Activate! Advocacy Training: Local Organizations to Join/Volunteer/Donate
- Headmistress Jill Miller
- May 29
- 6 min read
ANIMAL RESCUE
Beauties and Beasts - https://www.beautiesandbeasts.org/
Rescues Death Row animals from the shelter and places them in foster homes that will provide them the love and care they need to become happy, healthy, adoptable animals.
Kansas Humane Society - https://kshumane.org/
Helps abandoned and homeless animals, with pet adoption, spay/neuter services for the pets of low-income families, community outreach, volunteer opportunities, animal rescue, pet rehoming, and donations.
Wichita Animal Action League - http://www.waalrescue.org/
Volunteer-based licensed rescue and nonprofit organization, advocates for all abused, neglected, and abandoned animals in the Wichita, Kansas area
CHILDREN/YOUTH
Child Advocacy Center of Sedgwick County - http://www.cacsckansas.org/
Promotes the safety, health, and emotional well-being of abused children and their caregivers.
Girls on the Run Heart of Kansas - https://www.girlsontherun.org/
Provides fun, evidence-based programs that inspire all girls to build their confidence, kindness, and decision-making skills.
ICT SOS - http://ictsos.org/
Acts as a liaison between specific local professional groups who work with trafficked youth and the Wichita volunteers who seek ways to be involved in finding solutions to fight sex trafficking.
Progeny - https://www.progenyks.com/
A youth/adult partnership focused on reimagining the juvenile justice system and reinvesting in community-based alternatives.
CULTURAL AWARENESS
The Kansas African American Museum - https://www.tkaamuseum.org/
To serve as the cultural hub for innovative collaboration, familial and historic storytelling, thought-provoking exhibits, highly sought-after collections, and interactive, continuous learning centered around the African American experience.
DOMESTIC/SEXUAL VIOLENCE
Jana’s Campaign – http://www.janascampaign.org/
Reduces gender and relationship violence by delivering educational programs that prevent domestic and dating violence, sexual violence, and stalking.
Wichita Area Sexual Assault Center – http://wichitasac.com/
Works with individuals and communities through comprehensive services and education to create a culture of intolerance for sexual violence and an atmosphere of healing for those impacted by it.
ECONOMIC/LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT
Community Operations Recovery Empowerment (CORE) - https://www.coreofwichita.org/
Creates an empowered community focused on economic development, academic success, civic engagement, and family involvement within our community and educational system in collaboration with other organizations and individuals.
Create Campaign, Inc - https://www.createcampaignks.com/
Activating urban entrepreneurs in Kansas. To serve as the hub of minority business development, growth, and innovation in Kansas.
Heartland Wichita Black Chamber of Commerce - https://www.wichitachamber.org/membership/member/heartland-black-chamber-of-commerce/
Creates and leverages communal capital to aid members in developing their enterprises: to establish a pool of current and useful information that members can draw from and to bring forth strong leadership within the business community.
Proud of Wichita Chamber of Commerce - https://www.proudofwichita.org/
Making the business case for inclusion by building a movement that grows prosperity for Wichita’s LGBTQ professionals, allies, organizations, and entrepreneurs.
SCORE Wichita - https://www.score.org/greaterwichita
Educating entrepreneurs and encouraging the formation, growth, and success of small businesses in our community through free counseling and no-cost or low-cost educational workshops and webinars.
Wichita Urban Professionals - https://www.ictup.org/
Developing a rising network of black leaders to improve the urban community in Wichita.
EQUALITY
American Civil Liberties Union of Kansas – https://www.aclukansas.org/en
A non-profit organization dedicated to protecting the civil rights and liberties of all people living in Kansas.
Equality Kansas, South Central Kansas -https://www.facebook.com/groups/65764975944
Determined to end discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
National Organization for Women - http://www.wichitanow.org/
Takes action to bring about equality for all women, and works to eliminate discrimination and harassment in the workplace, schools, the justice system, and all other sectors of society; secure abortion, birth control and reproductive rights for all women; end all forms of violence against women; eradicate racism, sexism and homophobia; and promote equality and justice in our society.
NAACP, Wichita Branch – https://wichitaksnaacp.org/
Secures the political, educational, social, and economic equality of rights in order to eliminate race-based discrimination and ensure the health and well-being of all persons.
United WE - https://united-we.org/
Tackles barriers to women’s economic growth and unlocks women’s economic potential through research, policy solutions, and civic engagement. It helped get 220 women get appointed to civic leadership roles.
LITERACY
Storytime Village - https://www.storytimevillage.org/
Inspires a lifelong love of reading for underserved Kansas children from birth to age eight with the support of parents and community.
Read to Succeed - https://unitedwayplains.org/read-to-succeed/
Focuses on helping children read at grade level by the end of the third grade. Through a partnership with USD 259 – Wichita Public Schools, volunteer reading coaches are matched with at-risk students at local elementary schools.
HEALTH
Black Women Empowered in Wichita - https://www.facebook.com/BWEIW.INC/
Provide information and resources needed to heal the mental health issues that impact Black Women on a daily basis.
Kansas Appleseed Center for Law and Justice - https://www.kansasappleseed.org/
Dedicated to the belief that Kansans, working together, can build a state full of thriving, inclusive, and just communities. It works toward access to affordable food and safe and secure housing.
Kansas Birth Justice Society – http://wichitabirthjusticesociety.org/
Provides services to Black, Latino, and Indigenous families to improve the chances of survival and good long-term health for birth givers and infants.
Kansas Food Bank – https://kansasfoodbank.org/
Provides hunger relief throughout an 85-county service area, safeguarding the health, well-being, and productivity of food-insecure Kansas families and their children, as well as senior citizens, the homeless, the chronically ill, and all who live in poverty.
National Alliance on Mental Illness - http://www.namiwichita.org/
Dedicated to improvement in the care, treatment, and quality of life of those living with chronic mental illness and their families.
POLITICAL ACTION
5 Calls - https://5calls.org/
Makes it easy for you to reach your members of Congress and make your voice heard. Provides issues research, scripts to clearly articulate a progressive position, and phone numbers for the most influential decision-makers.
Defend Democracy ICT – https://www.facebook.com/groups/514900263703905
A community-driven, nonviolent movement committed to fostering civic engagement, open dialogue, and collective action across Wichita and Kansas. Two standing rallies Saturday and Monday at noon till 1:30 at Douglas and Broadway
Goods Unite Us- https://www.goodsuniteus.com/
Helps inform your purchasing decisions by revealing the causes and politicians you’re supporting when you shop with certain brands and companies.
Leading Kansas – https://leadingkansas.org/
A nonpartisan entity dedicated to holding elected officials accountable to the people, not their party or special interests.
League of Women Voters of Wichita Metro – https://www.lwvwichita.org/
Encourages the informed and active participation of citizens in government in a democracy where every person has the desire, the right, the knowledge, and the confidence to participate.
Root the Power - https://www.rootthepower.org/
A group of civically-engaged young people who motivate others to register to vote and be active in elections, with conversations with the public and people in office.
Women for Kansas - http://womenforkansas.org/
Recruits, motivates, and educates women who will actively participate in the process of electing moderates to public office, who will advocate for moderate policies.
PUBLIC POLICY
Kansas African American Affairs Commission - https://kaaac.ks.gov/
Devises strategies to address public policy concerns of the African American community and serves as a conduit for programs, grants, research, and policy advice for state and local organizations while addressing needs for change that are unique to the African American Community in the state of Kansas.
Websites
How to Contact Elected Officials https://www.usa.gov/elected-officials
Vote 411 – Created by League of Women Voters to find out more about how and when to vote, and a voting guide to help you be better informed on the issues we’re voting on. http://www.vote411.org/
Volunteer Kansas – Find volunteer opportunities to help nonprofits in a variety of interests and skills. https://www.volunteerkansas.org/
Meetup.com – Find groups so you can do more of what matters to you. https://www.meetup.com/
Articles
What Can I Do? - https://bit.ly/WhatCanIDoICT
By Jill Miller, Headmistress and the author of Never Finished: Practical advice for Modern Women to inspire your fierce, authentic self, with suggestions of safe, simple actions to make a difference where you can.
How to Support Black Lives Matter Without Money
15 Ways You Can Help Fight Human Trafficking https://www.state.gov/j/tip/id/help/
Here's a printable copy for you to download.