Safe Streets Wichita

09/07/2026

09/07/2026

This Labor Day, we honor workers by recognizing that labor rights must include the right to prevention science, public health safety, and harm reduction, a truth deeply aligned with the legacy of civil rights trailblazer and labor organizer Rev. Dr. Pauli Murray (www.paulimurraycenter.com/).

Pauli Murray understood that human dignity cannot be compartmentalized, fighting for systemic solutions to protect vulnerable communities. In modern occupational health, applying prevention science means moving away from reactive measures. Instead, we use data-driven, proactive interventions to stop workplace injury, chronic pain, and substance use disorders before they start, while using public health frameworks to support workers where they are.

We genuinely honor the workforce by integrating prevention science and harm reduction into labor rights:

- Proactive Prevention Science: Identifying upstream workplace stressors, like unsafe physical demands, unpredictable hours, and burnout, and altering environments to reduce the risk of injury and self-medication.

- Protecting Job Security: Treating mental health and substance use as public health realities rather than disciplinary failures, so workers can access care without fear of termination.

- Providing Life-Saving Tools: Equipping staff with on-site naloxone (Narcan) training, fentanyl test strips, and mental health resources as standard, everyday workplace safety protections.

- Centering Worker Voices: Following Murray’s ethos of radical inclusion by collaborating directly with employees to design prevention and safety policies that reflect their actual lived experiences.

Safe streets is for the people by the people, so of course we move beyond empty praise and build a true community of protection for the people who keep our society running.

09/07/2026

IT IS SCORCHING OUTSIDE, LET’S LOOK OUT FOR OUR NEIGHBORS!

Extreme heat is a life-threatening crisis for our unhoused neighbors who have no escape from the sun. We need to look out for each other for the next week or so, and a simple act of care can literally save a life.

Here is how you can support right now:

- Donate: Send a donation via Venmo to right now. Every dollar goes directly toward buying water, ice, electrolyte packets, and critical cooling supplies for people on the streets.

- Hand out ice water: Keep a cooler of cold water bottles or sports drinks in your car to hand out to people you pass today.

- Pass out cooling essentials: If you have extra umbrellas, hats, sunscreen, or cooling towels, get them into the hands of someone who needs them.

- Share cooling center info: If you see someone struggling in the heat, let them know where the nearest air-conditioned public spaces or cooling stations are. (It is tough living in an unprepared city that refuses to do enough. This is where community advocacy is critical. Reach out directly to your local representatives and make public posts on social media demanding the city step up and do better)

Please share WHH posts, check on your neighbors, and drop a donation to if you can. Stay safe out there.

It's currently about 101° and I'm about to head downtown to check on folks in this heat and hand out some water, electrolytes, and snacks. Keep in mind that today the day shelter, library, and all other city "cooling centers" are closed and will also be closed tomorrow for the holiday. The buses also do not run on Sundays and will not be running tomorrow for the holiday.

This situation leaves people basically nowhere to go to escape the heat during the day. And I've heard from multiple of my unhoused neighbors that they are constantly being forced to leave shady spots on the sidewalk by the police, even though they're not offered anywhere else to go.

We are all tired of summer at this point, but imagine if you didn't have any way to escape the heat, go into an air conditioned space whenever you wanted, get a drink of water when you were thirsty, or even have clothes to protect you from the rays of the sun. That's what many of our neighbors are dealing with on a daily basis and any small act of kindness you can provide towards them will go a very long way.

So please keep water and snacks in your car if you can and look out for your vulnerable community members. We can take care of each other! ❤️💧

09/06/2026

Invest in something that restores your body, mind, and well-being. A professional massage offers lasting benefits: It melts away chronic muscle tension, dramatically lowers your stress hormones, improves circulation, and boosts your overall energy. Treat yourself to real self-care. Book your next massage with Alexandra Simone at Safe Streets Wichita and give your body the relief it actually needs!

Source: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1BrefjJPKs/?mibextid=wwXIfr

09/06/2026

Ready to build some life-saving skills? Prairie Wolfe Jiu Jitsu is hosting a self-defense class on Sept. 18!

Bring a partner, a roommate, a sibling, or just bring yourself. They are a great community and plenty of welcoming people to pair up with.

Mark your calendar and come learn something new!

Bring a friend. Flip a friend. All while learning how to get out of a bad situation.

This beginner-friendly class is built for duos of all kinds: best friends, siblings, coworkers, roommates, couples – come laugh, move, and learn real self-defense together.

No experience needed. Just show up ready to have fun and do what you're comfortable with. (Don't worry, we'll keep the flipping to a minimum)

And hey, if you don't have a friend to bring, you can borrow one of ours. 😉

Register here: https://pwjjfriendnight.eventbrite.com

09/05/2026

09/04/2026

Office Closure & Upcoming Event Notice

Our office will be closed from Friday, September 4th through Monday, September 7th.If you have a scheduled event or a meeting planned, don't worry, those are still happening exactly as planned. We will officially reopen and be back to normal operations at noon on Tuesday, September 8th.

Save a Life Day Proclamation
Join us Tuesday, September 8th at the Wichita City Council meeting for the official Save a Life Day Proclamation.
- Wichita City Hall, Council Chambers (455 N. Main St.). Meeting starts at 9:00 AM. Arrive early for security.

What is Save a Life Day?
Save a Life Day is a public health initiative focused on overdose prevention, harm reduction, and community education. It raises awareness about the opioid crisis, reduces stigma, and provides free Naloxone (Narcan), free medication that can reverse an opioid overdose. Free public trainings and connections to care will be available.

Get Involved
Save a Life Day is Thursday, September 24th. Reach out if you want to be equipped with Naloxone for the event this year. Fill out the Safe Streets Wichita Request Form and select the Save A Life Day, Sept. 24, 2026 option (tinyurl.com/SSW-Host-Naloxone). If you already signed up, we will contact you this upcoming week. Thanks for being life savers!

For immediate resources, stop by the self-serve table at our office or access the 2
4/7 naloxone vending machines at 8901 E. Orme St.



Linktree: linktr.ee/safestreetswichita

09/04/2026

Overdose prevention starts with education. Join Safe Streets Wichita for a FREE public naloxone training! Saturday, September 26 from 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM at 1200 E. Waterman St.

Learn overdose recognition, proper naloxone use, and how to access local resources.

Want to bring this training to your business, bar, or church? Request at the link here: https://tinyurl.com/SSW-Host-Naloxone

“It only takes two hours out of your Saturday afternoon, and if you can save a life that way, then you should get out here and do it.”

09/03/2026

Here we'll look at compassionate overdose response in a digestible ...