By Sarah Motter, WIBW 13
Topeka JUMP is calling for racial and economic justice for marginalized groups.
Topeka JUMP says it has always intended to be a tool for marginalized groups in Shawnee County to fight for justice. The organization says this cannot be done without explicitly addressing racism.
April 30, 2020. WIBW.
Though the coronavirus pandemic caused the Topeka Justice Unity and Ministry Project to hold its biggest meeting of the year online this week, rather than in person, group leaders say the organization is going strong, advocating for affordable housing, public transportation and a reduction in gun violence in the capital city.
The group’s Nehemiah Action meeting, which last year attracted a crowd of 1,200 people, took place online, with a number of local officials expressing their support for JUMP and its mission.
April 27, 2020. KSNT.COM
The Topeka Justice, Unity, and Ministry Project held its 2020 Nehemiah Action virtually on Monday evening. Affordable housing was a key topic on the agenda.
With the economic impact coronavirus is having on working families more demand is expected for affordable housing. The 2019 Topeka housing study found that renters need to earn at least $16 an hour to afford a decent two-bedroom apartment.
October 21, 2019. KCUR.
Maria Galvan used to make about $25,000 a year. She didn’t qualify for welfare, but she still had trouble meeting her basic needs.
“I would just be working just to be poor and broke,” she said. “It would be so frustrating.”
When things got bad, the single mother and Topeka resident took out a payday loan. That meant borrowing a small amount of money at a high interest rate, to be paid off as soon as she got her next check.
September 5, 2019. Topeka Capital-Journal.
According to Ruben West, moderator of Thursday night’s “The Turning Point” event, “you cannot wake up a person that’s pretending to be asleep.”
That tidbit of wisdom was the punchline to a personal anecdote West shared early on in the evening. It was one of several anecdotes he used to encourage Topekans to get excited about their city.
“If you can’t see all of the changes happening in Topeka right now, you’re pretending to be asleep because there is change happening,” West said to applause.
