Candid Conversations is preserving the voices of Wichita’s communities of color and getting people involved in telling their own stories. The series builds upon positive conversations newly occurring following a police department sponsored community barbeque with local Black Lives Matter organizers. The program aims to build relationships and to foster continued productive conversation from multiple voices in our community on often sensitive issues.

The library’s experience delivering successful humanities programming afforded us the opportunity to join with the Wichita Police Department and organizations representing all parts of the community to present a wide-scoping series of programs focused upon current racial issues. Our past work with many of the groups positioned us as a trusted partner and allowed us to gather of a variety of voices further strengthening our work in the new role of community convener and organizer.

We’ve brought to light sensitive racial issues by providing individuals’ stories as well as research data, statistics and examples of racial profiling from across Kansas. We’ve educated the public on lesser-known instances of discrimination including its effects on voting rights. We highlighted the school district’s efforts in working with police and the courts on crime prevention programs for youth. And throughout, we’ve brought attention to library resources as important, reliable information on these issues.