The Community Voice

Let’s Talk Shop
2026-04-12 14:00 - 17:00 (America/Chicago) | SEDGWICK COUNTY HISTORICAL MUSEUM, 204 S MAIN, WICHITA, Kansas, 67202
Join us for an afternoon with We Harmon Sisters! We’ll kick off the afternoon with a screening of their newest episode in the “Color Me Wichita” series, followed by their newest documentary, “Let’s Talk Shop,” that premiered at last year’s Tallgrass Film Festival.

“Let’s Talk Shop” Documentary & “Color Me Wichita” Episode Screening

Made for This
2026-04-17 17:30 - 19:30
Made for This is a powerful reminder that leadership is not about a title—it’s about how you choose to live.

In this deeply inspiring memoir, DeAngela Burns-Wallace, EdD, shares a remarkable journey of purpose, discipline, and personal growth. From early lessons in service and self-worth to high-impact leadership roles in global diplomacy, education, and public administration, she unpacks the real work behind personal and professional transformation.

You’ll walk away with insight, clarity, and the motivation to lead with intention—wherever you are in life.

Key takeaways include:

How to identify and honor the values that guide your leadership

How to move through uncertainty with discipline and courage

Why building legacy starts with living authentically

What it means to lead without apology or permission

Why empowering others is the highest mark of leadership

If you’re seeking clarity in your calling, wisdom in your next step, or strength to walk your own path—Made for This will meet you there.

WIBA Women's Luncheon
2026-05-05 11:00 - 13:30
WIBA Women’s Luncheon is a great time to network with other like-minded women and leaders.

Christina LongCML Collective, LLC | President/CEO of Create Campaign, Inc

Equal Opportunity Dinner, Awards & Silent Auction
2026-05-07 18:30 - 21:00 | Holiday Inn East, 549 S Rock Rd, Wichita, KS, 67207
The evening will begin with a Reception and Silent Auction at 5:30 p.m., followed by Dinner and Program at 6:30 p.m. This special event is not only a celebration of excellence in our community, but also a vital opportunity to support and advance the mission of the Urban League of Kansas.

During the program, we will honor outstanding champions of equality, diversity, and leadership who are making a meaningful impact in the Wichita community.

Community Reconnection: An Intentional Conversation
2026-05-09 10:00 - 12:00 | The Center, 1914 E 11th St N, Wichita, KS, 67214, United States
The Wichita Council of Elders invites you to Community Reconnection: An Intentional Conversation—facilitated by Elder Rob Simmon.This is not just another gathering. This is where we re-engage, realign, and rebuild—together.

If you’ve been connected before—this is your moment to come back.

If you’ve been looking for a place to serve—this is your invitation.

Saturday, May 9

10:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Iasis Christian Center1914 E 11th St, Wichita, KS

Coffee & Connections included

Come ready to:

Be part of the conversation

Hear the vision

Step into meaningful community work

We’re not just talking—we’re building.

Be in the room. Bring someone with you

BLACK WALL STREET RALLY FRIDAY LINEUP
2026-05-15 17:00 - 23:00
Get ready for a FULL evening of music, energy, and culture in the heart of Greenwood!

BRANOOFUNK LIVE

Feel the rhythm with this electrifying DJ & drummer experience that will have the crowd moving from start to finish!

May 15

5:00 PM – 6:45 PM

MS. VAL & THE WISEMAN

Bringing powerful vocals, live instrumentation, and unforgettable vibes to close out the night!

May 15

7:00 PM

Greenwood & Archer Community Stage

Historic Black Wall Street – Tulsa, OK

Pull up early, stay late, and experience the sound, the culture, and the celebration of community.

www.blackwallstreetrally.com

WAM Nights: Robert Peterson in Conversation with Terrell Jones on The Prophet
2026-05-15 18:00 - 19:30 | Wichita Art Museum, 1400 W. Museum Blvd, Wichita, KS, 67203, United States
6 – 6:30 PM Cash bar
6:30 – 7:30 PM Program
Free | Open to the Public
Location: Wichita Art Museum Farha Great Hall

To celebrate WAM’s new acquisition The Prophet, we invite you to hear from Robert Peterson, the artist, and Terrell Jones, renowned stylist, fashion designer, and the subject of the painting.

Following the tour of the travelling exhibition Robert Peterson: Somewhere in America, organized by WAM, we are honored to spotlight Peterson’s The Prophet and welcome both the artist and Jones to Wichita. Peterson renders African American life beautifully and joyfully in his portraits, rejecting stereotypes to celebrate the “Black experience as [he] knows it.” Although his art represents his unique perspective, Peterson hopes that his paintings also connect across lines of class, gender, age, and race, encouraging all viewers to “see something of themselves” in the works, “their neighbor, their loved one, or somebody that they grew up idolizing.” Peterson tells deeply personal—yet widely recognizable—stories of family, community, and legacy.

About Robert Peterson

Currently living and working in Lawton, OK, Robert Peterson (b. 1981) is a self-taught artist specializing in figurative painting with a concentration on portraiture. Peterson picked up a paintbrush for the first time in 2012 to distract himself from an upcoming hip surgery. A little over a decade later, he is a rising star with paintings in major museums and prominent private collections throughout the country.

His spontaneous realist portraits are “[his] truth and [his] voice” and reflect “a softer side of black people often not portrayed in the media…something that [he wants] to see more of in galleries and museums.” In 2017, Peterson made history by becoming the first African American to be recognized as Southwest Oklahoma artist of the year. In 2024, Wichita Art Museum organized the largest exhibition of his work–a traveling solo show–Robert Peterson: Somewhere in America, with support of the National Endowment for the Arts.

About Terrell Jones
For nearly 20 years, Terrell Jones has combined his innate creativity, the style concepts he learned growing up in Harlem, NY, and the skills he’s picked up as a consummate student of his industry to enhance the images of some of the NBA’s and Hip-Hop’s favorite stars, including Fat Joe and DJ Khaled. Whether creating iconic looks for clients that have inspired a generation of fans, or crafting customized pieces that have drawn the attention of the biggest luxury fashion houses, Jones not only captures but also hones his clients’ brands and personalities. A creative in his own right, he advocates for the visibility of stylists of color in the fashion and entertainment industries. “What I’ve learned over the years is that it’s deeper than style,” he explains. “When they put these clothes on, yes, what’s happening is definitely in the clothes. But there’s also something that happens in the spirit.”

About WAM Nights: We’re open late on Fridays until 9 pm. Start your weekend with after-hours access to the galleries, shopping in the Museum Store, and a stop at EAT for dinner and specialty drinks. WAM Nights feature programs with artists, musicians, and performers, offering a dynamic way to experience the museum. The building comes to life with local creatives during WAM Nights—an energizing, creative start to your weekend. WAM Nights are generously supported by Art Bridges Foundation’s Access for All program.

Mental Health Day Party
2026-05-23 13:00 - 16:00
Yes, it is a day party! The focus is on mental health and trauma. There will be LCSW, LCMH, LMSW, and Psychological therapist attending as well. We are encouraging ALL to come out, especially or minorities, and speak with or socialize with these professionals for care and or support. There is no cost for the event attendance, but we will have food vendors, jewelry vendors, clothing vendors and others on site. Even you can sign your youth up for Outreach 316 Non profit organization, Peerless Princess Elk Lodge #243 Youth Department, Beauty and Talent and or Education Scholarship Programs.

Testing the American Dream
2026-05-26 18:00 - 19:00 | Roxy’s Downtown, 412 1/2 E. Douglas, Wichita, Kansas, 67202
An evening of live storytelling when faith in the American Dream is tested.Join the Wichita Journalism Collaborative and its partner, The Journal at KLC, to hear people in our community speak from the heart about a time when their vision of their American Dream was tested and how they responded. We’ll have time at the end for reflection and a short discussion.Register to attend: https://forms.kansasleadershipcenter.org/…/Fm…Storytellers include:▪️ Julian Azcary Montes, entrepreneur & filmmaker▪️ Hugo Phan, digital editor & news reporter▪️ Prophet N. Anyanwu Cox, human rights activist, reparationist, RN, MEd▪️ Dalton Glasscock, vice mayor, District 4 city council member, bridgebuilder, freedom believer & person of the crossThis event is open to the public. While there is no charge to attend, it is a fundraiser for the Wichita Journalism Collaborative, with a suggested donation of $25.Can’t attend but want to support the work? Donate here:https://klcjournal.com/…/testing-the-american-dream…/✨ Why attend?▪️ Hear real stories from people in your community.▪️ Reflect on what the American Dream means today.▪️ Take part in a shared experience centered on listening and understanding.✨ Why register? Advance registration helps us plan and ensure space for everyone.Admission is free, but space is limited. Reserve your spot.Learn more about the event: https://kansasleadershipcenter.org/…/testing-the.

On Tap & On the Map: The Legacy of Redlining in Wichita
2026-05-28 17:30 - 19:00
Wichita’s neighborhoods tell a story, one shaped by policy decisions that determined where families could live, invest, and build generational wealth.

Join Council Member Joseph W. Shepard for On Tap & On the Map: The Legacy of Redlining in Wichita, a community conversation exploring how redlining shaped our city and how its effects are still felt today in housing, education, economic opportunity, and neighborhood investment.

Together, we’ll learn about Wichita’s history, engage in thoughtful conversation, and walk away with tangible ideas for how each of us can be part of building a more equitable and connected community.

Whether you’re a longtime resident or new to the conversation, this event is an opportunity to better understand our past, in a safe space, so we can shape a stronger future for Wichita.

Congressional District 4 Town Hall
2026-05-30 10:00 - 13:00 | Carl Brewer Community Center, 1329 E 13th, WICHITA, Kansas, 67214
Hosted by Commissioner Angeline F. Johnson, this event will provide access to resources and a community listening space to elevate the voices, priorities, and ideas for solutions communicated by Black Kansans from across the state and within all counties of Congressional District 4 (which includes residents residing in the following counties in the Wichita metro area: Butler, Chautauqua, Cherokee,, Cowley, Elk, Harvey, Kingman, Montgomery, Sedgwick, Sumner.

It Cannot Always Be Night: A Celebration of Gwendolyn Brooks
2026-06-06 16:00 - 18:00 | artsconnect, 909 N. Kansas, Topeka, KS, 66608, United States
Join ArtsConnect to celebrate the one and only Ms. Gwendolyn Brooks and her birth in Topeka, Kansas, on June 7, 1917. Hosted by poet, historian and Brooks’ protege, Quraysh Ali Lansana alongside Topeka poets Annette Hope Billings, Dennis Etzel, Jr., and Huascar Medina.
Ms. Brooks devoted much of her writing to the idea of speaking truth to power – of addressing global challenges amplified by the written word and with her signature understanding of how her work, a proxy for the voices of everyday people, can empower us all to push collectively against forces much larger than ourselves individually.
This event is free and open to the public. Light refreshments as well as beer, wine and soft drinks will be served. We appreciate your RSVP so that we can have an accurate estimate for planning.
Gwendolyn Brooks (1917–2000), a luminous force in American literature and the first Black author to be honored with a Pulitzer Prize, began her journey right here in Topeka, Kansas. While she moved to Chicago as an infant and became an “organic Chicagoan,” her technical mastery and vivid portrayals of the everyday lives of urban Black Americans in Bronzeville continued to resonate both at home and abroad. Her work serves as a powerful testament to the struggles and triumphs of our communities, inviting us all to witness the extraordinary in the seemingly ordinary.

The Paul Laurence Dunbar School Reunion & Celebration
2026-06-19 10:00 - 17:00, 2026-06-20 10:00 - 17:00, 2026-06-21 11:00 - 17:00
12th Paul Laurence Dunbar School Reunion and Community Celebration in Salina, Kansas. Special events will be held throughout the Salina community, with the Salina Arts Center, the Smoky Hill Museum, and CKF Addiction Treatment.

Reunion registration can be made on-line at: www.dunbarschoolsalina.org

DON’T MISS A GREAT REUNION GATHERING OF ALUMNI, FAMILIES, FRIENDS AND COMMUNITY!!

EARLY REGISTRATION IS ENCOURAGED!!

Juneteenth ICT KID'S CORNER
2026-06-20 11:30 - 15:00 | McAdams Park 13th Street Side, 13th and Ohio, Wichita, KS, 67214, United States
KID’S CORNER is a special space created just for the youngest members of our Juneteenth celebration! Filled with fun, engaging activities, it’s a place where children can play, learn, and enjoy the festivities while making lasting memories in the park.

Juneteenth ICT and Storytime Village have partnered to bring our youth the ultimate Literacy Party! This event is one families will LOVE.

Participate in an interactive story time with Superintendent of Wichita Public Schools Kelly Bielefeld. Plus, more fun and entertainment including a dance party with DJ Super Mario.

Kansas Matters: America's Social Faultline,
2026-06-27 11:00 - 12:30 | The Kansas African American Museum, 601 N Water St, Wichita, KS, 67203, United States
Join author Mark E. McCormick for a discussion on his new book, Kansas Matters: America’s Social Faultline. Mark will share stories on Kansas history, justice, and social change.

Fort Scott Stories Documentary Film
2026-10-01 12:30 - 17:00, 2026-10-02 12:30 - 17:00, 2026-10-03 12:30 - 17:00 | Gordon Parks Museum, 2108 Horton St, Fort Scott, KS, 66701, United States
Fort Scott Stories offers a compelling and intimate portrait of present-day Fort Scott, capturing the heartbeat,character, and vibrancy of a community rich in history, resilience, and diverse cultural experiences. Throughthe voices of residents spanning generations, from youth to elders, business owners to church members, thedocumentary weaves together authentic narratives that reflect both the ordinary and extraordinary moments oflife in Fort Scott that reflects the city’s enduring spirt.“Fort Scott Stories is about honoring the everyday lives that shape a community,” said D. Michael Cheers.“Gordon Parks taught us that there is power, dignity, and beauty in telling people’s stories with honesty andcare. This film is my creative way of continuing that conversation, by listening deeply, bearing witness, andallowing Fort Scott to speak for itself.”
