What's happening at the PPMC

February 2026

Message from the Director

Friends,

February is a month that reminds us of connection -- of showing up for one another. I am guessing many of you thought I would reference Valentine’s Day, but I was actually thinking about the lady who blocked traffic on an arterial, jumped out of her car with no coat or gloves, and gave me a push as I had somehow managed to high center my car at a stop sign in the snow.

While I yelled my appreciation out the window, she shouted back, “I got you, momma.” It made me bust out laughing and smile deep all the way to Wichita State.

See, she didn’t have to do that. It would have been much easier, warmer, and safer for her to drive on. But she showed up for me, a stranger.

Each month, regional city/county managers come together in our Local Government Network for a virtual (and quarterly, in-person) meeting to discuss issues impacting local governments. Experienced managers share wisdom. New managers share new approaches. No one has to show up, but they do to connect and to serve each other as well as their communities.

The PPMC provides staff support to six associations. All have a volunteer board of public servants with many other responsibilities. They do this to build connections, ensure educational opportunities, and support each other. They don’t have to show up, but they do.

Last week, through our literacy work with Wichita Collective Impact, more than 20 caregivers, 40 kids, a dozen volunteers, and several nonprofit / public school professionals gathered to support Family Literacy Night at Washington Accelerated Learning Elementary School. Wichita State College of Education provided tools and resources to help parents with literacy at home, volunteers made meals and entertained kids, and community came together. No one had to show up, but they did.

Public service is essential and only happens when people decide to show up, creating space for different perspectives, shared learning, and collective action. Our democracy depends on each of us making civic friendship a priority. The easy road is to point out what is going wrong or what should have happened. The hard road is getting out of the car in the cold and giving someone a push when they are stuck in the snow with a cheerful call of, “I got you, momma.”

Warmest regards,

Misty Bruckner

Director

Applied Research & Collaboration

The Applied Research and Collaboration team recently conducted a comprehensive "willingness-to-pay" survey of registered voters across Reno County to assess public support for potential community investments funded through countywide sales tax. Over 350 respondents from all five county commission districts responded to the statistically valid survey. An additional 500+ residents engaged with the survey open to the public. Findings about community priorities and support levels were presented at a special Board of Commissioners meeting in January.

Access & Engagement

The Access & Engagement team gathered local families at Washington Accelerated Learning Elementary School for Family Literacy Night, a joyful evening focused on building reading habits at home. Families explored simple, effective strategies to support literacy beyond the classroom, while enjoying free books, door prizes, and a shared meal - making learning both practical and accessible.

The event was made possible through strong community partnership. PPMC collaborated with Wichita Public Schools and WSU CLEAR, with dinner generously provided by Eastminster Church. Volunteers from the Wichita Public Library, WSU NPHC, and the Urban League of Kansas brought energy, care, and connection to every part of the evening.

Family Literacy Night is a powerful example of collective impact in action: schools, nonprofits, faith partners, and community organizations working together to support families and strengthen literacy in the 67214 community and beyond. The Access & Engagement team looks forward to continuing this work and creating more opportunities that help ensure every child has the tools to thrive.

Talent & Organizational Success

This month, the Talent team launched the Professional Development Series: a yearlong lineup of trainings designed to equip leaders with practical tools and strategies to support their success.

Training topics include effective communication, brave conversations, team building, coaching, and navigating generational differences. Each three-hour session is just $100, and participants can choose individual classes or attend the full series. There are 12 sessions to choose from, each offered twice during the year so if you miss one date you might be able to catch the next.

Special thanks to Wichita Public Library for providing the space and WSU Community Engagement Institute for their assistance!

Join Us

WSU Public Policy & Management Center invites you to join the following groups or organizations:

Are you looking for Professional Development for yourself or your team in 2026?

Set yourself up for success with the Professional Development: Supervisor Training Series, a practical, high-impact learning experience built for entry to mid-level leaders in any industry.

Even if you aren’t currently a supervisor...YES, this is for you, too!

Developed by the Public Policy & Management Center, the Community Engagement Institute, and the Kansas Small Business Development Center, this series delivers relevant, hands-on training that strengthens leadership skills your organization can benefit from immediately.

Classes are offered bi-weekly throughout the entire year of 2026, providing a consistent, flexible schedule that makes it easy for busy professionals to pick which classes fit them best. We offer 12 class topics, two times a year. If you cannot make one, there is a chance that you can make the other one!

Read Class Descriptions

Local Government Network 2026

The Local Government Network (LGN) is designed to strengthen leadership and collaboration among city and county governments across Kansas. Through monthly learning and networking opportunities, LGN connects public servants who are passionate about effective, ethical, and community-driven local governance.

When your city or county joins LGN for 2026, all employees and elected officials can take part in a full year of engaging programs. Members gain access to workshops, webinars, and in-person events that foster connection, share best practices, and build capacity for stronger local government.

In 2024, 25 cities and 4 counties across central Kansas benefited from LGN membership. Will your organization join them in 2026? Learn more or check your membership status using the links below.

Learn more about LGN

ICTNext is Here: Join the Mailing List!

Introducing ICTNext, a new organization crafted just for young professionals in public service. If you are a young public service worker in the Wichita area, this is your invitation to join our mailing list and recieve notifications for all future group updates and events featuring vibrant networking, engaging conversations, and collaboration!

Join Now

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