Happy Monday, Wichita!
A new week means fresh stories, local highlights, and everything happening around Wichita. Here’s what’s making headlines across the community.
In Today’s Newsletter:
- The Polite family is keeping their father’s dream alive
- LaTonia Kennedy is making strides as USD 259’s Director of Family and Community Engagement
- The Community Voice is hosting a Vibrant Voices Expo for seniors
- Haven is Wichita’s newest restaurant and lounge
💡 Black Trivia Question: Who is the first Black woman to have her image on a U.S. coin?
A. Shirley Chisolm B. Madame C.J. Walker C. Harriet Tubman D. Maya Angelou
*See the answer after “In Other News”*
🤩 Name in Lights: Many thanks to Kaye Monk-Morgan, one of our generous donors. Financial support from our readers underwrites the work we do and allows us to keep our news free. Will you support us?
COMMUNITY
Still Building, Still Rebuilding: The Polite Family Honors a Father’s Dream
Dr. William “Buggs” Polite’s dream lives on through his children in Northeast Wichita, where Build & Rebuild Educational Ministries gives young people space to learn, create, and believe in their future.
A MESSAGE FROM THE CITY OF WICHITA DISTRICT 1
Join us for a community forum featuring candidates running for Wichita’s District 1 City Council seat and the Wichita Public Schools Board of Education. Come hear directly from the candidates about the issues that matter.
WICHITA NEWS
LaTonia Kennedy: From Gordon Parks Success to Leading Family Engagement Districtwide
When LaTonia Kennedy talks about her new job, she doesn’t start with programs or acronyms. She starts with people. As Wichita Public Schools’ (USD 259) Director of Family and Community Engagement, Kennedy is charged with turning that belief into a system—one that helps students by helping families and by engaging supportive community partners.
A MESSAGE FROM AMY WARREN FOR WICHITA SCHOOL BOARD
VIBRANT VOICES
Vibrant Voices Expo Offers Seniors Resources, Workshops, and Fun
Seniors in Wichita will have a unique opportunity to learn, connect, and celebrate at the Vibrant Voices Senior Expo, hosted by The Community Voice, on Fri., Oct. 24, from noon to 5:30 p.m. at the Saint Mark United Methodist Church Family Life Center. Designed for adults 55 and older, the Expo combines practical resources, interactive workshops, and cultural programming with social and recreational activities.
A MESSAGE FROM THE COMMUNITY VOICE
Get ready to move, learn, and connect! Join us for the Vibrant Voices Senior Expo, Friday, Oct. 24, at St. Mark UMC Family Life Center. Workshops on Medicare, scams, estate planning, tech & more. Tickets just $10!
FOOD & RESTAURANTS
Affordable Elegance
Wichita’s Old Town has a new spot designed for good food, good music, and grown-folks vibes. Haven Restaurant & Lounge — newly opened in the former Todd Brian’s space in Old Town Square — was built to fill a gap many Black Wichitans talk about: a polished, welcoming place to gather without “special-occasion” prices.
Get Out This Week In Wichita:
ART: Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience. Take an awe-inspiring journey into the incomparable universe of Van Gogh, one of the greatest artistic geniuses of the 19th century. (All month)
EDUCATION: Storytime in the Park. Read along with stories on the big screen at Naftzger Park and enjoy music, snacks, free books, and an activity for the kids. (Oct 14, 10a.m.)
POETRY: Simply Poetry Season 6 Ep 2: Featuring Jeri Wortham. Come out and Enjoy our 6th Year celebrating Poetry and Poets from throughout the Heartland. (Oct 16, 7pm)
See more Wichita events on our new online calendar!
U.S. consumers bearing more than half the cost of tariffs so far, Goldman Sachs says. The findings suggest U.S. consumers will continue to struggle with high prices — something Trump had promised to address in the run-up to his re-election. (NBC)
Amid shutdown, Trump administration guts department overseeing special education. According to sources, all staff in the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS), with the exception of a handful of top officials and support staff, were cut Friday. (NPR)
Kansas could get a nuclear reactor built 1 mile underground to power data centers. A company with a vision of installing “discreet, bespoke,” small, nuclear reactors 1 mile underground for data centers and other electricity-hungry industries plans to put its first reactors in Kansas, Texas and Utah. (KCUR)
Trivia Answer: D. Maya Angelou. The first Black woman to have her image on a U.S. coin is the celebrated poet, author, and civil rights activist Maya Angelou. Her image appears on a special quarter as part of the United States Mint’s American Women Quarters Program, which began shipping in January 2022.
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