KANSAS COMMUNITY CONVERSATIONS
A One Heart Project Series on Supporting
Justice-Involved Youth
Three Cities. One Conversation.
Wichita | Topeka | Lawrence
Where the Conversation Started
From September 14 to 18, 2026, One Heart Project gathered community members, local leaders, and public officials in Wichita, Topeka, and Lawrence for the Kansas Community Conversations series. Over lunch and two hours of honest discussion, guests helped shape how Kansas supports justice-involved and at-risk youth.
To Everyone Who Showed Up
Across Wichita, Topeka, and Lawrence, you pulled up a chair and joined a conversation that is not always easy to have. Guests, community leaders, and public officials shared what they see in their communities, what is working, and where young people are still falling through the cracks.
Thank you for coming with openness and honesty. The questions we asked will not be answered in a single lunch, but they moved forward because of the people in these rooms. Kansas youth who are ready for a second chance have more voices speaking up for them today
The Conversation
In each city, guests joined a focus-group style discussion led by One Heart Project's Director of Advancement, following a welcome from Founder and CEO Steve Riach. Together, we explored five themes:
Current Landscape: what support looks like today, and what is working
Gaps & Barriers: where second-chance pathways fall short
Role of Intermediaries: how organizations like One Heart Project bridge youth, institutions, and resources
Cross-Sector Collaboration: how educators, courts, lawmakers, nonprofits, and families can work better together
Policy & Priorities: what Kansas should prioritize next
One Heart Project helps justice-impacted youths in Kansas
The Topeka Capital-Journal
In the News
Wichita groups collaborate with One Heart Project to support at-risk youth
KWCH 12 News
One Heart Project finding ways to strengthen youth in our community
Fox 43 News
One Series. Lasting Impact.
Each of these conversations took place in a single room, but what was shared there carries forward. Your perspectives will help inform the next stage of One Heart Project's work in Kansas, as we continue to walk alongside justice-involved and at-risk youth and build stronger pathways for their future.
We are grateful for every voice that joined us, and we are already looking ahead to what comes next. If you were part of these conversations, thank you. If you could not make it this time, we would love to have you at the table next time.
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About One Heart Project
One Heart Project equips justice-involved and at-risk youth with the skills, tools, and healthy relationships they need to build a future worth believing in. Through structured curriculum, mentoring, and life skills training, we walk with young people ages 13–19 as they work toward real, lasting change.
Across all program sites, only 12% of youth who complete the program reoffend — far below state and national averages.