The Wichita Black Nurses Association (WBNA) has been awarded funding to provide free health testing for residents affected by groundwater contamination in Sedgwick County — an effort that builds on the organization’s 50-year legacy of trusted, community-centered care.
WBNA is one of six organizations selected to carry out testing through a new $3.5 million partnership created to ensure residents have access to screenings connected to a decades-old chemical spill near 29th Street and Grove.
Founded in 1973, the WBNA began with neighborhood blood pressure and glucose checks before expanding into immunizations, health education, and advocacy around disparities in Black and underserved communities.
Their track record of trust was especially visible during the COVID-19 pandemic. As misinformation spread and vaccination rates lagged in communities of color, WBNA nurses partnered with the Sedgwick County Health Department and local churches to launch mobile vaccination clinics. By bringing vaccines directly into neighborhoods — and allowing skeptical residents to receive shots and ask questions from nurses who looked like them — the group expanded access for seniors, working families, and those without transportation.
That long-standing credibility will be critical as testing begins for residents who may have been exposed to groundwater contaminated by a chemical spill believed to have occurred in the 1970s. Many residents learned of the contamination only in 2022, and public health officials recommend screenings for anyone who may have lived or worked in the affected areas.
The statewide response leading to this funding effort was sparked by Northeast Millair Neighborhood Association President Aujanae Bennett and state Sen. Oletha Faust-Goudeau, who personally approached Gov. Laura Kelly about the need for a major testing effort.
Kelly immediately agreed to provide $1 million in state support, which helped secure a wider coalition of funding partners and ultimately brought total support to $3.5 million.
Funding contributors include the State of Kansas, Kansas Health Foundation, City of Wichita, Sedgwick County, Wichita Foundation, Fidelity Bank, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas, Stand Together Foundation, and Sunflower Foundation.
Alongside the WBNA, organizations receiving funding for testing include HealthCore, GraceMed, Hunter Health, I Am Wichita, and the Wichita Medical Research and Education Foundation.
For the Wichita Black Nurses Association, the grant continues a 50-year commitment to compassionate care, leadership, and advocacy — and positions them once again as trusted change agents in protecting the health of Northeast Wichita and beyond.
GRANT AMOUNTS:
HealthCore: $1,368,750
GraceMed: $603,750
Hunter Health: $603,750
Wichita Black Nurses Association: $603,750
I Am Wichita: $285,000
Wichita Medical Research and Education Foundation: $35,000