Cargill to fund $2 million of education and workforce grants with focus on 67214

Wichita kids in one of the state’s poorest ZIP codes will have more opportunities to prepare for kindergarten, thanks to phase one of a $2 million Cargill Proteins grant initiative, which will focus on promoting early childhood literacy in 67214.

Careem Gladney, a business manager at Cargill, said the three-year Wichita Collective Impact program aims to “advance equity and dismantle systemic barriers” for Wichita students through educational success and workforce readiness grants.

“The most important reason why I’m here is, I’m a Black kid from Wichita,” Gladney said. “I grew up in Wichita Public Schools K-12, single-parent household, low-income, first-generation college student. I know first-hand what these Black kids in Wichita are facing. It’s tough.”

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 15.5% of Wichitans live in poverty; in 67214, that rate is 43.8%. The ZIP code generally goes from Douglas to 21st Street and Main Street to Hillside.

Wichita Public School Superintendent Alicia Thompson said income disadvantage has a “staggering effect” on young students’ exposure to language.

“By the time a child enters kindergarten, the gap in exposure to words and early literacy foundation approaches 30 million words,” Thompson said. “A student not proficient in reading by third grade is four times less likely to graduate high school on time than kids who are proficient.”

If the same third grader struggling to read comes from a family in poverty, they’re 13 times less likely to graduate on time, she said.

The $2 million will be administered by Cargill in partnership with the Greater Wichita YMCA, United Way of the Plains, Wichita Public Schools and Wichita State University. The initiative was announced Tuesday during an event at the Steve Clark YMCA on WSU’s campus.

“When you look at the needs of 67214, it’s this type of collaboration and this type of, more importantly, investment that’s necessary to have the desired impact,” Wichita City Council member Brandon Johnson said.

Wichita-area nonprofits are eligible to apply for the first round of grants through United Way of the Plains’ website until April 22.

“We want to give out grants up to $25,000 right now this spring to affect children 3, 4 and 5 years of age this summer so they come back in the fall kindergarten ready,” United Way president Peter Nájera said.

“I know we’ll be here for many more announcements on K-3, on middle school, on high school graduation rates, on workforce development, on job skills, on industry diversification.”

Thompson said the collaboration is a much-needed investment in Wichita’s future workforce.

“The students in the eight schools that fall within the 67214 zip code are our future consumers, neighbors, teachers, business owners and elected leaders,” she said.

Beth Carlson, Cargill’s human resources lead, called the company’s efforts a “sprint for the future of our community.”

“We know education and workforce readiness helps bridge gaps of inequality and builds a community where others want to invest, live and work,” Carlson said.

The eight Wichita schools in 67214 are Irving Elementary School, Washington Elementary School, Mueller Aerospace and Engineering Magnet Elementary School, Spaght Science and Communications Magnet (elementary), L’Ouverture Career Explorations and Technology Magnet Elementary School, Horace Mann Dual Language Magnet, Chester I. Lewis Academic Learning Center and Wichita Alternative High School.