Second Quarter 2025 WAU Email Newsletter
- WAU
- Jun 30
- 5 min read
Updated: Jul 2
The second quarter started a bit slow, but we stayed very busy May to June, with graduations and other events.
April 1-3: Two WAU Board members attended 'Propel Workshop', learning about donor cultivation and stewardship at NonprofitGO in Wichita, Kansas. This program was made possible for WAU by NonprofitGO in partnership with Wichita Foundation (WF). WAU President attended a 2-day Leadership Transformation Grant (LTG) Community gathering at Kansas Leadership Center (KLC) in Wichita, Kansas, April 1-2. Both programs helped us to build capacity within our organization at no cost to WAU, yet very informative. Thanks to WF and KLC for the sponsorship.
April 4: WAU General Meeting in person
April 5: WAU members attended a retirement celebration for an outstanding Cameroonian who has done a fantastic job working for the state of Kansas for several years as well as serving his community here in the US and in Cameroon where he has a nonprofit doing development work for his community there.
April 11: WAU Strategic Planning Task Force met virtually to continue developing a strategic plan for the organization. Discussed a program for schools: elementary school and Butler college. The goal for the school program is to help reduce gaps in mentorship and material supplies for students where possible.
April 17: WAU President was invited to meet with Timbers Admissions and Activity Coordinator of the Cerebral Palsy Research Foundation at Timbers Apartments, Paula Milam to discuss the social and exposure needs for her residents who are not mobile. Milam works hard to bring different experiences to her residents. Some of the residents are students at Wichita State University. We will revisit to see if we can plan for a program for the residents in the future. We discussed possible activities as playing in door table games with them, could be games that are new to Americans. We could also make a presentation on a topic that can be educational to them.
April 22: Two WAU Board members (Dr. Dan & Dr. Daisy) had a meeting with Butler County Community College to explore a partnership during the college's annual program where international students are welcomed. WAU is planning to be part of this program so that new students can know that the organization exists here in Wichita, what we do, how we can be reached and how we can help. We are looking to provide counselling and mentorship, as well as being a resource where possible.
April 24: Was World Fair Event at Washington Elementary School. The school invited WAU to perform African dances and to provide food for a table dedicated to the continent of Africa. Each continent represented in the school provided food and participated in cultural performances. WAU was not able to participate in the cultural performances for Africa this time but was able to donate African food (chapati and mandazi).
April 25: WAU Strategic Planning Task Force met virtually to continue with programming.
April 29: WAU attended a meeting coordinated by Love Schools at Woodland Health & Wellness Magnet Elementary School. This was a week prior to Teachers appreciation week. WAU donated some supplies for the teachers appreciation week. The other partner in the meeting was Kansas Health Foundation (KHF). KHF handled other needs for the teachers appreciation week.
May 2: Was WAU General meeting. Started discussing Theme for this year's annual celebration/event on August 30th.
WAU President had a meeting with a Nutritionist contracted with K-State Sedgwick County Extension to discuss the possibility of partnership to provide a cooking and nutrition class for people in our community, especially those that are new including refugees.
May 6: WAU met with the administration of Washington Elementary School at the school to discuss the needs of African refugee/newcomer students. WAU will start a mentorship program for the African students beginning this fall. We will also mobilize some supplies including backpacks, shoes, socks etc. and help with language translation during school registration.
May 13: WAU Strategic Planning Task Force had a virtual meeting.
June 6: WAU General meeting discussed the upcoming WAU 12th annual celebration/event. At the end of the meeting, we recognized graduates. Each graduate was awarded WAU Certificate for excellence in education and leadership development, presented by WAU education committee.
Romi W. Roberts (Vocational Certificate - now working in Law Enforcement) & Kevin R. Sims (Graduated from High School). With Parent (center).
June 7: WAU attended Cameroonian cultural event as a sponsor. This allows us to interact with the community and to support the African Country Associations. Three Executive officers, one board member and four members represented the organization.
June 9: Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc in partnership with WAU and two other organizations had a ribbon cutting ceremony for Delta books Little Library at Roseline's International. This is the only location with Delta book box (Little Library) in the northeast Wichita area. The books are free and meant for black children to help them get interested in reading so as to excel in school. Make sure to stop by the store to get some books for your kids to read this summer. We are honored that Delta decided to partner with WAU on this much needed initiative in our community.
June 11: We received good news from Kansas Heath Foundation (KHF) about an application WAU had submitted for the Hunger Free Kansas Grant. The application was approved and we will soon start mobilizing families and students/individuals in our community who may benefit from WAU Food Security program funded by the grant. On July 25, two WAU members will attend a Hunger Free Kansas Grantees gathering at Kansas Leadership Center.
June 21: WAU participated in the activities of the World Refugee Day event by the International Rescue Committee, at their offices, outside. WAU was one of the organizations that set up tables to serve the refugees that came to celebrate. This was a well-organized event. Food and refreshments were provided for everyone. Refugees came out and had a great time. We all had a great time. Baila Wichita provided a free ballet dance lesson which was icing on the cake.
June 27: WAU was invited by IRC Executive Director, Wichita, Yeni Silva-Renteria, as a partner organization, to attend IRC's 2nd gala. Two WAU Executive officers and two Board members attended. The stories told during the event were a reminder that the journey to America, for refugees is hard and even after they get to America they are faced with so many challenges the first couple of months and years. With resilience things get better and success stories emerge.
June 29: WAU Board met at University Congregational Church, Wichita at 1:00 PM. This was the first meeting with officers in office; Board Chairman and Vice Chairman/Secretary. 7 of the 8 board members were present at the meeting. The meeting discussed guidelines for a good board, what is expected of a board member, ethics and future meeting dates for 3rd and 4th quarter meetings in 2025.
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