Programs
Empowerment Circles: A Path to Healing and Community Transformation
Empowerment Circles have begun creating a nurturing and safe space where women can come together to share their lived experiences of adversity, trauma, and resilience. In this circle, women begin the transformative journey of healing and rediscovery, reconnecting with their authentic selves. Through shared stories and the power of community, participants uncover the commonalities binding them and discovering their own solutions to create better lives for themselves, their families, and the communities they belong to.
These circles are not just about sharing; it is about empowerment—creating a space for women to see the impact of their past and present environments—whether it’s the neighborhoods they grew up in, the countries they come from, the relationships they navigate, or how they connect to the larger systems that shape their lives. By understanding these influences women gain the insight to take control of their own destinies and challenge the societal expectations placed upon them.
Our process begins with reading and discussing stories of women who have faced similar challenges in Being Wichita Women (Mujeres de Wichita), a collection of ? stories compiled by Quiet Storm Services. Through these stories, we explore themes of trauma, adversity, resilience, strength and collective change. As participants share their own narratives, the circles become a source of collective healing and transformation translating into community impact. The creativity, hope, and strength that emerge from these discussions turn into possibilities for individual growth, community change, and drawing the parallels and interconnectedness between the two. What impacts the individual impacts the whole.
Additionally, this process culminates with convenings and community gatherings within the Latino community to open dialogue about what changes and opportunities they wish to see in their communities. We can guess what might emerge, but it needs to come from them.
This is how empowerment and transformation occurs. Create the space to amplify these voices, and collectively work, creating supportive and thriving communities, the bedrock of community organizing.
Community Organizing Lab: Community Power and Systems Change
Coming Fall of 2026 - The creation of a multi-phase organizer training program resulting in a bench of organizers who are committed to power building through relational organizing.
Effective organizing is a dying tradition in our communities, and in many cases never existed. Rather than paying full-time salaries to young and inexperienced organizers, hiring them and hoping they receive what they need to be successful, this program will provide in four phases a paid opportunity for new and emerging organizing talent to grow and develop with hands-on support from seasoned organizers taking them through 1.) Fundamentals of Organizing (Power Building, self interest, Building Community Relationships, Cutting Issues); 2.) Learning to Build Base in a “learn-by-doing” in an actual community context; 3.) Equip organizers in campaign and organizational development; and, 4.) Receive continued support and mentorship as the organizer moves into new environments to take what they’ve learned and implement with much greater success.
We have witnessed organizers carry the title of “community organizer” but don’t possess yet what is needed to carry off their assignment and maintain community engagement and developing local leadership as they go. Building power for change is the primary objective for equipping organizers in these times.
The creation of this organizing Lab seeds the field in Kansas for decades to come.
(Implementation to begin January 1, 2027)
Statewide Convening: Cross-Sector Collaboration, Vision Building, and Implementation
Statewide Convenings bring together diverse leaders, residents, and institutions from across Kansas to imagine and shape the future together. Through thoughtfully designed gatherings, learning exchanges, and planning processes, we create space for deep listening, honest dialogue, shared strategy, and collective problem-solving.
These convenings bridge divides, align efforts, and transform community wisdom into coordinated action at scale. Participants work together to develop long-term visions for Kansas—looking 30 to 50 years ahead—while identifying anchor organizations and shared tables for ongoing coordination, accountability, and follow-through.
Using a whole-ecosystem approach, Statewide Convenings connect grassroots leaders, organizers, educators, artists, faith communities, health and healing practitioners, businesses, farmers, media, advocates, policy leaders, and philanthropic partners. Together, they integrate lived experience, systems thinking, and creative imagination to move ideas into practice.
The result is not a one-time gathering, but a durable infrastructure for collaboration—ensuring that shared vision becomes lived reality and sustained transformation across Kansas.
(Implementation to begin January 1 2027)
Deep listening is the root of our work. It is how we come into right relationship with ourselves, one another, and the systems we are part of. This is how transformation emerges with integrity and sustains over time.
Empowerment Circles:
A Path to Healing and Community Transformation
Empowerment Circles have begun creating a nurturing and safe space where women can come together to share their lived experiences of adversity, trauma, and resilience. In this circle, women begin the transformative journey of healing and rediscovery, reconnecting with their authentic selves. Through shared stories and the power of community, participants uncover the commonalities binding them and discovering their own solutions to create better lives for themselves, their families, and the communities they belong to.
These circles are not just about sharing; it is about empowerment—creating a space for women to see the impact of their past and present environments—whether it’s the neighborhoods they grew up in, the countries they come from, the relationships they navigate, or how they connect to the larger systems that shape their lives. By understanding these influences women gain the insight to take control of their own destinies and challenge the societal expectations placed upon them.
Our process begins with reading and discussing stories of women who have faced similar challenges in Being Wichita Women (Mujeres de Wichita), a collection of ? stories compiled by Quiet Storm Services. Through these stories, we explore themes of trauma, adversity, resilience, strength and collective change. As participants share their own narratives, the circles become a source of collective healing and transformation translating into community impact. The creativity, hope, and strength that emerge from these discussions turn into possibilities for individual growth, community change, and drawing the parallels and interconnectedness between the two. What impacts the individual impacts the whole.
Additionally, this process culminates with convenings and community gatherings within the Latino community to open dialogue about what changes and opportunities they wish to see in their communities. We can guess what might emerge, but it needs to come from them.
This is how empowerment and transformation occurs. Create the space to amplify these voices, and collectively work, creating supportive and thriving communities, the bedrock of community organizing.