Topeka

Topeka JUMP

Topeka Justice, Unity, and Ministry Project

Background

What is Topeka JUMP?

The Topeka Justice, Unity, & Ministry Project (Topeka JUMP) is a congregation-based justice ministry organization that brings together congregations in Topeka/Shawnee County to provide a powerful vehicle for marginalized groups to fight for justice. We develop the leadership of people of faith by engaging them in processes to identify the problems the organization will act on, conducting research, negotiating with public officials to pursue systematic change through local policy and funding changes, and building people power to influence officials to take action.

Current Membership

Apostolic Church of Jesus Christ
Asbury Mt. Olive UMC
Berryton UMC
Café Quetzal
Central Congregational Church
Christ the King Catholic Church
Countryside UMC
El Shaddai Ministries Community Church
Fellowship Bible Church
First Baptist Church
First Congregational Church
Gethsemane Worship Center
Grace Episcopal Cathedral
In God’s House
Inward Faith Outreach Ministries
Lowman UMC
Most Pure Heart of Mary Catholic Church
Mother Teresa of Calcutta Catholic Church
New Hope and Love Community Church
New Hope Community Baptist Church
New Life Baptist Church
New Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church
Southern Hills Mennonite Church
Susanna Wesley UMC
Tecumseh UMC
Temple Beth Sholom
Topeka First UMC
Trinity Presbyterian Church
University UMC
Westminster Presbyterian Church

About Topeka JUMP

Staff

Lead Organizer: Sarah Balzer
topeka.jump@gmail.com

Associate Organizer: Jake Regnier
jake@thedartcenter.org

Associate Organizer: Jason Maymon
jason@thedartcenter.org

Contact

www.TopekaJUMP.com

3033 SW MacVicar St.
Topeka, KS 66611

(785) 783-3721

What we do

Our Impact

Learn more about our impact in Topeka below.

Education

In USD 501 Topeka Public schools, thousands of students were falling through the cracks because they did not have access to wrap around services to ensure their success in the classroom. JUMP challenged the Superintendent to expand a program called Communities in Schools (CIS). As a result, in 2015 1,000 more students had access to CIS and were more successful in the classroom.

Transportation

In 2017, our public transportation system was inadequate for workforce needs. So, we implored Topeka Metro to make a plan to expand public transit to major employers outside the city limits. This partnership created the SOTO and NETO pilot programs launched in 2018. SOTO and NETO gave 26,360 rides by the end of 2019. We’ve won funding for the programs annually since 2018.

Mental Health

Addiction Focus – During the isolation of the pandemic JUMP Members voted to focus on Mental Health and addiction. A major barrier to overcoming addiction is social support, reliable employment, and stable housing. The Oxford House is a proven strategy that helps provide all of these. In May 2021 JUMP secured $261,000 in funding to open up to 100 new Oxford House beds in Topeka and Shawnee County. As of July 2022, six new houses have been opened and over 50 people are receiving services that were previously on waitlists. 

Crisis Care Focus – It is estimated that 40 percent of incarcerated adults and 70 percent of incarcerated youth struggle with a diagnosed or undiagnosed mental illness. There is no place in Topeka and Shawnee County for individuals in crisis to receive care if they are non-cooperative or refuse care, this leads to people becoming unnecessarily involved in the criminal justice system. in May 2022 JUMP challenged local mental health providers to commit to expanding crisis beds to help individuals in crisis stay out of Jail and they committed to working on a plan to expand services.

Issue 4

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Community organizing careers

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