Justice Together

08/16/2026

🙏 Justice Together was honored to welcome Bishop Carl Kemme of the Catholic Diocese of Wichita to address our Nehemiah Assembly this April!

Bishop Kemme's presence with us marked a powerful moment in the growing relationship between Justice Together and our local Catholic community, as we continue building a unified, multifaith justice ministry to answer God's call to "act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly" (Micah 6:8).

This July, Bishop Kemme hosted a workshop with area priests and laity where we explored Catholic Social Teaching and how its principles — the dignity of the human person, the call to solidarity, and the preferential option for the poor — inform our shared call to do justice. As Pope Leo XIV writes in his encyclical Magnifica Humanitas, solidarity arises when we decide not to remain indifferent to what happens to our neighbor, but instead transform our bonds with one another into paths of sharing and cooperation. We also explored the practice of synodality — journeying together, listening deeply to one another and to the Holy Spirit as we discern how to serve our community. New relationships are forming throughout the diocese as more parishes discover what it means to walk this road together.

We're thrilled to share that Holy Savior Catholic Parish and Christ the King are the first two Catholic parishes to formally join this shared justice ministry — leading the way for what we hope will be many more congregations to come!

📣 In that same spirit of synodality, Justice Together is launching our next listening process — kicking off more than 130 small group listening sessions in houses of worship across Sedgwick County later this month! These conversations are how we discern together what our community most needs, and how we respond.

Are you part of a Catholic parish and interested in getting involved? We'd love to hear from you! Reach out to Justice Together today to learn how your parish can join this growing movement for justice.

👉 [Watch Bishop Kemme's remarks to our Nehemiah Assembly]

08/12/2026

We are honored to be recognized with this year's HumanKind Ministries Golden Rule Award. The Golden Rule was never meant to stay in the realm of individual politeness. It's a mandate for justice. And that's our work.

"Do unto others as you would have them do unto you."

It's one of the oldest moral teachings we know. It is found not just in Christianity, but echoed across nearly every faith tradition. And it's deceptively simple. We teach it to children. We stitch it on pillows. But lived out fully, it's one of the most radical commitments a community can make.

Because the Golden Rule isn't just about personal kindness, it's about how we build our shared life together. If I wouldn't want to sleep outside in the cold of winter or the heat of summer, why would I accept a city where thousands do? If I wouldn't want my kids growing up afraid of gun violence in their own neighborhood, why would I settle for a city where preventable violence goes unaddressed? If I would want a safe, affordable place to call home, then working for that same thing for my neighbor isn't charity - it's just the rule, applied honestly.

That's the lens Justice Together brings to organizing. We're not congregations showing up to hand out charity from a distance. We're neighbors of many faiths putting our beliefs into action by treating our neighbors' housing, safety, and dignity as seriously as we treat our own. That's what it looks like to take "as you would have them do unto you" seriously at the scale of God's call for justice.

The Golden Rule Award honors an organization that embodies the spirit of treating others with dignity and compassion. Through leadership, generosity, and service, they strengthen our community and create opportunities for hope, connection, and lasting impact. Our 2026 Golden Rule Award winner is Justice Together. Join us as we honor them at the 76th Annual Humanitarian Awards Benefit on August 22. Thank you to Cargill for sponsoring this award.

06/26/2026

We were honored to be joined by Council Member Joseph W. Shepard and Council Member Mike Hoheisel at our annual celebration as they updated our ministry on the progress we are making with the Wichita City Council in advancing investment in affordable housing in Wichita.

A packed room at the Justice Together Ministry Celebration.

I’m reminded of the favorite scripture of my dear friend, Kiah Duggins:

“What does the Lord require of you? To act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God.” — Micah 6:8

Justice Together continues to challenge our community to do just that, especially for our unhoused neighbors and those seeking affordable housing. Sometimes that challenge can be uncomfortable, but growth and justice often are. I

Grateful to be in the work with this community.

06/18/2026

The 2026 State of Homelessness in Wichita/Sedgwick County from the Coalition to End Homelessness in Wichita/Sedgwick County says a growing affordability crisis is contributing to an increase in homelessness.

More than one in three households (38%) in Sedgwick County were living paycheck to paycheck, according to United for Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed (ALICE), which represents households that earn above the federal poverty line but "not enough to cover the cost of basic necessities."

The coalition says that since 2020, the number of newly homeless households has grown by 147%. In 2025, 2,077 households experienced homelessness for the first time. Lily O'Brien KAKE has the details: https://www.kake.com/home/new-report-links-affordability-crisis-to-rise-in-homelessness-in-sedgwick-county/article_c99952af-55e4-4095-b68f-0530c70938e6.html?utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook_KAKE_News

06/02/2026

When Bob Nelson heard his pastor talk about a new faith-based social justice coalition in Wichita, he was wary. “I told her this could be dangerous and divisive,” said Nelson, who initially associated justice with revenge or polarized politics. After attending the initial meetings when Justice T...

05/15/2026

People power is moving behind God's call to "do justice". Let's keep the momentum rolling until justice flows down like waters, and righteousness like an ever flowing stream!

Join us for Justice Together Day of Action: Housing & Gun Violence as we hold our officials accountable to acting with urgency on gun violence and affordable housing in Wichita.

During the last week of April, thousands of justice-craving volunteers — many of them affiliated with Great Plains Conference United Methodist churches — gathered in churches, college campuses and hotel ballrooms across Kansas and Nebraska in an effort to make their communities better places during Nehemiah Assemblies.

Although some of the subject matter overlapped, each community was addressing its own problems, such as homelessness, affordable housing, crime, eldercare and mental health treatment.

The six organizations in Lawrence, Wyandotte County, Johnson County, Sedgwick County and Topeka in Kansas and Lincoln, Neb., belong to the Direction Action and Research Training Center, and some were funded by the Great Plains Conference’s Doing Justice Initiative.

The organizations are growing, with plans for a Central Kansas and South Sioux City, Neb., group in the works.

Here’s a look at this year’s assemblies with photo gallery: https://www.greatplainsumc.org/newsdetail/justice-warriors-across-great-plains-gather-to-solve-community-problems-19725605

05/07/2026

FIRST STEP WON – BUT WE'RE NOT DONE. - On Tuesday, the City Council voted YES on the first step of Director Sally Stang's plan to achieve $10 million in braided funding for affordable housing. This moves us closer to the commitments we secured from Councilmembers Hoheisel (at the Solutions Rally) Glasscock, Shepard, & Johnston (at the Nehemiah Assembly).

Now Shepard & Johnston have publicly reaffirmed their support for a standalone housing sales tax by 2027.

Join us on May 27th (5pm outside Council Chambers) for a community wide listening session and speak to the council with a voice so big it must be heard at Justice Together Day of Action: Housing & Gun Violence

Both said, in light of last month’s vote, a possible sales tax must have broad input from Wichitans to ensure that the design and implementation aligns with the community.

05/04/2026

Hi everyone! Today is our LAST CHANCE to submit public comments for affordable housing in Wichita. 🏠

Have you reached out to the City Council yet?

This is a quick reminder that you have until midnight tonight to send a brief comment in support of the first step toward securing $10 million in funding for affordable housing—the Annual Action Plan.

Commenting is easy and only takes a few minutes, but your voice makes a big difference. Let the Council know we’re paying attention to their vote and holding them accountable to the commitments made at the Nehemiah Assembly.

👉 Everything you need is right here:
tinyurl.com/affordablehousingactionguide

Please share and speak up before midnight!

COME TO CITY HALL ON TUESDAY MORNING FOR A DAY OF FAITH AND ACTION FOR HOUSING On January 27, the City Council will hold a special meeting to define funding priorities. Join Justice Together for a Day of Faith in Action at Wichita City Hall (455 N. Main) arrive at 8:00am, prayer vigil 8:30–9:00...

05/02/2026

Councilmember Glasscock told 1,400 people of faith united for affordable housing that his support for a referendum to fund affordable housing depends on "hearing from the community". Let's make sure we keep a united voice so big it must be heard during the community wide listening session on May 27th. Join us at 5:00pm for the Justice Together Day of Action: City Hall 455 N. Main.

District 4 residents, don't miss Councilmember Glasscock's listening session next Saturday, May 9th, 11am at Prairie Homestead Senior Living, 1605 W. May, Wichita. Tell him you support investment in affordable housing for Wichita!

05/01/2026

$10 million annually for affordable housing: We have the plan, we have the votes. Now is the time for follow through.

Watch this 3-min video → then submit a public comment by Monday midnight. Then invite your friends to join you using the event linked here: Weekend email action - Tell Council, "vote 'yes' for housing"