KHI Celebrates National Nonprofit Day 2024

Celebrate National Nonprofit Day with the Kansas Health Institute! Join us on KHI’s social media pages and website to spotlight and honor the impactful work of nonprofit organizations in Kansas. The celebration surrounds the Kansas Nonprofit Forum, a special event dedicated to fostering connections, enhancing collaboration, and celebrating the achievements of nonprofits in our state. Don’t miss this unique opportunity to connect, learn, and grow together!

KHI is excited to share the impactful work of Destination Innovation, a proud member of KHF’s Building Power and Equity Partnership initiative, who is dedicated to equipping young people with the tools and mindset to drive purposeful, courageous change in underserved communities. Through their commitment to inclusivity and amplifying the voices of those directly impacted by societal challenges, Destination Innovation actively works to address the root causes of harm and create sustainable, community-driven solutions. 

 Watch this video to hear Founder and Executive Director Marquetta Atkins-Woods share that, as a nonprofit leader, she has watched her programs evolve and thrive with increasing independence. She emphasizes the importance of collaboration and partnerships in making a stronger impact, and the value of ongoing support from organizations like the Kansas Health Foundation.  

 Marquetta also offers valuable advice to others in the nonprofit sector: stay passionate, take care of yourself, stay grounded in your mission, and remember to celebrate the small wins along the way. 

KHI is proud to highlight the work of The Healthy Bourbon County Action Team (HBCAT), an organization dedicated to increasing access to healthy food, physical activity, and tobacco cessation while enhancing quality of life and fostering economic growth. By addressing health inequities and social injustices, HBCAT’s mission aligns with the belief that a healthy workforce is key to economic success. 

In this video, Jody Love, HBCAT’s President and CEO, talks about the Third Street Park project in Fort Scott. This initiative was driven by direct conversations with community members and a steering committee that included local leaders and residents with lived experience. Jody reflects on the importance of community involvement in the project and how this collective effort resulted in a space that truly meets the needs of the people it serves. 

KHI is proud to spotlight Alce Su Voz as part of KHF’s Building Power and Equity initiative. Alce Su Voz is a coalition working to improve health equity for speakers of Spanish and Indigenous languages in Kansas through community engagement, education, and advocacy. 

 In this video, Dr. Rachel Showstack, Founding Director, shares how the organization has turned language access challenges into opportunities for change. From raising awareness about the right to qualified interpreting services to supporting the preparation of interpreters and clinicians to care for linguistically diverse communities, Alce Su Voz is leading efforts to champion a future of health equity and linguistic justice. 

KHI is pleased to highlight Rosedale Development Association, a Kansas City, KS nonprofit working to develop a thriving Rosedale community. By collaborating with residents, businesses, and institutions, Rosedale Development Association promotes safe, connected neighborhoods and supports diversity, healthy living, creativity, and economic opportunity. 

In this video, Erin Stryka, Executive Director of Rosedale Development Association, shares their long-standing goal of building a Community Center. Through different partnerships, including KHF’s Building Power and Equity Partnership, Rosedale has secured local government approval for the center’s location and applied for federal funding, bringing them one step closer to making this vision a reality. 

Watch to learn more about this inspiring journey to create a lasting impact on the Rosedale community. 

KHI is excited to showcase Suburban Balance as part of KHF’s Building Power and Equity initiative. Suburban Balance, founded by LaShawn Walker, supports suburban kids of color in Kansas and Missouri by working to eliminate inequities that create health and educational disparities.

In this video, LaShawn shares the success of their 5th Annual Statewide Equity and Education Summit, which brought together hundreds of educators and nine superintendents to discuss advancing equity in education and ensuring all students have access to the resources they need to succeed.

KHI is excited to highlight Create Campaign, Inc., an organization that is part of KHF’s Building Power and Equity initiative. Create Campaign empowers minority entrepreneurs across Kansas by offering vital resources, microloan programs, and strong community partnerships to help them launch and grow their businesses. 

Join Christina Long, founding President & CEO, as she shares the success of their A La Carte Kitchen Incubator, which provides food entrepreneurs with shared kitchen space and support for business licensing, and highlights their achievement in awarding $1.4 million in microloans to diverse entrepreneurs seeking to build sustainable businesses. 

KHI is pleased to highlight its partnership with The Hub Argentine as part of KHF’s Building Power and Equity initiative. The Hub Argentine is a nonprofit organization that supports the Argentine community in Kansas City, Kansas. Through partnerships and neighborhood relationships, The Hub connects people to individual talents, neighbors, faith, culture, vital health resources, stories and joy.

Watch as Carter Ellis, executive director, celebrates their programs, especially the community market, which evolved from a small food pantry with a few shelves into a two-room, free grocery store where people can shop for food.

KHI highlights Advocates for Immigrant Rights and Reconciliation (AIRR), a Kansas City, Kansas, organization dedicated to empowering and uplifting the voices of the immigrant community. AIRR provides tools for advocacy through leadership opportunities and partnerships with other nonprofits and community members. 

Samantha Calderon, communications consultant for AIRR, emphasizes their mission and impact, spotlighting the Joint Language Access Campaign. Along with KC Tenants, they successfully lobbied for improved language access in Kansas City. 

 AIRR is also a partner of the BPEP initiative. 

Spotlight: Norton Regional Health Foundation

KHI is proud to highlight the partnership between the Norton Regional Health Foundation and the Norton Correctional Facility. 

Caryl Hale, executive director of the Norton Regional Health Foundation, shares how their grant work with Blue Cross Blue Shield Pathways, the Kansas Arts Commission, and the USDA utilized an untapped resource—Norton Correctional Facility—opening possibilities with art and addressing the food gap through community engagement. 

Spotlight: Kansas Black Farmers Association

KHI is privileged to partner with the Kansas Black Farmers Association (KBFA) as part of KHF’s Building Power and Equity (BPEP) initiative. 

Founded in 1999 by farmers from Nicodemus, Kansas, KBFA aims to support farm operations and develop agricultural markets. Its mission is to preserve the legacy of Kansas minority farmers through education, promotion of agricultural lifestyles, and niche product development. 

Listen as Dr. JohnElla Holmes, CEO and president, shares stories about the assistance and opportunities available through grants and partnerships with KBFA. 

Spotlight: Emporia Spanish Speakers

KHI proudly highlights Emporia Spanish Speakers, a BPEP initiative whose mission is to broaden understanding and acceptance of diverse community groups by expanding knowledge of the Spanish language and culture. 

LeLan Dains, director of Visit Emporia, discusses the partnerships and programs that help create a welcoming community supporting language inclusion, diversity, and access to information and opportunities for Emporia’s Spanish-speaking residents. 

Spotlight: SENT Topeka

KHI is pleased to partner with SENT Topeka as part of KHF’s Building Power and Equity (BPEP) initiative. 

SENT, which stands for Strengthening & Equipping Neighborhoods Together, is a nonprofit, nonreligious organization dedicated to the holistic transformation of neighborhoods through loving relationships and strategic development. 

Listen to Johnathan Sublet, SENT founder and interim executive director, as he discusses the new Southside Filling Station in SE Topeka and other methods of supporting under-resourced areas in the community. 

Spotlight: Omni Circle Group

The Kansas Health Institute is excited to partner with the Kansas Health Foundation (KHF) to share the stories of nonprofit organizations in KHF’s Building Power and Equity (BPEP) initiative. 

 Hear from Michael Odupitan, CEO of Omni Circle, as he discusses how their organization is empowering individuals to grow personally and professionally, while also driving positive change in their communities. 

Spotlight: Thrive Allen County

The Kansas Health Institute had the opportunity to interview Lisse Regehr, president and CEO of Thrive Allen County, for our Health on the Plains podcast. Check out this clip from the episode to learn more about Thrive Allen County’s incredible efforts to celebrate those who often go unrecognized. 

 Want to learn more about Thrive Allen County? Listen to the full episode.