Author: Atlantis Mitchell

On May 9, Wu Reads members were invited by United Way to help deliver books to kindergarten through third grade students at Gordon Parks Academy.

During the visit, the group had the opportunity to read the books to the students. The opportunity to give the students these books was with the help of WSU, Coaching for Literacy and community members who donated their time and money to help encourage the students to read over the summer.

Touch Up is a Shocker Neighborhood clean-up event to help beautify the local area. Volunteers will check-in starting 9 a.m. Saturday, April 1 at either the Atwater Neighborhood Resource Center, 2755 E. 19th St. N., or Glen Dey Park, 2801 N. Grove St.

Dumpsters will be provided at each location. Water, snacks and T-shirts will also be provided to volunteers while supplies last.

On Feb. 24, the Office of Engagement was given a Community Hero Award during Community Day at Gordon Parks Academy, STEM Leaders in Applied and Media Arts.

The Office of Engagement thanks everyone who worked hard to organize Community Day and especially thanks LaTonia Kennedy, principal of Gordon Parks Academy. It also congratulates all the other award recipients.

Need some service hours or want to volunteer alongside WSU’s Innovation Campus partners? The Office of Engagement is helping organize NetApp’s efforts to sponsor and volunteer at a Wichita Habitat for Humanity build. NIAR has also accepted the challenge to be a team player and get involved.

They’re targeting builds in the Shocker Neighborhood, and they will start as early as Wednesday, Feb. 15 and end Saturday, May 6 so they can take advantage of the spring semester.

If volunteering is not an option for you, there are other ways to help, including lunch sponsorships, providing materials, helping recruit volunteers and more.

This week the Wichita State community will begin its United Way campaign. We will help support individuals in Shocker Neighborhood and Wichita State employees and their families.

Last year Wichita State raised almost $38,000, and United Way of the Plains supported 17,356 individuals in Shocker Neighborhood. The top service support categories were emergency social services and case management, food assistance, homeless prevention, and developmental support for children.

Common Ground Producers and Growers is partnering with Wichita State and community vendors to bring you First Friday at Paradise Church, 4401 East 17th Street North in Wichita. This event will be an indoor and outdoor event from 4:30-6:30 p.m. on the first Friday of every month through February 2023.

There will be fresh produce, entertainment, food from You Kall It Catering and fun. Please come out and support your local vendors.

Join us for our first-ever Brush-Up! event for the Shocker Neighborhood from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Oct. 22.

Work alongside neighbors, community members, businesses and fellow Shockers to help each other beautify the area. We will help bag trimmings from trees, cut overgrown lawns, pick up trash, and paint over graffiti.

Volunteer check-in will be at the corner of 9th Street and Grove at the Urban League of Wichita and at Bridges near 21st and Grove.

This project is a collaboration among the Wichita State Office of Engagement, Wichita District 1– Atwater Resource Center, Wichita State University Community Service Board, Neighborhood Associations, WPD, SNC, and the City of Wichita.

There will be a barbecue picnic after the event.

Good Neighbor Week is Sept. 25-Oct. 1. The week provides Shocker Nation an opportunity to elevate and celebrate good neighboring practices while encouraging a healthy lifestyle. During the week, look here for neighboring tips, benefits and events which will be shared throughout the week.

In celebration of Good Neighbor Week and Latinx Heritage Month, Shocker Under the Stars will feature a screening of “Encanto” beginning at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 1 at the Duerksen Fine Arts Center Amphitheater. The event will also feature a variety of vendors, food trucks and a preview of a short film from Mama.Film.

The event is free and open to the public. Learn more at the Shockers Under the Stars Facebook page.

The Staff Senate has once again challenged Faculty Senate to a friendly contest to Stock the Shocker Support Locker now until Oct. 14. Collection sites will be at the following locations:

• 400 Ahlberg (Dean’s Office)
• OneStop front desk
• Morrison Hall Post Office/Central Services
• Shocker Career Accelerator (162 John Bardo Center)
• Rhatigan Student Center
• Duerksen Fine Arts Center east lobby entrance
• Office of International Education reception desk
• Ablah Library circulation desk
• Business Student Success Center (129 Woolsey Hall)

All staff and faculty are invited to participate in this important effort to ensure Wichita State students and colleagues have a full pantry of food and supplies to choose from at the Shocker Support Locker. Member of the University Police Department are pitching in by helping pick up and drop off items.

Learn more at the Staff/Faculty Food Drive challenge Facebook page.