The impacts of Trump’s administration have continued to wreak havoc on our nation’s stability and continues to threaten the civil liberties and protections of everyone
Our county is blessed to have many grassroots organizations who are best suited to serve their respective communities We had to think long and hard about how we can best serve in our continuous path for justice for Wyandotte County
Read this newsletter to learn how our path for justice revealed a need healthcare advocacy.
We mentioned in our last issue that we were going back to the drawing board after our relationship with the DOJ was no longer productive or safe for to bring reconciliation in the aftermath of Golubski’s suicide. We started by looking at the framework we built as a pathway to systemic reforms that victims of Golubski, black women, would have greatly benefited from
ROGER GOLUBSKI WITH ATTORNEY, PHOTO BY KCUR
CONNECTINGWITH NEIGHBORHOODS Justice for Wyandotte
It didn’t take long to realize that many of our focus areas surrounded healthcare As it often has since the inception of our organization. From the beginning, Justice for Wyandotte’s leading charges was to be able to provide therapy and mental health resources for those fighting injustices Our local health partners have always been welcoming to this framework as a pathway for Wyandotte County to move forward However, Trump’s administration continued to be a looming threat of any solution we developed. It was clear that build these systemic solutions we would need to make sure that our county’s health was adequately funded and supported after a sweeping wave of federal cuts threatens the health of millions of Americans
We have seen firsthand the need and benefits of accessible local healthcare for our most vulnerable populations The sustainability of our community is reliant on a healthy and safe environment This belief led to the creation of the Healthy 33% campaign
Read the story on the next page to learn how this has become the blueprint to safeguard our public health in Wyandotte County.
We are proud to collaborate with the Argentine Betterment Corporation this year to help train their Block leaders on how to effectively organize around issues they are noticing in their neighborhoods
Neighborhood groups are the cornerstone of a strong community. You can see the difference in neighborhoods with an active and organized group and neighborhoods without that network
Some neighborhood groups in Wyandotte County were created as a crime watch groups through our KCKPD community policing unit leaving them with no real plan for how to improve their neighborhoods outside of crimestopping. We would like to see that change.
For more information on how your neighborhood group can engage with Justice for Wyandotte, pleaseemail info@justiceforwyandotteorg
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HEALTHY33:ABLUEPRINTFOR SAFEGUARDINGPUBLICHEALTH.
As our federal government advanced Trump’s “big beautiful bill” in recent sessions gutting healthcare funding, eliminating essential grants, and slashing billions from Medicaid Wyandotte County quietly entered a crucial phase of its 2026 budget planning Amid headlines about infrastructure and next year’s World Cup, a critical conversation was missing: how will Wyandotte County respond todevastatingfederalcutstohealthcare?
Wyandotte County has long struggled with being proactive in its approach to social services As advocates for our healthcare community, we knew it was time to sound
the alarm. These cuts will have a real and direct impact on thousands of residents especially those reliant on Medicaid and Affordable Health Act (AHA) coverage
Our first step was to assess the immediate vulnerabilities within our Public Health Department and Area Agency on Aging But as we took a step back to look holistically at Wyandotte County’s health ecosystem, a deeper imbalance became clear.
Community Services a budget segment that covers public health, aging, parks & recreation, transit, economic development, and neighborhood resources represents
Justice for Wyandotte
the part of government that invests directly in people In contrast, other budget sections such as public safety, public works, courts, and general government are largely focused on administration and property protection.
What we found was striking: the "people’s budget" is not being funded in a way that reflects our values or our needs Public safety alone consumes the largest portion of the budget, yet the data shows a direct correlation between rising public safety
costs and an underfunded healthcare system Consider this: over 85% of inmates in our county jail are either unhoused or on mental health medication
This is not just a budget issue it’s a policy failure
We believe it’s time to begin a bold conversation about equity in funding We propose reallocating the budget so that Community Services and Public Safety receive equal investment each at a healthy 33% of the total budget. This would acknowledge the role that social support systems play in community safety, public health, and long-term prosperity
We’re calling on our community partners to join us in this effort Let’s work together to ensure that the Unified Government of Wyandotte County doesn’t just respond to a crisis it leads with vision, compassion, and commitment to its people.
Justice for Wyandotte invites you to learn more about a Healthy 33% and join us as we shape what this budget framework could look like for Wyandotte County. You can learn more and sign up for updates on this initiative by visiting wwwjusticeforwyandotteorg/healthy33
If you'd like to help our efforts to reform the policies and conditions that endangered Black women in Kansas City, KS, please consider contributing to our Solidarity Fund
Find ways to give by visiting www justiceforwyandotte org/give
