Prior to 2004, Wichita – like
many mid-sized communities – struggled to come
together around many community activities. Leaders involved
in Visioneering Wichita looked around and realized the
community was in the midst of change – from jobs
to income to diversity of our population to education,
recreation and even the arts.
The following provides some ideas of what we were facing.
JOBS
Manufacturing jobs, which had sustained
us over many generations, were changing. In fact, we were losing
our jobs that paid the most and replacing them with private
sector non-manufacturing jobs that made less than half.
Our per-capita income was falling below the
national average, especially among minority populations.
Our workforce supply was dwindling and demand
for different kinds of workers would exceed what we could
provide in only a few years.
EDUCATION
Education reflects a diverse community,
particularly in Wichita’s school district. Graduation
rates are respectable, but when compared with the suburban
districts and with our state, our city schools don’t
fare as well.
ARTS & RECREATION
While our arts and recreation activities
receive high scores in general from those who rank these
things (like the Places Rated Almanac Millenium Edition),
we still lag behind comparable communities.
