PPMC News

May is a month filled with significant observances, promoting awareness and appreciation for a rich tapestry of cultures and the importance of mental health. If you’re looking to engage with these, here are a few resources for each:

Dive into the vibrant history of Juneteenth, a significant day for freedom and celebration.

It’s June and that means Pride Month! If you want to learn more or engage with Pride Month, here a few resources and events that you might be interested in:

Happy Women’s History Month! There is still time to celebrate and honor the accomplishments, challenges, and joys of women. Need some ideas? We’ll get you started:

This year’s Black History Month theme from the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH) is Black Resistance. Historically, notable efforts from Carter G. Woodson, Langston Hughes, Zora Neale Hurston, Ida B. Wells, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Septima Poinsette Clark, Fannie Lou Hamer and Rosa Parks have sought to protect and advocate for Black life.

Nearly two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation was issued by President Lincoln, the enslaved people of Galveston, Texas were informed of their freedom. The celebration that followed this significant day in Galveston, sometimes called “Emancipation Day,” has now become the day we recognize as the end of legal slavery in the United States.

The Governor’s Commission on Racial Equity and Justice (CREJ) came into existence on June 24, 2020. The intent was to study “issues of racial equity and justice across systems in Kansas,” with the first priority being a focus on policing and law enforcement. Recently CREJ started hosting a webinar series to review their work and discuss their recommendations with stakeholders in Kansas. Recommendations of the coalition could lead to local policy and systems changes for local government leaders.

The following articles range in perspective. These are articles we loved or learned from, they are local and national, or they've made us think or provoked discussion. What did you learn this Black History Month? We'd love for you to share with us!

We've committed to educating ourselves. What's next? Let's remind ourselves, and one another, to check in on our commitment to improving diversity, systemic racism, equity, and inclusion in our communities.