Topeka JUMP

Issue Campaigns

Topeka JUMP pursues systematic change in Shawnee County, Kansas through local policy and funding changes. Our Mission is to provide a powerful vehicle for marginalized groups in Shawnee County to fight for justice. We are committed to seeing justice roll down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream.

These are our past and current issue campaigns.

Predatory Lending

Violence

Public Transportation

Safe & Affordable Housing

Mental Health

Education



VIOLENCE

2018 - present

In 2017, Topeka had it's deadliest year with 30 murders. In 2019, 83 people were shot. We want law enforcement and community stakeholders to implement Group Violence Intervention. GVI is a proven strategy that will make Topeka a safer place for all. Locally, we will call this initiative Strategies Against Violence Everywhere (SAVE). We brought stakeholders together to win private funding for SAVE. Now, we want Shawnee County to hire a project manager and fund street team programming.


PREDATORY LENDING

2017 - present

Kansas law allows companies to charge three times more for payday loans than in Colorado. Kansans for Payday Loan Reform stands against payday loan products that are harmful and immoral. These loans are meant to be a bridge during hard times and not an inescapable trap. We want Kansas law makers to make payday loans more fair and affordable.


TRANSPORTATION TO LIVING WAGE JOBS

2016 - present

Our public transportation system is inadequate for workforce needs. In 2017, 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. SOTO and NETO gave 26,360 rides by the end of 2019. We have consistently won funding on a yearly basis. Now, we want JEDO to make SOTO and NETO permanent.


SAFE AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING

2015 - present

In 2019, after pushing for four years, JUMP got the Topeka City Council to pass an affordable housing trust fund ordinance. In a 2020 Topeka Housing Study, consultants revealed that you have to make $16/hr to afford a safe two bedroom rental unit. We want the city budget to include $2 million dollars annually for the affordable housing trust fund. This will incentivize construction and rehabilitation of affordable housing.