Every day, public servants dedicate themselves to educating our children, keeping us safe, running our government and leaving our communities better. Those who work so diligently on our behalf deserve our gratitude. I invite you to join me in thanking our local public servants this week, which has been designated by Congress as Public Service Recognition Week.

Public service, though, is not just for those who inhabit nonprofit and public sector workplaces. As citizens, we contribute to the greater public good by volunteering our time, talent and resources. At the Wichita State University Public Policy and Management Center, we believe public service is enhanced through collaboration with community members and business leaders.

Partnerships between the public and private sectors are vital to the growth and development of thriving communities. On our own campus, we see such partnerships in action every day. Later this week, we will pay tribute to the late Dr. John Bardo, a champion of public service who was dedicated to WSU and the city he called home. He was passionate about seeing the university, Wichita and Kansas move forward together. 

As we celebrate our government and nonprofit public servants this week, I invite you to contemplate your own contributions to pubic service and your community.