Returning Citizen Consortium

Workforce Partnership is excited to announce the establishment of the Returning Citizen Consortium (RCC). The RCC is a committed group of leaders across thirteen organizations in the Kansas City and Wichita metropolitan areas working together to develop a comprehensive model to serve justice-impacted individuals and employers wishing to authentically engage this pool of talent. Through collaboration with RCC members and other key community stakeholders, the RCC plans to develop:

• • A Returning Citizen “Work Readiness” Certificate for those who are justice-impacted;
  • A “Readiness” Certificate for Employers who wish to learn how to engage, retain and promote Returning Citizens; and
  • A Developmental Trauma curriculum for front-line staff working to assist and support Returning Citizens, portions of which will also be included as components of the two certificates

The RCC began working together in June 2024 and continued through the summer resulting in the development of a framework for its goals. When the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation announced upcoming grant opportunities, the RCC decided to apply for planning funds in the hopes of resourcing its ongoing efforts to create a comprehensive workforce development model. We are proud to announce that the RCC was awarded a Collective Impact planning grant by the Kauffman Foundation in January 2025. These planning efforts officially kicked-off in February 2025 and will continue through October 2025. More details to come as we build our model and make plans for implementation in 2026.

In addition to Workforce Partnership, RCC members include the following individuals representing stakeholder organizations:

• • Deidre Anderson-Barbee, Founder and CEO, Starting Early
  • Stephen Barbee, Founder, P2P
  • Eliza Barr, Executive Director, Reaching Out From Within
  • Matt Brandmeyer, Owner/Licensed Therapist, Structured Support
  • Jim Echols, Founder and CEO, Renaissance Community and Public Relations
  • Dr. Cris Fanning, Executive Director of Programs and Risk Reduction, Kansas Department of Corrections
  • Keith Lawing, CEO, Workforce Alliance of South Central Kansas
  • Kent Peterson, Managing Partner, The Strategic Organization
  • Toni Porter, VP of Government Relations, Wichita Regional Chamber of Commerce
  • Dr. Fabiola Riobe, VP of Educational Innovation & Global Programming, Kansas City Kansas Community College
  • Chris Stanyer, Chief Mission Officer, Goodwill Industries of Kansas
  • William Wilk, Senior Director of Government Affairs, The Kansas Chamber of Commerce