After more than three decades of neighborhood advocacy in Wichita, James Roseboro says it is finally time to slow down.
At 84 years old, the retired Air Force veteran stepped down at the end of last year as president of the Northeast Heights Neighborhood Association. Even though he stepped away from his leadership role with Wichita Independent Neighborhoods (WIN) several years ago, Roseboro’s influence on neighborhood organizing across the city stretches back to the late 1980s.
Today, he says he is taking time to focus on his health and spend more time with family.
“I’m just sitting here relaxing,” Roseboro said with a laugh.
But his path into community leadership was not something he originally planned.
From Air Force Retirement to Neighborhood Leadership
After retiring from the Air Force following a 28-year career, Roseboro assumed he would spend his days fishing and visiting with his grandchildren. His wife, however, had a different idea.
“She told me I needed something to do besides fishing,” he said.
Around that same time, residents in the Northeast Heights area were reorganizing their neighborhood association and asked Roseboro to help.
The Northeast Heights Neighborhood Association represents residents in an area of northeast Wichita bounded by 29th Street to the north, 21st Street to the south, Oliver Avenue to the east and Hillside Avenue to the west.
Like many neighborhood associations across the city, the group brings residents together to address quality-of-life issues affecting their community. Neighborhood associations often organize meetings and events, help residents communicate with city leaders about concerns such as street maintenance or zoning changes, and provide a way for neighbors to stay informed about developments affecting their area.
At first, Roseboro was reluctant to get involved.
“I didn’t want to,” he admitted. “If I had known what it was going to lead to, I probably wouldn’t have said yes.”
But once he agreed to help organize the neighborhood, his involvement quickly expanded. Bill Fox, a regional organizer with Wichita Independent Neighborhoods, soon invited Roseboro to help organize neighborhood groups across Wichita.
That opportunity launched what would become more than three decades of civic engagement.
“I don’t believe in doing anything halfway,” Roseboro said. “Once I got involved, I was all the way in.”
Building a Citywide Neighborhood Movement
Wichita Independent Neighborhoods, commonly known as WIN, was created in the early 1990s to bring neighborhood associations together and give residents a stronger voice in local decision-making. Founded by neighborhood leaders like Roseboro, who believed communities could be more effective when working together, the organization has helped neighborhoods across Wichita organize, share resources and advocate for improvements in their communities.
Roseboro later served off and on as president of Wichita Independent Neighborhoods for at least 15 years, making him the organization’s longest-serving president. At the same time, he continued his work leading the Northeast Heights Neighborhood Association, where he served as president for about 20 years.
Over the years, WIN has provided leadership training, educational programs, and opportunities for residents to learn how local government works and how neighborhoods can participate in shaping their communities. Programs such as Neighborhood University have helped train neighborhood leaders on everything from writing bylaws to working with city officials and addressing issues such as zoning, safety, and neighborhood development.
One initiative Roseboro remembers fondly was WIN’s annual job fairs organized in partnership with Wichita Public Schools. The events connected students with job opportunities, with organizers working to host them in each quadrant of Wichita so more young people could participate.
Finding Strength in Neighborhood Unity
Through his work with WIN and local neighborhood associations, Roseboro spent decades helping residents connect with one another and with city leadership.
“People don’t realize how important their voice is,” he said. “If neighborhoods learn to speak in one accord, they can influence a lot.”
But getting dozens of neighborhood groups with different priorities to work together often proved difficult.
“Getting everyone to speak in one accord—that was the challenge,” Roseboro said. “But once people understood the goal, they knew what we were working toward.”
Changing Perceptions of Northeast Wichita
Roseboro also witnessed major changes in the Northeast Heights neighborhood and surrounding areas of northeast Wichita over the years. When he first moved into the area in the late 1980s, he said the neighborhood had a reputation for crime and some people warned him not to buy a home there.
“I was actually told not to move into this neighborhood,” he recalled.
Instead, he saw potential. Over time, he watched the community evolve and become more diverse.
“When I first came here it was mostly White,” he said. “Then it shifted to mostly Black, and now it’s a real melting pot. That diversity is something I believe in.”
Roseboro also worked with other community leaders to change how the city referred to Wichita’s historic African American neighborhood. At one point, city officials began referring to the area as “near-northeast Wichita.”
Community leaders argued the term was code word for Black, and with it came negative connotations that discouraged investment, drove down housing values and stunted neighborhood growth. Working with city officials and neighborhood advocates, they pushed to eliminate the designation and instead refer to the area simply as part of greater northeast Wichita.
National Recognition for Neighborhood Work
One of the accomplishments Roseboro remembers most proudly came in 2012 when Wichita received national recognition at the Neighborhoods USA (NUSA) conference, earning recognition for the Best Multi-Neighborhood Partnership.. NUSA is a national organization that highlights outstanding neighborhood initiatives and community engagement across the country.
“That was probably my proudest moment,” he said. “We helped put Wichita on the map.”
A Changing Sense of Community
Despite those successes, Roseboro says he has seen changes in how residents engage with their communities.
In the 1990s and early 2000s, neighborhood participation was strong. Residents attended meetings, hosted community events, and made an effort to get to know the people living around them.
“Back then people knew their neighbors,” he said. “I used to tell people to know the six houses to the east and six houses to the west of you.”
Today, he believes many communities struggle with declining engagement.
“People don’t even know who lives across the street anymore,” he said. “You can’t stay in your house and expect your neighbors to know you. You have to engage with people.”
Stepping Back After Decades of Service
Health concerns and the desire to spend more time with family ultimately led Roseboro to step away from leadership.
“My health isn’t what it used to be,” he said. “And when I was younger, I didn’t always spend the time with my family that I should have.”
After 46 years of marriage, he says his focus now is on spending more time with his wife and reconnecting with family.
Looking ahead, Roseboro hopes the next generation will continue the work of building strong neighborhoods and active communities.
His advice for future leaders is simple.
“Be sincere in whatever you do,” he said. “Keep your word.”
Faith has also played an important role in guiding his leadership.
“I’m a God-fearing person,” Roseboro said. “Ask God for guidance and let Him lead your steps.”
Even in retirement, Roseboro hopes the message of neighborhood unity continues.
“If this article does anything,” he said, “I hope it brings neighborhoods together again and encourages someone to step up and lead in their community.”