Wichita State News: Community

Public forum focuses on citizen journalists

It's a powerful movement. Every day, social media platforms are gaining momentum, changing the way news is reported and delivered, as well as how citizens view the world around them. Every day, citizen journalists emerge and contribute to our knowledge of the community.

That's the focus of "Citizen Journalism: The Fifth Estate," an interactive discussion at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 10, in 203 Rhatigan Student Center at Wichita State University. The public forum is free. Refreshments will be served.

The forum will explore the role that blogs, Facebook, Twitter and other social media have alongside mainstream media, as well as what citizen journalists need to do to be successful.

"This is exciting stuff in exciting times," said Molly McMillin, president of the Kansas Professional Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists. "The world benefits from more news coverage and information. We want to help people who practice journalism do it accurately, ethically and fairly and give them the basic tools to contribute to the growing trend."

Panels and panelists include:

Ron Sylvester, interactive reporter for The Wichita Eagle -- an overview of the rise of citizen journalism and the ethics of doing it.

Randy Brown, executive director of the Kansas Sunshine Coalition for Open Government and senior fellow at WSU'S Elliott School of Communication -- open government issues surrounding citizen journalism.

Lou Heldman, distinguished senior fellow in the Elliott School -- successes around the country and how you can use citizen journalism to find the news.

Find out more about training for citizen journalists and the SPJ's Citizen Journalism Academy at www.spj.org/cja.asp.

KMUW launches StoryCorps visit with open house

KMUW 89.1 Wichita Public Radio will celebrate the first day of StoryCorps operation in Wichita with an open house from 5-7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 22, at the Wichita-Sedgwick County Historical Museum, 204 S. Main.

The public is invited to meet the StoryCorps facilitators and KMUW personnel, and tour the mobile booth that will reside between the museum and Fidelity Bank for the month-long project. Food and beverages will be provided by Larkspur Restaurant and Grill.

StoryCorps is a project to record the nation's stories by bringing soundproof recording booths to communities in America. Community members can accompany relatives – or other loved ones – to conduct broadcast-quality oral history interviews with the guidance of a trained facilitator.

At the end of each 40-minute session, participants receive a CD of the interview, and a second copy becomes part of an archive housed at the Library of Congress.

The presence of StoryCorps in Wichita is an opportunity for communities in south central Kansas to be part of the largest oral history project in the United States. Selected interviews are broadcast each Friday on KMUW's "Morning Edition." Interviews are also accessible at www.storycorps.net.

Local sponsors of StoryCorps include The Grove, Fidelity Bank, Wichita–Sedgwick County Historical Museum and Larkspur Restaurant and Grill.

Grant will transform Wichita State's teacher education for urban schools

Wichita State University has been awarded a $1 million grant, renewable for five years to total more than $6 million, from the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) for a program that advances teacher preparation for urban education.

Funds for development of the Urban Teacher Preparation Program (UTTP) at WSU come from the DOE's teacher quality partnerships grant program.

Sharon Iorio

"This grant will transform teacher education at WSU," said Sharon Iorio, dean of the WSU College of Education and project director for the UTTP.

Addressing the growing need for specially trained teachers in urban school districts such as Wichita's, the grant will help WSU partner with Wichita Public Schools and its early childhood education partners at The Opportunity Project and possibly another local agency to provide high quality, integrative, comprehensive preparation for urban education.

"Our partnership with The Opportunity Project is going to be very rewarding," said Iorio, "because it will be the first time in Kansas that our WSU students will work, at the site, alongside early childhood professionals in a residency program."

Wichita's public school district enrolls a diverse student body of approximately 50,000; of those students, 68 percent are designated as economically disadvantaged.

Through the UTPP, WSU education students can receive elementary and secondary preparation for urban schools and participate in a teacher residency program for early childhood special education.

WSU is among 28 universities nationwide to be granted teacher quality partnership grants for urban teacher training programs to improve instruction in struggling schools.

Gary L. Miller

"This grant affirms the position of the College of Education as a national leader in developing and deploying effective models of teacher education," said Gary L. Miller, WSU provost. "We are extremely proud of the faculty's commitment integrating their programs with our partners in USD 259 and other school districts in our region."

Kim McDowell, assistant professor of curriculum and instruction at WSU, co-wrote the grant with Terry Behrendt, senior fellow for research; Sheril Logan, assistant dean of education; and Shirley LeFever Davis, associate dean of education. Behrendt and McDowell are co-principal investigators with Iorio.

The UTTP's core curriculum for all levels of concentration will focus on urban education and diverse student needs, paying close attention to the literacy skills of students in high-need schools.

"Upon completion of the UTPP pre-baccalaureate program," said McDowell, "candidates will possess the knowledge, skills and dispositions from the integration of pedagogy and research-based practices to work effectively in an urban setting. Many of the candidates will have learned to teach in the same work environment where they will be employed."

The program will prepare UTTP students to be licensed in their chosen content area, McDowell said. In addition, they will have the skills and knowledge necessary to receive an ELL endorsement in teaching English-language learners.

Candidates in the teacher program will be rigorously selected and intentionally matched with a well-qualified classroom teacher for mentoring. The partnering agencies will collaborate on the design and implementation of the program, including curriculum, implementation and evaluation/assessment of the program's effectiveness.

Knight Foundation awards $2.1 million to build research lab

The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation will help diversify the South Central Kansas economy by providing $2.1 million to the newly created Center of Innovation for Biomaterials in Orthopaedic Research (CIBOR).

The grant will help build a composite prototyping lab that will use aviation technology to develop and manufacture medical devices.

This is the foundation's second major grant to CIBOR, which is a partnership of Via Christi Regional Medical Center and Wichita State University. Incorporated earlier this year, CIBOR received a major grant from the Kansas Bioscience Authority, which recognized it as a noteworthy Center of Innovation.

"Knight Foundation recognizes the center's potential to transform the regional economy by building on our strengths – composite manufacturing – to create new opportunities for workers and businesses," said Anne Corriston, Knight Foundation's Wichita program director. "It just made sense to make this investment in our future."

The grant builds on Knight's previous investments in Wichita to train the local work force and fortify the economy. It will create a laboratory to transform medical devices like stretchers, braces, surgical tables and gurneys by making them stronger and lighter using composites. In seven to 10 years, the center hopes to patent new knee and hip replacements made from composites.

"Our vision is twofold: an improved quality of life for orthopedic patients and new career opportunities for local workers," said Paul Wooley, chief operationa office of CIBOR.

For more information about Knight Foundation's investments, go to www.knightfoundation.org/wichita.

'Shocker Fitness' gaining speed

The best ideas are often those borrowed.

That's the case with Steve Rainbolt's "Shocker Fitness with Coach Bolt" -- a community workout program patterned off of Lawrence's "Dog Days Fitness."

"I was up there visiting last summer and heard about 'Dog Days'," said Rainbolt -- Wichita State's Director of Track and Field. "I went out and had a work out with like 400 people at Memorial Stadium, and I thought 'we could do this in Wichita."

And it's caught on. From 30 people last September to 175 heading into the 10-week summer session, representing a wide range of ages and athletic ability.

"Everybody goes at their own pace," Rainbolt said. "If they can't handle some of the intense stuff that we do, then they got a little bit slower. We've got them all the way up into their 70's here. And all the way down to junior high age."

Read full story.

Come tell your story during national StoryCorps event

StoryCorps, a new initiative to record the nation's stories in sound, is coming to Wichita Monday, Oct. 19 – Sunday, Nov. 15.

The event is an opportunity for communities in south-central Kansas to be part of the largest oral history project in the United States.

In anticipation of the event, there will be a planning meeting for community groups that want to take part at 7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 6, in 107 Devlin Hall on the Wichita State campus.

RSVP by calling (316) 978-6789 or go to info@kmuw.org.

StoryCorps is sponsored by National Public Radio, KMUW 89.1 and affiliated with the Library of Congress. It was established to create an oral history of regular citizens, allowing everyday people to preserve personal stories for their own families and for future generations to hear.

Participants reserve an hour-long recording session at the traveling StoryBooth to interview someone they know – loved ones, friends or members of their community. At the end of the session, the participants receive a CD copy to take

home, and, with their permission, another copy is archived at the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress.

For more information, go to http://www.storycorps.net.

Wichita State University offers classes for veterans

For many of us, algebra is not something we'd volunteer to sit through. But not for three men. "I think everyone should take advantage of it," said Benjamin Guest, "if they can."

He and his fellow classmates proved themselves in the Service. Now, they're proving themselves in School.

"I've been out of school now for over 30 years," said Army veteran Terrence Barnes. "I plan on enrolling in Wichita State, and there's a lot of things that I have forgotten."

These men are taking advantage of Wichita State's Veterans Upward Bound program. It offers refresher courses -- from algebra to English Composition, even Spanish. Those classes get veterans prepared for going back to class.

"And we all know the next step will help you become better financially," said Curriculum Coordinator James Holland, "will help you support your family better, gives you that self satisfaction as a person."

Read full story.

Scottish Rite gala to aid WSU Speech-Language-Hearing Clinic

More than 2,200 people with communication disorders received services last year from the Wichita State University Evelyn H. Cassat Speech-Language-Hearing Clinic. Many were children in need of help with speech and language disorders.

Thanks to the Kansas Scottish Rite Foundation, which formed a Rite-Care™ partnership with the Speech-Language-Hearing Clinic in 2001, intervention has been possible for numerous children who otherwise might not have been able to receive the services needed to become successful communicators.

The Wichita Scottish Rite provides a significant amount of financial support for clients receiving services at the WSU clinic, said Laurie Hughey, director of the clinic.

One of the ways the Scottish Rite supports the clinic is through an annual fundraiser that combines champagne, chocolate and live and silent auctions. The sixth annual Champagne and Chocolate gala will be at 6:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 10, at the Scottish Rite, 332 E. First St. N. in downtown Wichita.

Tickets are still available at $40 for individuals or $75 for couples, and can be purchased through the Scottish Rite by calling (316) 263-4218. They can also be purchased at the door.

"The funds raised at Champagne and Chocolate allow the clinic to provide services to more than 100 children each year," Hughey said. "Our partnership with the Scottish Rite continues to grow stronger, allowing more children to have a chance to improve their speech and language skills, which will in turn give them the best chance for success in school and life."

The clinic has a long-standing history of serving children and adults with communication disorders from the greater Wichita metropolitan area. Its mission always has been two-fold: (1) to educate students to become the best speech-language pathologists and audiologists that they can be and (2) to provide the best services possible to individuals with speech-language and/or hearing needs.

Wichita Radio Reading Service hosts mini-golf tournament

The Wichita Radio Reading Service is hosting its 7th Annual Mini-Golf Masters Tournament Saturday, Oct. 4. Tee off time for the fundraising event is 10:30 a.m. Two courses will be reserved for use at All-Star Sports Entertainment East, 1010 N. Webb Rd.

Plan now to join in for a few fun-filled hours of golf and gifts. Donuts will be provided for breakfast and pizza for lunch. Participants receive event T-shirts, compete for best individual and team scores, best costumes and other prize categories.

Teams are needed for this year's event. Sponsor a team or form your own to play. Sign up your family, friends or co-workers and join WRRS for a great cause. Team registration is $100 for a team of 4 members. All teams are encouraged to dress in costume to compete for most creative team presentation.

Contestant prizes include airline tickets, Walt Disney World passes, get-away evenings at regional hotels and casinos, jewelry, gift certificates and more.

The Wichita Radio Reading Service has provided free, closed-circuit radio broadcast readings of local and national newspapers, magazines and novels to more than 3,500 listeners in South Central Kansas for more than 30 years. WRRS listeners are area citizens who suffer from vision, physical or cognitive handicaps that limit their ability to read the printed word. Your support will help WRRS provide a vital connection for many area communities.

For more information about the event or to volunteer to help, call WRRS at (316) 978-7053.