Study defines which challenges to tackle in Fairmount Neighborhood Study defines which challenges to tackle in Fairmount Neighborhood

Nearly 39 percent of Fairmount neighborhood residents have a household member who is unemployed and more than 47 percent indicate underemployment in their household. More than 43 percent cite access to transportation as a barrier to employment.

Part two of a resident survey of the historic Fairmount neighborhood near Wichita State University, conducted by the Public Policy and Management Center at Wichita State, reveals the community's needs and concerns related to economic and social inclusion, access to health care and quality of life improvements. The findings from this part of the study will be presented from 1-2 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 16, at Fairmount Coffee Co., 3815 E 17th St N.

The needs assessment is a continuation of a community-wide survey that began with an assessment of residents' perceptions of their community, which was presented last month in Fairmount Park. The third and final part of the survey will examine the connection between the neighborhood and Wichita State University, and its findings will be presented in December.

"Two-thirds of the responding Fairmount residents indicate that someone living at the residence is interested in developing new skills to improve employment opportunities," highlights lead researcher Mark Glaser.

According to Glaser, Fairmount residents' employment concerns connect with the university's plans to strengthen the local economy. He explains, "The 'place-based' economic development model employed by WSU has been enhanced through a merger with the Wichita Area Technical College to form a continuum of education. The resulting training opportunities, when coupled with a local labor pool that is prepared to embrace change, potentially makes this region attractive to investments by industry."

The Shocker Neighborhood Coalition (SNC) has been working alongside residents for the past three years to strengthen the health, safety and vitality of the historic neighborhood. As part of the university's commitment to engaging and supporting the Fairmount neighborhood, President John Bardo requested the comprehensive survey of neighborhood residents with assistance from the SNC to better understand perceptions and needs of the community. Funding from the Kansas Health Foundation provided dedicated resources for staff, community engagement expertise and a support network for WSU to work more comprehensively with the Fairmount community.

"The results from this part of the survey will certainly help facilitate the translation of information into action," says Ted Ayres, director of Community Engagement and Opportunity at WSU, "In the months ahead, we look forward to working with Fairmount residents and the Fairmount Neighborhood Association to create a meaningful blueprint for the development of a sustained grass-roots effort to address the needs identified by the residents themselves, and to offer a plan for improvement in the perceptions and realities of the quality of life in this historic neighborhood of Wichita."

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