A Multimodal Approach
Community Resources and Involvement
Learning Beyond the Classroom
These opportunities and resources are mostly located in the Wichita, KS, area, but they might be helpful for guiding a search for similar organizations and projects in your community if you are not located in Wichita.
From the Horizontes website: Horizontes "is an artist-driven, community engagement art project that aims to connect two underrepresented neighborhoods in north Wichita, the predominantly Latino NorthEnd and historically African American Northeast neighborhoods, which are both physically and psychologically separated by large grain elevators along the industrial corridor.
Through a door-to-door community engagement campaign and the creation of large-scale murals, we hope to catalyze a participatory vision for the future of north Wichita."
From the IRC Wichita website: "The International Rescue Committee provides opportunities for refugees, asylees, victims of human trafficking, survivors of torture, and other immigrants to thrive in America. Each year, thousands of people, forced to flee violence and persecution, are welcomed by the people of the United States into the safety and freedom of America. These individuals have survived against incredible odds. The IRC works with government bodies, civil society actors, and local volunteers to help them translate their past experiences into assets that are valuable to their new communities. In Wichita and other offices across the country, the IRC helps them to rebuild their lives.
Campus Resources
Wichita State University offers many services and involvement opportunities for its diverse population of students. Some key resources include the Office of Diversity and Inclusion, the Writing Center, and the Office of Student Success.
Online Communities
If you have difficulty finding a community in which you feel comfortable interacting in-person, there are always opportunities to get involved online. You might look into supporting movements like Black Lives Matter and Indigenous Rights through online communities on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. You can also network with individuals, research, crowdfund, or publish your work online. Don't let the tag of "slacktivism" get you down--any work you do for yourself or others is meaningful, no matter where or how you do it.