Month: October 2021

Federal grant of $4.7 million announced for Wyandot Center

The Wyandot Center for Community Behavioral Healthcare will receive a $4.7 million federal grant to support mental health services, according to U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids, D-3rd Dist.

The $4,762,035 grant will be to increase capacity and provide trauma-informed treatment to youth and adults in Wyandotte County, particularly in schools.

Also announced was a $927,512 grant to Johnson County Mental Health Center for its re-entry project, supporting the mental health needs of incarcerated persons as they prepare to re-enter society, according to Rep. Davids’ office.

The grants from the Department of Health and Human Services are designed to help community health centers recover from the pandemic and restore services for individuals with mental health needs, according to Rep. Davids’ office.

“Mental health is health, a fact that has become even clearer as the pandemic has taken its toll on all aspects of our communities’ wellbeing. These grants will help address the strain on our health care system and ensure Third District residents are healthy and safe,” Rep. Davids said. “I’m glad to support the mission of both of these important organizations.”

“We are very grateful to have received this grant and are very appreciate of Rep. Davids’ support,” said Randy Callstrom, president and CEO of Wyandot Behavioral Health Network. “We are seeing people with significant anxiety and depression at least in part due to the pandemic. And as students have returned to the school buildings, we are seeing the impact that COVID has had on children in Wyandotte County.”

KCKCC Art Gallery to hold two events in October for Hispanic Heritage Month

by Kelly Rogge, KCKCC

The Kansas City Kansas Community College Art Gallery is preparing for two events in October to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month.

The first event is a part of the college’s historical mural program to further educate the community on local history. The event will be from 11 a.m. to Noon Oct. 12 in the Lower Jewell student area. Everyone is welcome to attend.

The speaker is Gene T. Chávez, a renowned historian, author and community leader, who will be sharing information from his book “Mexican American Baseball in Kansas City.”

Chávez’s historic work has brought a spotlight on the rich history of Kansas City. He also led the Hispanic history featured in the KCKCC and Wyandotte County Historical Mural and has two other exhibitions in the Kansas City area – the Smithsonian Institution Traveling exhibit “In the Barrios and the Big Leagues,” on display at the Kansas City Museum and “Connection Communities across State Lines: Mexican American Fast Pitch Softball Leagues” exhibition, on display at the Wyandotte County Historical Museum.

The first 30 people to register will receive a free taco to support the Hispanic Scholars Fundraiser. In addition, two signed books will be given away at the event. Registration is at https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=Bm3EI-PF40K4SHY-uwLmrdWn1X0UJGlDumSuiVQiu_lUNDNCVEJLTTUxUlVXWUdDSVpGV0Y1Q09FRy4u.

The second event relates to the “Cultura” exhibition, which celebrates Hispanic artists in the Kansas City region. “Cultura” is currently on display in the KCKCC Art Gallery, Room 2346, until Oct. 21. The exhibition can be viewed from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday or by appointment.

Curator Vania Soto is well known for her intricate and colorful murals, which can be seen throughout the Kansas City area. The KCKCC art collection features three of Soto’s original murals.

The group of artists featured in “Cultura” includes Baldemar Rivas, Chico Sierra, Emily Alvarez, Kristie-Lynn McGathy, Luis Merlo, Naomi Apodaca, Nicolas Ortega and Ysabel Santacruz. The exhibit’s closing reception will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Oct. 14, and the artists will be present to discuss their works.

For more information on either event, the KCKCC Art Gallery or to schedule a private appointment, contact gallery coordinator Shai Perry at [email protected].