District III Newsletter

DAB III Breakfast

When: Saturday, February 27, 2016

Time: 9:00 a.m.-10:30 a.m.

Where: Former Wichita Mall

3984 E. Harry
(Entrance northeast door of MindFire)

Open to the Public

Come enjoy a continental breakfast with your Vice mayor/Councilman James Clendenin and gain a sneak peak of the new library coming soon to Wichita.

Please RSVP by Friday, February 19, 2016 to Teia Wair at [email protected] or 316 303-8030

AARP Tax-Aide helps low- and middle-income taxpayers file their personal income tax returns. Volunteers are trained to assist in filing the 1040 tax form and basic schedules. Taxpayers with complex tax returns are advised to seek paid tax assistance. Electronic filing (e-filing) is offered. E-filing ensures a more accurate tax return and faster processing of tax refunds.

Stop by Colvin Neighborhood Resource Center located at 2820 S Roosevelt or call 303-8028 to schedule appointment.

Rosa Parks Project

February is Black History Month. Black History is American History, and this month we will be engaging in an exciting project to recognize a great American icon whose story helped us in our journey to equality: Rosa Parks.

Wichita Transit, the City Communication Department and the Office of Community Services have partnered to sponsor activities to help 5th and 6th grade students learn the story of Rosa Parks while at the same time learn important skills in research and communications.

This pilot program will encourage 5th and 6th graders at L'Overture, Gordon Parks, Brooks, Spaght and Mueller elementary schools to create a poster or write an essay to teach others about Rosa Parks and the significance of her accomplishments.

Winners in both categories will be chosen from each school.

We will also be wrapping a bus to replicate the bus Rosa Parks rode in December 1955.

The Rosa Parks bus will be in service for one year. In addition to regular route service, the bus will be available as an educational tool and to support diversity initiatives in the community.

We plan on unveiling the winners of the poster and essay contest and showcasing the newly wrapped bus on February 25.

Filling the Gap- F ree Lunches for Children

Partners for Wichita, Congregations, Organizations and Individuals throughout the City of Wichita collaborate to serve free nutritious lunches to children and youth during Spring Break, March 14 ^th -18 ^th during the

noon hours. For additional information and

distribution locations Click here.

Wichita Police Department - Homeless Outreach Team

In February 2013 the Wichita Police Department established a Homeless Outreach Team (H.O.T). The team works in partnership with a variety of homeless service providers and organization, by connecting homeless individuals with the proper resources to assist in their journey to self-sufficiency.

The H.O.T team is responsible for responding to 911 service or emergency calls regarding homeless individuals. Instead of arresting the individuals the H.O.T team focuses on ways to help them overcome homelessness by referring them to shelters or additional resources.

The H.O.T team strives to ensure homeless individuals are on the road to success. No matter what obstacle the homeless person is facing the HOT team helps locate resources that provide opportunities for the homeless to overcome their challenges. The H.O.T team found that they were the missing link in building the homeless connection with case managers and/or submitting referrals for the Wichita Sedgwick County Housing First Program. They also envisioned offering other services, which could help people experiencing homelessness be successful. These services include, but are not limited to, transportation to shelters or substance treatment centers, case management, assistance with employment, and diverting minor criminal charges away from the courts in lieu of homeless services.

Working with the Housing First program and other homeless providers has allowed the HOT team to witness tremendous accomplishments. Since February 2013, the Homeless Outreach Team has:

Helped more than 400 people move from homelessness into permanent or transitional housing
Reunited more than 150 people experiencing homelessness with family members or friends willing to take them in
Helped more than 300 people experiencing homelessness obtain shelter
Made contact with people experiencing homelessness more than 7,000 times.

The program also aids in cleaning the environment by working with local homeless, homeless providers, churches & the City of Wichita's Public Works Department to help clean up the camping areas utilized by homeless individuals.

The program is modeled after Colorado Springs award winning H.O.T program in which they won the 2010 Herman Goldstein Award by dramatically reducing their homeless population by helping homeless off the streets and into homes and shelters. Wichita H.O.T has been nationally recognized by NBC News and the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness. Wichita H.O.T also recently received an award from the Wichita Crime Commission.

Volunteer Your Time to Change a Child's Life

Every day, children in our community are removed from their homes and placed into temporary foster care due to abuse or neglect. CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) volunteers come alongside them in their darkest hour and help them to find safe, permanent homes where they can thrive. Each volunteer advocate is thoroughly screened and specially trained to be a powerful voice for th e children's best interests. They are ordinary community citizens who do extraordinary things for o ur community's

most vulnerable children. Today, in Sedgwick County, there are 1,200 children in foster care who have a right to a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA).

You do not have to be a lawyer or social worker to be a volunteer. We welcome people from all walks of life. We are simply looking for people who care about children and have common sense. As a volunteer, you will be thoroughly trained and well supported by professional staff to help you through each case. As a CASA volunteer, you are empowered by the courts to help make this dream a reality. You will not only bring positive change to the lives o

f these vulnerable children, but also their children and generations to come. And in doing so, you will enrich your life as well. CASA volunteers are appointed by judges to advocate for the best interests of abused and neglected children in court and other settings. The primary responsibilities of a CASA volunteer are to:

Gather information: Review documents and records, interview the children, family members and professionals in their lives.
Document findings: Provide written reports at court hearings.
Appear in court: Advocate for the child's best interests and provide testimony when necessary.
Explain what is going on: Help the child understand the court proceedings.
"Be the glue": Seek cooperative solutions among individuals and organizations involved in the children's lives. As one volunteer said: Be the glue that connects the pieces in a complicated child welfare system.
Recommend services: Ensure that the children and their family are receiving appropriate services and advocate for those that are not immediately available. Bring concerns about the child's health, education, mental health, etc. to the appropriate professionals.
Monitor case plans and court orders: Check to see that plans are being followed and mandated review hearings are being held.
Keep the court informed: Update the court on developments with agencies and family members. Ensure that appropriate motions are filed on behalf of the child so the court knows about any changes in the child's situation.

U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kansas): "CASA is recognized in Kansas and across the country as a model for watching over and protecting children in the court system. What makes CASA so successful is highly motivated volunteers and their ability to devote the time and attention needed to help one child at a time. The advocates and volunteers for CASA make a lifelong difference for children."

Marc Bennett, Sedgwick County District Attorney "CASA: has been a constant in the lives of many children who have known only inconsistency".

To learn more about how you can join the CASA movement
click here

Reported 3rd Busiest Year on Record

Total Passengers up 2.46% over 2014

Wichita Eisenhower National Airport 2015 passenger numbers increased by 37,679 over 2014, a 2.46 percent increase airport officials reported in January of 2016. Officials said the 1,571,348 Eisenhower passengers in 2015 amounted to the third busiest year on record.

"We are very pleased that passengers have responded to the conveniences and amenities of our new terminal and our air service," said Valerie Wise, Air Service Manager. "With the capacity reductions, our flights have been pretty full; otherwise, we would have seen more growth."

The previous highest record years occurred in 2007 (1,596,229) and 2008 (1,619,075).

For December, total passengers decreased 2.11% compared to December 2014. The decline can be attributed to weather conditions that caused 39 canceled flights that month. Also, there were 6% fewer seats available compared to December 2014.

clicking here!

CLEAN SLATE DAY

Wichita Bar Association

2016 Clean Slate Expungement Day

Friday, March 4, 2016, 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

The Wichita Bar Association Clean Slate Day is a pro bono service project designed to offer people who are economically disadvantaged the chance to have certain eligible criminal convictions expunged through a simplified process at no cost. Clean Slate Day will be Friday, March 4, 2016, from 9:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. at the Sedgwick County Courthouse, 525 N. Main, 5th Floor, Wichita, Kansas 67202.

If you are interested in participating in Clean Slate Day, come to the Sedgwick County Courthouse any time between 9:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. on Friday, March 4, 2016. After filling out the Expungement Personal Information Form, a background check will be performed to see if you are eligible for a no-cost Clean Slate expungement. If it is determined that you have eligible convictions that can be expunged. Clean Slate volunteers, including volunteer lawyers, will assist in preparing and filing the expungement paperwork. You will then appear before a judge who will decide if the expungement should be granted. Read More

Click here to find up-to-date information regarding street maintenance in your area.

Need to complete an Application, Review, Interim Report or Report a Change? Stop by Colvin Neighborhood Resource Center to see the on-site benefit worker or call 303-8082

Mon-Fri 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Find out about Parks and Recreation Winter Classes by clicking here!

Resume building, resume reviews, job search tools and 1-on-1 assistance is available at Colvin Neighborhood Resource Center Please call 303-8028 for more information

District III Advisory Board and Neighborhood Associations

The District III Advisory Board meets the first Wednesday of the month at the WATER Center, 101 E. Pawnee, Wichita, KS 67211. Meetings begin at 6:30 p.m. For a listing of the 2016 meeting schedule, click here.

To find DAB III agendas and minutes click here