On April 1st, the Kansas Free Press (KFP) will mark its 6-month anniversary. With gratitude for the Kansans who nobly commit their time and talents to citizen journalism, we are celebrating our upcoming half-year anniversary by proudly showcasing each of our own KFP writers.
WICHITA, Kan. - In this profile, we are honored to introduce KFP correspondent, Dr. Mildred Edwards. She is a passionate community leader, mobilizer and advocate. Her professional and volunteer experiences include public policy and advocacy activities, community mobilization, coalition building, capacity building, program evaluation, and non-profit administration and board development. A lifelong student of the art and science of leadership, Mildred's special skills include her abilities to think strategically and provide direction based on national trends and local data.
A community psychologist, her research interests involve the prevention and reduction of disparity among at-risk or underserved populations including: disparity in health status and resource access; social inequity and justice; economic status, and/or; cultural bias.
She obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Health Care Administration/Public Relations, Master of Public Health, and Doctorate of Community Psychology from her alma mater. A proud Wichita State University alumnus, she is a former Shocker cheerleader and a Senior Honor Woman. Mildred currently serves on the Alumni Association Board of Directors.
Throughout her academic career Mildred focused her research on HIV/AIDS prevention in both African American adolescents and in women. She conducted research on HIV and the risk behaviors of women residing in Mombasa, Kenya and is an internationally published author.
Mildred serves as executive director the Kansas African American Affairs Commission (KAAAC), a seven member body with members appointed by the governor, the president of the senate, the senate minority leader, the speaker of the house and the house minority leader. KAAAC serves as the governor's liaison to the African American communities throughout the state.
Prior to her appointment to KAAAC, Dr. Edwards served as a contract consultant who provided staff development training, non-profit grant writing and federal grant evaluation for numerous agencies and organizations. She served as project director for a Drug Free Communities, a funded community coalition. That coalition was the recipient of the 2007 Andrew O'Donovan Coalition of the Year award.
A true servant leader, Mildred is a past president of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. - Beta Kappa Omega and Epsilon Alpha Chapters, the Urban League of Wichita Guild, the Air Capital Chapter of Jack and Jill of America, and the Junior League of Wichita.
She currently serves as the vice president of the Links, Inc. Wichita (KS) Chapter, is a Links, Inc. Scott Hawkins Leadership Institute Cohort II graduate and Mentor for Scott Hawkins Leadership Institute Cohort IV, and Mid-Western Region Heritage Committee and Regional Program Committee member for Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
Mildred is also a graduate of Leadership Wichita and a member of the NAACP. She serves on the advisory boards of the Wichita Children's Home, Center for Health and Wellness, Pure and Simple Lifestyle and the Wichita Area Sexual Assault Center.
In addition to her career and volunteerism, Mildred enjoys traveling nationally and abroad, reading, watching football, and spending time with her family. She is the proud mother of one daughter Leah and son-in-law William Peoples.
We are indeed honored that this accomplished professional and esteemed leader writes with us at the Kansas Free Press.
To learn more about any KFP writers, we encourage you to browse our directory of citizen journalists.
Do you want to write here as a citizen journalist? Anyone wishing to write with us here can inquire with our publisher directly. We are always looking for Kansans who want to write about Kansas! Let us know!
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