25th Annual Human Service Summit Registration Closes Soon!!!!

Be sure to join us next month for the 25th Annual UCS Human Service Summit on September 16! Together, we’ll celebrate 25 years of connection, learning, and collective impact while looking ahead to the work we can continue doing together to build communities where everyone belongs and thrives.

The 25th Annual Human Service Summit would not be possible without the generous support of our sponsors. We extend our sincere gratitude to the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, Health Forward Foundation, Sunderland Foundation, Mid-America Regional Council (MARC), Julie Brewer, and Karen W. for investing in this milestone celebration and supporting 25 years of connection, collaboration, and community impact.

Register today!

Made for This: Creating Space to Rest, Reflect & Grow

On July 31, UCS Sister’s Circle gathered for Made for This: Cultivating Purpose Together, an afternoon centered on purpose, reflection, connection, and intentionally creating space to care for ourselves and one another.

Dr. DeAngela Burns-Wallace invited attendees to think about purpose not simply through what we accomplish, but through how we care for ourselves, embrace rest, and sustain ourselves while doing meaningful work. Her reminder that “rest is leadership” encouraged us to rethink what it means to lead and recognize rest and reflection as essential parts of the journey. As one attendee shared, “I loved that the speaker was relatable and that she gave valuable nuggets that I can relate to and apply to my everyday life.” Each attendee also got a copy of her latest book “Made for This.”

The afternoon continued with a hands-on potting activity led by Charla with WellsGrow, who creatively connected planting, nurturing, and growth with mental and emotional well-being.

One participant reflected, “I loved Charla’s energy and how she connected potting with mental health. I can appreciate that.” The activity gave attendees an opportunity to slow down, create, connect, and consider what we each need to thrive.

The afternoon was a meaningful reminder that being made for this doesn’t mean we are meant to do it alone. Purpose is cultivated through rest, reflection, community, and relationships that help us continue to grow.

Finding Common Ground on Housing Across Kansas

Housing affects every part of our communities—from family stability and economic opportunity to workforce development and community vitality. Yet conversations about housing too often focus on what divides us rather than where we can work together.

Through the Kansas Housing Advocacy Network (KHAN), we’re taking a different approach. Following a statewide survey of Kansas landlords and renters, KHAN is bringing people together to better understand the challenges facing our rental housing market and identify opportunities for shared solutions. While landlords and renters may experience these challenges differently, the survey revealed that they share many of the same concerns.

Over the past several weeks, KHAN has hosted housing roundtables in Topeka, Overland Park, and Garden City – we’re headed to Wichita in early September too. Each roundtable brings together local landlords, renters, housing providers, community partners, and local government to review the survey findings, identify common ground, and help shape collaborative solutions that work for landlords, renters, and communities alike.

These conversations are helping us move beyond “sides” and toward a shared goal: a stronger, more stable housing system for communities across Kansas. The full statewide survey results, along with a summary of what we heard through the roundtable conversations, will be shared at this year’s Kansas Public Policy Forum on November 18, helping inform our collective priorities and opportunities for action moving forward.

Save the Date for the 2026 Kansas Public Policy Forum