Topeka Business Network is an industry-exclusive networking group that is committed to giving of their time and talents and to share in the benefits of the combined strength of individuals becoming a team. Topeka Business Network is a passionate group of business owners and employees who take their business and growth seriously.

Jayhawk Area Agency is dedicated to helping older adults in Shawnee, Jefferson, and Douglas counties maintain independence and quality of life. Since 1976, JAAA has provided vital services that support aging adults, caregivers, and the broader community. Through comprehensive resources, expert guidance, and personalized assistance, JAAA ensures seniors receive the care they need to thrive at home and beyond.

Comprehensive Services for Aging Adults

JAAA offers a wide range of services designed to meet the diverse needs of older adults. Their nutrition programs, including CHAMPSS Meals and the Kansas Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program (KSFMNP), provide seniors with accessible, nutritious food options. In-home services help individuals remain in familiar surroundings, while other essential programs ensure seniors receive support tailored to their specific circumstances.

Resources for Caregivers and Community Engagement

Caregivers play a critical role in supporting aging loved ones, and JAAA provides resources to make their responsibilities easier. Programs such as Care 4 All and case management services offer guidance and relief. JAAA also provides extensive opportunities for community members to get involved through volunteer programs, helping to strengthen connections between seniors and their surrounding communities.

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Our efforts are inspired by the artist Lois Curtis, a Black woman with multiple disabilities who, after spending nearly twenty years in incarcerated and institutional settings, singlehandedly spearheaded efforts that led to the US Supreme Court’s passage of the Olmstead Decision in 1999.  Regarded by many as the “Brown vs Board of Education” for the disability community, the Olmstead Decision affirms that people with disabilities have the right to live independently.  However, Lois continued to experience institutionalization as a result of systemic racism within the disability community that created barriers to her accessing community based services and supports.  It wasn’t until nearly ten years after Olmstead that she was able to create her own support network and move into her own apartment.

​Also coming to the Lois Curtis Center:

-Coworking Space
-Artist in Residence
-Special Events
-Laundry Facilities
-Multi-Use Sports Field
-And more to come!

She died on November 3rd, 2022 but her legacy lives on at the Lois Curtis Campus, where we are committed to bridging the gaps that Lois and countless other multiply-marginalized people with disabilities experience in the US.

​Lois Curtis Campus is disabled/Brown/Black/woman/LGBTQ/direct support professional led.

​Lois Curtis Campus is solar powered.

Let’s Help, Inc. is committed to working with individuals and families so that the cycle of poverty is broken and self-sufficiency is attained. Founded in 1969, our not-for-profit organization provides a variety of programs and services for the community and collaborates with other public and private agencies  for greater effectiveness. Our programs reach tens of thousands of people each year and involve hundreds of volunteers. Together, we are breaking the cycle of poverty… and building a better community.

•     We believe in the dignity and worth of every person

•     We believe every person can make a positive difference in the lives of others

•     We believe that with motivation and opportunity people will reach their potential

•     We believe that as a community we are responsible for the well-being of our neighbors

“We are committed to building a better community by inspiring hope, promoting self-sufficiency and breaking the cycle of poverty one person at a time.“

The Kansas Black Leadership Council formed out of a desire to ensure the voice and the position of the state’s African-American community are clearly heard on issues we find important. We envision a Kansas where African Americans are able to overcome systemic level inequalities and thrive. We will accomplish this through research, education, voter engagement, and advocacy.

Our plan is to strongly advocate for issues we feel are of  primary importance to our community and to lend our voice in support of other issues and organizations, where our interests intercept. 

It’s a united approach for Kansas’ Black community.

• The main goal of the Kansas Black Leadership Council is to advocate for the adoption of policies on a state and local level that positively impact Kansas’ African-American community.   

• Like other groups, our platform will be forwarded to elected officials, and the media.  It will also be posted online, with back-up literature for everyone to read and understand.

• The position of Black Kansans will be clearly communicated.

• Help us bring our issues and concerns to the forefront. 

KBLC seeks partners, allies and champions who are willing to help reimagine a new ecosystem for Black Kansans.

Resources