Wichita Urban Professionals (ICT-UP) is dedicated to empowering the young, diverse and talented.
The organization involves members
ages 20-45 in engaging and relevant personal development opportunities, which include professional development trainings and dynamic social networking events.
OUR MISSION
Developing a rising network of black leaders to improve the urban community of Wichita.
JOIN US
Interested in becoming a member?
Click here to register
Membership dues are $30 annually and can be paid via CashApp: $ictup2
Our Organization
ICT-UP is structured in a way where membership can choose how involved they would like to be. Members can help with program/event planning by joining a squad. Members can also choose to engage through programming opportunities that fit their schedule, personal and professional goals. There are five standing squads.
Leadership Squad
Danielle Johnson, Jonathan Long, Ti’Juana Hardwell, Paris Cunningham, Brandon Johnson, Justin Enlow, Robert Moody, Kyle Ellison, Alexandria Ware, Bobby Berry, Corinthian Kelly, Omarian Brantley
Oversees and guides Urban Professionals mission and vision. This squad serves as the top of the reporting structure for all squads. The leadership squad is made up of squad chairs, the founder, and overall squad leader. (Leadership Squad is by appointment only).
Networking Squad
Chairs Paris Cunningham & Brandon Johnson – Creates and executes dynamic social networking opportunities for Black professionals to engage and build relationships throughout the community. These events provide a wide range of opportunities from exclusive event spaces and programs to existing co-sponsored programs.
Professional Development Squad
Chairs Bobby Berry & Danielle Johnson – We look to deliver tailored experiences for our Black professionals. We keenly understand the importance of highlighting identity alongside the professional development experience. ICTUP takes it step further in connecting organizations, boards, etc to a visible network of Black professionals.
Community Outreach/Membership Squad
Chairs Alexandria Ware & Justin Enlow– Signs up new members and maintains member information. Provides opportunities for ICTUP members to connect to other organizations through volunteering, tabling and relationship building.
College Engagement Squad
Chairs Corinthian Kelly & Omarian Brantley – Serve as a connection to the various universities in the city of Wichita and support. CES provides programs focused on college students, mentor matching/shadowing, and professional development. Additional CES provides college students the opportunity to be a part of a professional organization.
ICT-UP meeting time!
Photo credit: Wichita Business Journal
ICT-UP meeting time!
Photo credit: The Wichita Business Journal and ICT-UP archival photos
ICT-UP HISTORY
A core group of millennials came together, under the leadership of Jonathan Long, in 2013 and spent one year strategizing and structuring a course of action to help Wichita better attract, retain and develop its minority professional population.
In 2014, Urban Professionals, launched. With partnerships between ICT-UP and the Kansas Leadership Center firmly in place, Wichita Urban Professionals set out to be the go-to network for the city's young, diverse and talented.
Since then, the organization has grown its network and reach to more than 200 and launched a publication that generated reads by more than 1,000 per issue. In 2016, the organization began taking steps to be a stand-alone entity. That same year, the organization won the Wichita Business Journal's Leaders in Diversity Award.
Today ICT-UP is led by a squad of leaders continuing to advance the mission! ICT-UP is a program that falls under Community Operations Recovery Empowerment (CORE).