Wyandotte County is one of the most ethnically diverse counties in the country. The exact ranking is debatable, depending on which organization one obtains their information. This is both an opportunity and a challenge for community members and leaders. Health is one of the main concerns in ensuring equity for all.
KCKCC is a smoke-free campus.
Free coffee is available to all at the Center for Equity, Inclusion, and Multicultural Engagement and will return post Covid at the Learning Commons, where you need to “bring your own mug.”
Blue’s K.C. Food pantry - housed at the Counseling and Advocacy Center in the Jewell Student Center Building on the main campus and the Technical Education Center. All currently enrolled KCKCC students from all campuses can access the food pantry. It offers a variety of canned, boxed, refrigerated, frozen, and fresh food, as well as household and personal hygiene products. Monetary and/or food donations are welcome. For more information contact the Counseling and Advocacy Center at 913-288-7640. Donate Now
County Health Rankings & Road Map – Annual report from The Robert Woods Johnson Foundation in collaboration with the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute. Ranks counties within each state by both health outcomes and health factors and gives the county an overall ranking. The purpose is to build awareness, provide data, engage local leaders and empower community members to improve health outcomes in their communities. Wyandotte County always ranks near the bottom.
2021 County Health Ratings Overview
A Giving Grove of 13 fruit trees was planted in 2016. We had our first harvest in the fall of 2019. Located just south of the Flint Building on the main KCKCC campus. Wyandotte County has a food insecurity rate of 18 percent compared to the Kansas average of 16.5 percent. Food insecurity happens when people have limited or uncertain access to adequate food. Giving Groves such ours help to alleviate some of that food insecurity and help community members live a healthier lifestyle. If visiting the grove, please do not pick the fruits. A majority of harvested food is donated to students in need. Volunteers needed to water, harvest, and more! To volunteer, contact Dr. Melissa Gentzler, KCKCC Assistant Professor of Biology at mgentzler@kckcc.edu.
Green Works in Kansas City Since 2007, they have empowered Kansas City's future leaders to care for our environment, contribute to our economy and create healthy communities through hands-on environmental science, outdoor experiences, service projects, career exploration, workplace training and experience.
Harvesters Our local organization to feed the hungry. Donate Food, Time, Money, and/or Voice. Their web site has a Food Assistance Locator for churches, charities, food banks, centers, and other organizations and locations.
KC Healthy Kids Established in 2005 to remove barriers to health habits for communities across the region, they work in schools to promote youth leadership, mental health and early education. Staff help community partners to strengthen our regional food system and improve access to healthy foods. Local food and food policy are improved through several initiatives including Kansas Food Action Network and the Greater Kansas City Food Policy Coalition. In addition, they work to establish Complete Streets and Safe Routes for Kids.
KCKCC Campus vegetable garden. Serves as a classroom for students in nutrition classes, who are able to enjoy some of the produce they helped produce, with much food also donated to charity. Located on the south side of the Flint Building on the main campus. Volunteers needed! Contact Dr. Melissa Gentzler, KCKCC Assistant Professor of Biology at mgentzler@kckcc.edu
The Resilient Activist Based in Kansas City, builds resilience, optimism, and hope in response to the impact of the climate crisis. Offers community-building programs, activities, stories and articles that offer inspiration, self-care, and mental health support. Programs are immersed in deep nature-connection and designed to nourish positive ecological change.
Veterans Center – this center is located in the Deli area on the main KCKCC campus. Their mission is to increase access to and success in postsecondary education for military, veterans, wounded warriors, and their families by providing a broad range of services, fostering peer connections and coordinating community support.
Wyandotte County Ethnic Festival The mission of this “human family reunion” is to Reclaim our Common Humanity. The annual event held each April in the Field House on the main KCKCC campus provides food, educational booths, performances and entertainment, highlighting the strength in diversity of the county. There is also a children’s corner. To volunteer, contact Dr. Curtis Smith, KCKCC retired professor at cvsmith6405@gmail.com.
AirQ Workplace Partnership - we are a member of this service provided by the Mid America Regional Council (MARC). Newsletters are emailed to the entire campus community twice monthly during ozone season (March – October.) Information provided includes tips to reduce air pollution, local workshops, and more. Many of these actions also save money. Ozone alerts are also sent out. Air pollution is a leading cause of asthma, and asthma, along with lead poisoning, are the two principal health concerns for children in Wyandotte County.
Air Now is your one-stop source for air quality data from the federal government. Type in your zip code to obtain air quality data where you live. Also has a wildfire guide information page and a fire and smoke map in real time.
CleanAirNow is dedicated to improving air quality in Kansas City and the surrounding region, particularly in communities with vulnerable populations affected by disproportionate environmental health burdens and to preventing and mitigating disease caused by air pollution. Their service area consists of the KC and Topeka metro regions in addition to Brown County, which includes the reservations of all indigenous tribes in Kansas. They are an equitable coalition and partnership of multiple groups, including academia. Their work includes empowering youth and adults, monitoring air pollution, citizen science and other research, as well as education and internship opportunities for college students and others.
State of our Air –Data is analyzed from official air quality monitors in order to complete this annual report by the American Lung Association which has been published since 1999. Cities, counties, and metropolitan regions are graded on ozone and (24-hour) particle pollution and receive either a pass or fail for annual particle pollution. Groups at risk are also listed. The air quality has improved in Wyandotte County over the last several years, although it still ranks among the lowest of the counties for which monitoring data is available. The Kansas City Metropolitan Region air quality worsened for 2019 over 2018.
Summary of the Clean Air Act (Environmental Protection Agency) Provides an “easy read" of the Act, covering the comprehensive federal law regulating air emissions from stationary and mobile sources. The Act seeks to protect human health and the environment from emissions that pollute ambient, or outdoor, air and addresses the prevention of pollution and protection of the ozone layer.
Kansas Water Office is the water planning, policy, coordination, and marketing agency for the state, including development and implementation of a state plan for water resources management and conservation. Collects and compiles information pertaining to climate, water and soil and establishes guidelines as to when conditions indicative of drought exists.
Summary of the Clean Water Act (Environmental Protection Agency) provides an “easy read" of the Act, which aims to prevent, reduce, and eliminate pollution in the nation's water. Establishes the basic structure for regulating discharges of pollutants into the waters of the United States and regulating quality standards for surface waters.