Community Engagement Institute (CEI)
Monthly Newsletter
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Happy New Year!
January 2025 Newsletter
CEI HIGHLIGHTS
A Fresh Start for Wichita Neighborhood
Access to healthy food is essential for a thriving community, but many Wichita neighborhoods face challenges due to food deserts. On November 5, 2024, the Wichita City Council approved CEI’s Center for Public Health Initiatives (CPHI) as the Program Administrator for the Healthy Corner Store Initiative.
The initiative aims to transform local convenience stores in underserved areas into hubs for fresh, nutritious options. CPHI will work with store owners and residents to incorporate healthy inventory, provide training, and engage the community in opportunities for healthier food choices.
This collaborative effort has the potential to improve health outcomes and address inequities across Wichita. With CPHI’s supporting community partners, the Healthy Corner Store Initiative is poised to make a lasting impact—one corner store at a time. To learn more or get involved, please contact aaron.davis@wichita.edu.
Tackling Tough Topics: Seth Bate Presents at Nonprofit Leadership Conference
At the University of Missouri—Kansas City’s Nonprofit Leadership Conference, Seth Bate with CEI’s Center for Organizational Development (COD) joined forces with Erika Dvorske of SSC CPAs + Advisors to lead a thought-provoking session titled “Impolite Conversations: Planning for the Next Chapter and Future Talent.”
This annual conference attracts nonprofit professionals from across the Kansas City area and beyond, offering a space for both seasoned leaders and newcomers to explore emerging trends and pressing challenges in the sector. Seth and Erika’s session dove into one of the most critical and often uncomfortable topics for organizations: planning for leadership transitions and cultivating a strong talent pipeline for the future.
By addressing the realities of succession planning and workforce development head-on, the session equipped attendees with practical tools and strategies to navigate these sensitive issues with confidence and transparency.
The presentation highlighted the importance of proactive planning and candid discussions in building sustainable organizations ready to meet future challenges. Through their collaboration, Seth and Erika demonstrated how cross-sector partnerships can bring fresh perspectives to the nonprofit world.
Their work serves as a reminder that even “impolite conversations” can lead to meaningful change when approached thoughtfully and with the future in mind. Erika and Seth hope to tackle these tough topics with more audiences in 2025, and they would welcome invitations from interested organizations and conferences. Please reach out to seth.bate@wichita.edu if you would like to explore hosting them.
Empowering Youth Leadership: Upstream Kansas Launches
Upstream Kansas is a groundbreaking initiative designed to amplify youth leadership in substance use prevention across the state. The program focuses on youth-led programming, support for adults working in prevention, and guidance from a statewide advisory council. Sponsored by the Kansas Department of Disability Services and implemented through CADCA, Upstream Kansas aims to create impactful, lasting change.
Megan Mickens, with CEI’s Creative Design Team (CDT) played a pivotal role in bringing the initiative to life by developing its logo, branding style, and materials for presentations and communications. These visually cohesive elements are key to fostering recognition and engagement as the program grows.
To expand its reach, Upstream Kansas has also partnered with CDT to develop its website, which will serve as a hub for resources, updates, and collaboration. With strong foundations in place, this initiative is set to inspire and empower youth to lead substance use prevention efforts in communities statewide.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Caring Across Cultures: Suicide Prevention Readiness Trainings
Join us for the next session titled,”Appropriate Language & Mental Health / LGBTQIA2S+” with Racheal McDaniel on February 12. Throughout the series, each session focuses on a specific cultural community, equipping you with transferrable skills and knowledge to support diverse populations effectively.
- NEW: Virtual Orientation – February 18
- PreventionWorKS – February 25
- Kansas Prevention Advocacy Day – February 26
SAVE THE DATE: Kansas Governor’s Public Health Conference 2025
Register to attend the annual Kansas Governor’s Public Health Conference centered on the theme, “A New Day in Public Health.” Approximately 600 public health nurses, maternal and child health staff and public health professionals throughout the state are expected to attend the conference from March 24-26. Learn more and register below!
OFFERING CEI STAFF
- Immunity to Change
- Coach-Like Approach to Supervision
- Moving from “Criticism” to “Feedback”
- Managing Yourself and Your Time When Working Remotely
- Applying the Equity Lens to Your Work
- Professional Speaking: Virtual, Hybrid and In-Person
Thank you, Zane and Percy, for offering CEI an opportunity for professional growth and practical insights!
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Archived Newsletters
Want to learn more about community health assessment and planning? Check out these models, frameworks and tools from local and national partners.