Neighborhood Safety Means Communication & Cooperation
Making our communities safer has been important to Sunflower from its beginnings in 1991. People need to feel safe in their own homes and neighborhoods. In 1997 Sunflower created Hot Spot Cards that made it possible for people to report illegal activity anonymously.
More recently, Sunflower chapters in Wichita raised the issue of racial profiling. Meetings have been held with Wichita Police Department leaders asking for an end to the practice. In October 2005 Sunflower launched a campaign to install cameras in police cars to provide an accurate record of both citizen and police actions. In August 2007 City Council approved funding for eight dashboard cameras. Sunflower has learned that there is state and federal money available to expand the program to equip more cars.
Hispanos Unidos Chapter and the Youth Action Group, concerned about high crime and dark streets in north midtown, won a dozen new street lights in the area. Placement of lights and tree trimming/bulb replacement so existing lights will be more effective is also an issue.
Sunflower serves as a bridge between people who live in low and moderate-income areas and law enforcement officers who are taking a neighborhood approach. Mutual mistrust must be overcome if a more cooperative spirit is to prevail. Sunflower has been a place where Hispanics, African Americans, and Caucasians can talk with police officials.
In Southwest Kansas, Sunflower members in Ulysses are working to create a storm shelter for 300 people who live in or near a mobile home park and have no safe place to go when there is a tornado.
For neighborhood safety issues in northeast Wichita, contact:
J.J. Selmon, Organizer
316-264-9972, ext. 12
For Hispanic issues contact:
Emira Palacios, Democracy School Director
316-264-9972, ext. 17
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