November 2023

A message from the Director,

"As we head into December, we want to express our gratitude for all of those who work to make our communities better. Your commitment to service makes lives better today and creates a better future for the next generation."

Misty Bruckner

Director,

Public Policy & Management Center

Wichita State University

Women in Public Service

2023 Annual Evening Event

We had a great time at the Women in Public Service 2023 Annual Evening Event. At this event, we got to honor three amazing women in public service and reveal our new logo!

De Nelson, a retiree from the City of Wichita, was presented with the Torch Bearer Award. This award honors a career public servant who has created a legacy of excellence in public service and is now ready to pass the torch.

Hannah Chegwidden, assistant to the city manager of the city of Derby, was presented with the Spark Award. This award honors an emerging leader whose passion for public service sparks improvement in their community and inspires their colleagues.

Cindy Bonus, a retiree from Wichita State University, was presented with the Standing Ovation Award. This award honors a career public servant who has created a legacy of excellence.

We thank everyone who joined us to celebrate these women and we are excited to continue to grow our organization to continue to recognize the amazing women in our community!

Team PPMC in Action

The MHSAC held its regular community update on Nov. 16th. The Coalition put forward a set of legislative priorities for the upcoming session, focused on workforce development for behavioral health, aligning law enforcement and recovery services, supporting healthcare providers treating our most vulnerable residents, and prioritizing strategies that create a pathway to secure, permanent housing for those facing homelessness.

The event hosted providers, community members, and state legislators from across SC Kansas.

To learn more or see the MHSAC 2023 Legislative Priorities, visit https://www.mhsacoalition.org/

Team PPMC had the opportunity to visit the Ulrich Museum to tour the "Where We Belong" exhibit. This exhibit showcases and shares the firsthand accounts of five refugee and asylee families who have found a new home right here in Wichita.

Being part of this exhibit was more than just a visit for us—it was a chance to immerse ourselves in the stories and experiences of our diverse community members. We're grateful for the opportunity to learn, empathize, and connect with these incredible journeys.

To learn more about the Ulrich Museum, visit https://ulrich.wichita.edu/tours/

PPMC's Corinthian Kelly has been recognized as one of Read and Rise’s new ambassadors. He will be working to help instill a lifelong love of reading in children, promote the parent’s role as the first and most important teacher, and give them the tools to be strong readers.

To learn more information on this new program check out this article in Splurge Magazine!

Splurge! Magazine | Community Leaders Rise to Read (splurgemag.com)

The PPMC partnered with the Greater Wichita YMCA to host an informational breakfast with community partners to inform them about Wichita Collective Impact.

Wichita Collective Impact aligns the work of organizations to support Wichita Public School's strategic goals, specifically kindergarten readiness and 3rd grade reading proficiency, to increase education attainment and economic prosperity in the 67214 zip code.

Thanks for Joining Us

Kansas Government Finance Officers Association Conference

The PPMC was onsite in Overland Park, Kansas to deliver the Kansas Government Finance Officers Association (KSGFOA) Conference November 1 – 3. The conference was well supported by sponsors with 31 participating. Over 130 public finance professionals and partners attended the 1 ½ day conference and heard the keynote presentation from Josh Lozoff. Josh Lozoff, an actor and magician, captivated attendees by presenting on the “Magic of Communication”. Attendees networked, engaged with sponsors, and enjoyed a social event at Chicken N Pickle. We look forward to the 2024 conference!

Governor's Water Conference

The PPMC had a great opportunity to work with the Kansas Water Office on the Governor’s Conference on the Future of Water in Kansas, November 15 - 16 in Manhattan, Kansas. We supported the conference by assisting with registration, attendee conference materials, and on-site registration and check-in. The conference welcomed approximately 600 attendees. We look forward to working with the Kansas Water Office in the future!

City Clerks & Municipal Finance Officers Association

The City Clerks and Municipal Finance Officers Association (CCMFOA) hosted their annual Institute/Academy event in Wichita. CCMFOA welcomed 145 clerks from across the state who participated in training and development sessions over 2 ½ days. During this event, 19 clerks graduated during the annual banquet. These clerks were honored for completing 120 hours of professional development- we congratulate them on their commitment to their learning and their profession. The PPMC is happy to partner with CCMFOA!

From the PPMC Blog

Empowering the Workforce Through Innovation

By Misty Bruckner

Workforce innovation is the ability of managers and leaders to generate new ideas and approaches to not only workforce development, but workforce strategies...