With support from the United Way’s Promise on the Plains project, the Bridges Over Fences Program will foster empathy and cross-racial understanding, preparing young individuals for success in a diverse society.

WICHITA, Kan. — Bridges Over Fences, a transformative initiative by Wichita’s Youth Educational Empowerment Program (YEEP), has received an equity grant from the United Way of the Plains’ respected Promise on the Plains program. The $4,500 award will help advance YEEP’s mission to equip BIPOC youth and young adults—ages 12 to 24—and their peers with the skills needed to thrive in an increasingly diverse and interconnected world.

The new program will be modeled after the successful course created for future social workers and police officers by Wichita State University Professor, Dr. Michael Birzer, and will revolve around the award-winning young adult historical novel, "The Real Education of TJ Crowley" by Grant Overstake.

United Way Board Member Gene Camarena announces the 2023 Promise on the Plains awardees. (Click to View)

Set in Wichita in 1968, The Real Education of TJ Crowley dramatizes how learning can break through ignorance and how friendship can bridge deep cultural divides. This powerful story will anchor a new initiative from the Youth Educational Empowerment Program (YEEP), which is incorporating an audio theater adaptation—currently in production under the direction of May Wuthrich and featuring a diverse cast of 13 actors voicing 24 roles—into its programming.

The initiative, known as Bridges Over Fences, was recently awarded a $4,500 equity grant through Promise on the Plains, a program launched by United Way of the Plains to support human service organizations in historically underserved areas of Wichita. YEEP is one of 15 local nonprofits selected for grants ranging from $2,500 to $10,000—part of United Way’s broader commitment to reducing disparities, supporting minority-led nonprofits, and expanding equitable access to opportunity.

Marquis Murphy, YEEP Founder and CEO, sees Bridges Over Fences as a vital tool for fostering empathy and readiness among young people. “We are thrilled and honored to receive the Promise on the Plains grant from the United Way of the Plains,” Murphy said. “This funding will allow us to grow our audio-based curriculum, creating safe spaces where students of all backgrounds can explore perspectives different from their own. By building understanding, we’re helping prepare them for success in higher education, the workforce, and in life.”

As a major creative arts project, the Bridges Over Fences TJ Crowley Audio Drama production has received support from the Kansas Creative Arts Commission, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the WSU School of Digital Arts' Shocker Studios, among others.

By investing in Bridges Over Fences, the United Way of the Plains is taking a bold step towards equipping youth with the necessary tools to thrive in a diverse society. This innovative program aligns perfectly with its focus on educational opportunities and will have a lasting impact on the lives of young individuals in our community.

TJ Crowley ‘Bridges Over Fences’ Program Receives United Way ‘Promise on the Plains' Grant