Community Impact Hubs + Champions
Hubs + Champions
Recognize and support community and campus leaders and groups who advance community-engaged scholarship through effective partnerships—serving as conveners (hubs) or advocates (champions) for meaningful collaboration with demonstrated impact.
The CI Hubs & Champions Designation and Recognition Awards aim to:
- Recognize a network of Community Impact Hubs across Kansas that fosters collaboration between KU and local communities with demonstrated impact.
- Recognize Community Champions, including individual community stakeholders, faculty, staff, or students, who are meaningfully impacting Kansas communities and championing opportunities and connections for collaboration with KU.
- Reward innovative efforts that foster campus and community connections for shared learning and impact that amplify the public good.
KU Community Impact Hubs and Champions are nominated by peers across the institution and reviewed through a process led by the Office of Community Impact using criteria grounded in the Carnegie Community Engagement Classification framework, recognizing excellence in community-engaged scholarship, learning, research, and service.
A Community Impact Champion is an individual or group—either from KU or the broader community—who actively advocates for meaningful and impactful community-academic partnerships. KU Community Champions receive a one-time $1,500 recognition award. Designated CI Champions are eligible to apply for the Strategic Impact Partnership opportunity that may be funded up to $5,000 to support continued collaboration through a closed application process for a limited number of funded opportunities.
Those interested in supporting a nomination are encouraged to contact the Office of Community Impact at communityimpact.ku.edu to inquire about the nomination process and/or to request a PDF of the nomination form to view requirements prior to submitting the online application.
Nominate a Community Impact Champion: A Community Impact Champion may be nominated by others or through self-nomination. Complete this Community Impact Champion Nomination Form.
| KU Community Impact Champions | Community Served | Year Designated | About | Impact Outcomes |
| Family Strong Community Collaborative | Southeast Kansas | 2026 | A collaborative initiative between the University of Kansas, community organizations, and public systems focused on improving child and family well-being in underserved Kansas communities. Impact Outcomes: Reduced child maltreatment, foster care involvement and increased access to critical services |
| KC Melting Pot Theatre | Kansas City | 2026 | For more than a decade, KC Melting Pot Theatre has been a valued community partner that provides professional opportunities for KU students and faculty while advancing artistic innovation, cultural dialogue, and community engagement through the development and production of impactful theatrical works. Impact Outcomes: Student internships and employment, faculty apprenticeships and appointments. |
| Leadership Education in Neurodevelopment and Related Disabilities (LEND) | Kansas | 2026 | Interdisciplinary leadership training program dedicated to improving outcomes for individuals with neurodevelopmental and related disabilities and the families who support them. Impact Outcomes: Strengthened statewide networks of support, enhanced workforce capacity and leadership development, expanded advocacy and improved services for individuals with disabilities |
| Multi-Disciplinary Advocates and Researchers Group (MARG) | Kansas City Area | 2026 | Frontiers MARG provides a community engagement network focused on connecting researchers, community advocates, and external partners. Impact Outcomes: Stronger community-academic partnerships, increased participation of underrepresented populations in research, and advancement of health equity and community-informed science. |
| Office of Rural Medical Education | Rural Communities of Kansas | 2026 | KUMC program focused on developing the next generation of rural physicians through immersive educational experiences in communities across Kansas. Impact Outcomes: Enhanced rural workforce development, stronger university-community health partnerships, and increased opportunities for students to serve and learn in underserved areas of Kansas. |
| The Commons | Lawrence, Kansas | 2026 | The Commons convenes researchers, students, practitioners, and community members to engage in interdisciplinary dialogue and collaborative learning that addresses pressing local and global challenges. Impact Outcomes: Collaboration, civic engagement, community capacity, knowledge exchange, and relationship building. |
| The Department of African and African American Studies | Lawrence, Kansas and Kansas City Area | 2026 | African and African American Studies (AAAS) serves as a collaborative hub that brings together faculty, students, campus centers, and community partners to advance educational, cultural, and civic engagement through sustained, reciprocal partnerships. Impact Outcomes: Mentorship, leadership, cultural awareness, public scholarship, collaboration, experiential learning, civic participation, knowledge exchange. |
KU Community Impact Hubs are designations awarded by the Office of Community Impact to recognize strong community-academic partnerships. A hub may be a group, coalition, or physical space that actively engages at least five community partners and two or more different KU units (e.g., centers, departments) that intentionally come together for a shared purpose through a collaborative effort or initiative with already demonstrated impact in and with communities. A designated KU Community Impact Hub may retain its designation over time by consistently demonstrating effectiveness in advancing community impact through sustained community-academic collaboration.
To receive the designation, collaborators must demonstrate effective partnership and a commitment to serving as an active convener for KU and community collaboration. Designated hubs receive $5,000 and become eligible to apply for a Strategic Impact Partnership opportunity funded up to $15,000 through a closed application process. Groups or efforts receiving the Community Impact Hub designation will be notified upon selection and recognized at the KU Community Impact Summit.
The inaugural KU Community Impact Hubs for 2025–2026 have been designated by the Office of Community Impact. The focus of designation for some Hubs is to demonstrate an institutional commitment and recognition of key community-academic collaboratives experiencing funding uncertainties due to changes in federal funding. Aiding coalitions and other collaboratives in maintaining and leveraging resources is both impactful and beneficial to maintaining lasting community impacts. Currently, the designation of Community Impact Hubs will focus on Kansas-based groups or efforts serving in Kansas to support the goal of establishing one or more KU Community Impact Hubs across counties in Kansas.
To nominate a future community-academic collaboration for consideration as a Community Impact Hub, please contact the Office of Community Impact to receive more information about the nomination process and/or to request a PDF of the nomination form to view requirements BEFORE submitting the online application.
Nominate a Community Impact Hub: A Community Impact Champion may be nominated by others or through self-nomination. Complete this Community Impact Hub Nomination Form.
| KU community Impact Hubs | Community Served | Year Designated | Featured Partners | Impact Outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Barton County LHEAT | Barton County | 2026 | Featured Community Partners: Housing Opportunities, Inc., Heart of Kansas FQHC, Sunflower Bank, Way of Central Kansas, Kansas Children's Service League Featured KU Partners: Family Medicine and Community Health, Population Health Impact Outcomes: Stronger cross-sector collaboration, successful initiatives supporting low-income families and older adults, and basic needs and resource access. |
| Bourbon County LHEAT | Bourbon County | 2026 | Featured Community Partners: DCCCA, Community Health Centers of Southeast Kansas, Fort Scott Middle School, Community Christian Church, Mapleton City, Featured KU Partners: Family Medicine and Community Health, Population Health, Population Health-Wichita, School of Business. Impact Outcomes: Stronger cross-sector collaboration, rural community partnerships, and improved access to resources. |
| Crawford County LHEAT | Crawford County | 2026 | Featured Community Partners: Livewell Crawford County, Community Health Centers of Southeast Kansas, Crawford County Public Health Department, Arma Library, & Local residents Featured KU Partners: Family Medicine and Community Health, Population Health- Wichita, School of Business. Impact Outcomes: Stronger cross-sector collaboration, rural partnerships, expanded community resources, and enhanced mental health response capacity. |
| Finney County LHEAT | Finney County | 2026 | Featured Community Partners: LiveWell, Community Church, Finney County Health Department, School District Featured KU Partners: Family Medicine and Community Health, Population Health, REACH, COPE, ARISE-EPSCoR Impact Outcomes: Stronger cross-sector collaboration, nutrition, physical activity, breastfeeding, and basic needs and resource support. |
| Ford County LHEAT | Ford County | 2026 | Featured Community Partners: Kansas Family Advisory Network (FAN), Catholic Charities, Dodge City Public Library, Beyond Barriers, the City of Dodge City, Department for Children and Families, Featured KU Partners: Family Medicine and Community Health, Population Health, ARISE-EPSCoR Impact Outcomes: Stronger cross-sector partnerships, food insecurity, shelter for unhoused, access to resources, nutrition, physical activity, breastfeeding, and expanded access to resources and support services. |
| Geary County LHEAT | Geary County | 2026 | Featured Community Partners: Cloud County Community College, Dorothy Bramlage Library, Konza Prairie Health Center, Three Rivers Inc., USD 475, Life Skills Connection, Geary County, United Way Junction City/Geary County Featured KU Partners: Family Medicine, Population Health, Population Health- Wichita Impact Outcomes: Stronger cross-sector collaboration, increased community capacity, and improved health equity efforts. |
| Grant County LHEAT | Grant County | 2026 | Featured Community Partners: Golden Plains Credit Union, Pioneer Communications, Pioneer Electric Women of Purpose, First Bank, Bob Wilson Memorial Hospital Auxiliary, Southern Star, USD 214-Ulysses School District, Kearny County Medical Center, City of Ulysses, The Grant County Senior Center, The Ulysses Public Library, Grant County Community Foundation, Healthy Blue. Featured KU Partners: Family Medicine and Community Health, Population Health, REACH, COPE, ARISE-EPSCoR Impact Outcomes: Stronger cross-sector partnerships, transportation, childcare, nutrition, physical activity, breastfeeding, and enhanced access to resources and funding opportunities. |
| Grow Labette | Labette County | 2026 | Featured Community Partners: - Youth Crisis Center, The American Advocacy Initiative, Under the Shade Tree Inc., Safe Haven Outreach Mission, ARC Addiction Recovery, Project GROW, Parsons Farmers Market, City of Parsons-Kansas, Crosstimbers Community Food Pantry, Second Chance Education, SEKCAP, Mello's Transit, Care Cupboard Hygiene Pantry, K-State Extension, Labette County Emergency Assistance Center, Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas, Care Cupboard, Parsons Library, Featured KU Partners: Family Medicine, Population Health, Population Health-Wichita, School of Business. Impact Outcomes: Strengthened workforce development through CNA and CMA training opportunities, nutrition, youth safety and well-being, and increased cross-sector collaboration. |
| Johnson County Frontline Advocates for Community Equity (LHEAT) | Johnson County | 2026 | Featured Community Partners: Johnson County Health Department, El Centro, United Way, Mission Southside, local residents Featured KU Partners: Family Medicine and Community Health, Population Health, ARISE-EPSCoR Impact Outcomes: Stronger community-institution partnerships, increased community engagement in public health decision-making, and collaborative initiatives addressing maternal health, nutrition, transportation, language access, and other barriers to well-being. |
| Mitchell County RISE | Mitchell County | 2026 | Featured Community Partners: Mitchell County Regional Medical Foundation, Mitchell County Health Department, USD 273, Laundry Basket, City of Beloit, and Local residents Featured KU Partners: Family Medicine and Community Health, Population Health Impact Outcomes: Stronger community connections, expanded local resources, quality of life, increased cross-sector collaboration. |
| Montgomery County LHEAT | Montgomery County | 2026 | Featured Community Partners: Coffeyville School District, Caney Valley Agape Network, Genesis Food Pantry, Montgomery Live Healthy, Home Sweet Home Ministries Featured KU Partners: Family Medicine and Community Health, Population Health, Population Health-Wichita, and School of Business Impact Outcomes: Stronger cross-sector collaboration, improved health equity initiatives, expanded workforce and economic development opportunities, nutrition, food insecurity, basic needs and resource access. |
| RISE Cowley | Cowley County | 2026 | Featured Community Partners: Cowley County Health Department, Eagle Nest, Legacy Community Foundation, Kansas State Extension, Winfield Chamber of Commerce Featured KU Partners: Family Medicine and Community Health, Population Health Impact Outcomes: Shelter for unhoused, youth mental health, food security, expanded access to resources, and increased collaboration across sectors. |
| Sedgwick County Community Health Action Team (CHAT) | Sedgwick County | 2026 | Featured Community Partners: Sedgwick County Health Department, The Center, Derby Health Collaborative, Urban League of Kansas, Wichita Family Medicine Specialists, LLC Featured KU Partners: Family Medicine and Community Health, Population Health Impact Outcomes: Stronger community engagement expanded cross-sector partnerships, increased capacity for health equity initiatives, and sustained action to advance inclusivity and justice. |
| Seward County LHEAT | Seward County | 2026 | Featured Community Partners: School District, Liberal Area Coalition for Families, SCCC Adult Learning Center, Liberal Memorial Library, Liberal Health Department, Steppingstone Shelter and others Featured KU Partners: Family Medicine and Community Health, Population Health, REACH, COPE, ARISE-EPSCoR Impact Outcomes: Increased health equity, education, reduced tobacco use, and long-term community well-being. immunizations, nutrition, physical activity, breastfeeding, extreme weather responses, and expanded access to resources. |
| Shawnee County LHEAT | Shawnee County | 2026 | Featured Community Partners: Farmers Insurance, Topeka Rescue Mission, Boys and Girls Club of Topeka, PARS (Block Talks), Braided Haven, Villages, Topeka Center for Peace and Justice, YWCA (CIVIC), Brand “I” Wellness, One Heart Project, Salvation Army, Chaplain House, IPPI, Topeka Habitat for Humanity, Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library, HEARTS (Suicide Prevention), Innovation Impacts, A Parent Break, Mirrors Work for Success, Featured KU Partners: Family Medicine, Population Health, KUMC Population Health-Wichita Impact Outcomes: Increased cross-sector collaboration, increased community engagement in decision-making, access to health services, awareness and availability of resources. |
| Thomas/Sherman LHEAT | Thomas & Sherman County | 2026 | Featured Community Partners: LiveWell Northwest Kansas, Thomas County Coalition, Hope’s Place, Sherman County Health Department, Thomas County Health Department, High Plains Mental Health Center, SD 315: Colby, USD 352: Goodland Featured KU Partners: Family Medicine and Community Health, Population Health Impact Outcomes: Expanded childcare opportunities, efforts to reduce food insecurity, educational programming on safety and mental health, improved emergency preparedness, and strengthened community connections. |
| Wyandotte County LHEAT | Wyandotte County | 2026 | Featured Community Partners: Wyandotte County Mutual Aid, Community Health Council Wyandotte, and residents Featured KU Partners: Family Medicine and Community Health, Population Health, ARISE-EPSCoR Impact Outcomes: Increased civic engagement, expanded access to community resources, youth leadership and mental health programming and stronger local food networks. |
| Wyandotte County Public Health Department | Wyandotte County | 2026 | Featured Community Partners: Vibrant Health, Wyandotte Economic Development Council, Wyandot Behavioral Health, Network, MOCSA, Livable Neighborhoods, ThrYve-YVPC KC, Habitat for Humanity KC, Wyandotte Innovations Initiative, Shalom House - Catholic Charities of NE Kansas, Cross-Lines Community Outreach Featured KU Partners: KU Center for Community Health & Development, KUMC Department of Population Health, Family Medicine and Community Health Impact Outcomes: Strengthened public health workforce development, coordinated countywide efforts to improve healthcare access, behavioral health, violence prevention, education, employment, and housing. |
| Youth Violence Prevention Center- Kansas City | Kansas City | 2026 | Featured Community Partners: Ad Hoc Group Against Crime, Kansas City, Kansas Public Schools, Kansas City, KS Police Department, Wyandotte County Health Department, University of Kansas Health System, and many additional partners of the ThrYve Systems and Youth Collaborative Featured KU Partners: KU Center for Community Health and Development (Life Span Institute), KUMC Department of Surgery, LEAD UP Student Organization, Department of Applied Behavioral Science, Office of Community Impact Impact Outcomes: Strengthened community collaboration, expanded youth leadership, increased college-readiness, increased community connectedness, and increased access to supportive programs and resources. |