichita  but also called attention to the ongoing effort to restore the Dunbar.  The Dunbar was built in 1941 and until 1963 was the only movie theater in Wichita that was available to the African-American community. 

It sat vacant for decades until Phase One of a massive restoration effort by Power Community Development Corporation was completed two years ago. That work involved stripping the theater to a shell and bringing it back with all-new infrastructure.

With the completion of Phase one, the theater functions as a community center Phase I work brought the theater back to being able to be used as a community center. 

“We now have about 125 red velvet covered chairs as well as the stage and a movie screen which provides a community space,” Faust-Goudeau said. “Eventually, we’d like to have 250 permanent theater seats. And the goal is to expand to the vacant lot next door to add a community events center that would also provide an event space that people could rent for special occasions such as weddings, graduations and so forth.”

Faust-Goudeau, a major supporter of the Dunbar project, said fundraising to continue building out the project is ongoing. WalMart has been a long-time supporter of the renovation, donating  $130,000 to the revitalization effort. In December, the Union Pacific Railroad Community Foundation donated $25,000 to the effort.