Happy Friday!
Warm wishes to all the mothers, grandmothers, aunties, caregivers, and women who nurture our communities with strength, wisdom, and love. As we head into Mother’s Day weekend, we celebrate the women who hold families together, lead with compassion, and inspire future generations every day.
From all of us at The Community Voice, thank you for being the heart of our homes and communities. We wish you a joyful, peaceful, and well-deserved Mother’s Day weekend! Have a great weekend!
In Today’s Newsletter:
- Why one school’s “dream team” is so rare
- Gun Buyback Focuses on Peace, Prevention, and Community Trust
- Historic rodeo helps fuel revival of Oklahoma’s legendary Black town.
- Court ruling may decide Kansas City’s congressional map
- A life of service celebrated at 102.
💡 Black Trivia Question: In 1640, Anthony and Mary Johnson were among the population of first Black people in the American colonies to own what?
A. Bank Account B. Livestock C. Slaves D. Land *See answer after “In Other News”*
🤩 Name In Lights: Many thanks to Linda Tillman, one of our donors! Financial support from our readers underwrites the work we do and allows us to keep our news free. Will you support us?
WICHITA NEWS
1. The Dream Team”: How One Principal Built a Rare Group of Black Male Teachers
At one Wichita elementary school, a principal built what she calls her “dream team” — three Black men teaching 5th grade. It’s rare, intentional and making a difference in ways that go beyond the classroom.
WICHITA NEWS
2. Community-Led Gun Buyback Exceeds Expectations in North Wichita
A community-led gun buyback in North Wichita destroyed collected weapons while connecting residents to mental health resources and violence prevention support. Organizers say the goal was bigger than guns—it was about building trust and reducing violence.
Learn more background on this issue
LIFESTYLES
3. Boley Rodeo Fuels Revival in One of America’s Historic Black Towns
The historic Boley Rodeo is drawing record crowds while helping fuel redevelopment, tourism, and renewed pride in one of Oklahoma’s remaining Black towns.
KANSAS CITY NEWS
4. Court Fight Could Decide Which Map Kansas City Votes Under
A court ruling could determine whether Kansas City votes under new or current congressional maps. The decision may shape the region’s political future.
WICHITA NEWS
5. Jewel McLaurian Celebrates 102 Years Surrounded by Faith, Family, and Community
A beloved Wichita educator celebrates a remarkable milestone. Jewel McLaurian turns 102 surrounded by family and her church community.
NAACP files emergency petition to block Tennessee’s newly approved redistricting plan. The NAACP on Thursday filed an emergency petition to block Tennessee’s attempt to remove the only majority-Black congressional district in the state. (THE HILL)
Americans hail Pope Leo XIV as ‘breath of fresh air’ one year in, as Trump clashes linger. One year on the job, the first US pope wins support for his progressive views and his defiance of Donald Trump. (The Guardian)
Cyber-attack on system widely used in US education disrupts final exams. Nationwide Canvas outage left students and faculty ‘dead in the water’. (The Guardian)
💡Trivia Answer: D. Land Anthony Johnson was a free Black man from Angola who achieved wealth in the early 17th-century Colony of Virginia. Held as an “indentured servant” in 1621, he earned his freedom after several years and was granted land by the colony.
He later became a tobacco farmer in the Province of Maryland. He attained great wealth after completing his term as an indentured servant and has been referred to as “‘the black patriarch’ of the first community of Negro property owners in America”.
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