Wichita residents 55 and older gathered at the Carl G. Brewer Community Center on Aug. 14 for Senior Connect, an event that paired entertainment and community resources with a hands-on fraud prevention booth staffed by the Wichita Police Department's Financial Crimes Unit.
The event, hosted by the Voice of the Wichita African American Council of Elders, drew seniors to the center at 1329 E. 16th St. North for its second year under a new name. Formerly called the Senior Expo, organizers rebranded it Senior Connect to emphasize building relationships between older residents and the organizations that serve them.
The new name stuck.
"We wanted to take the older seniors in our community and literally connect them to each other … Connect them to businesses and resources, organizations that can provide helpful information or resources to them, so they can live happier, healthier lives," event coordinator Karen Rogers told KWCH on Aug. 14.
WPD officers set up a table covered with pamphlets and informational materials in the gymnasium, speaking one-on-one with attendees about how to recognize and avoid financial scams. The Wichita Police Department said on X the event gave officers a chance to spread awareness about fraud and scams that affect people of all ages.
The outreach comes as elder fraud remains a growing concern locally. In December 2025, Sedgwick County District Attorney Marc Bennett issued a community warning after a U.S. Department of Justice report found thieves attempted to steal or stole more than $2 billion from over 1 million older Americans. Bennett called the threat "local" and urged Sedgwick County residents to stay vigilant.
A highlight of Friday's event was the presentation of the first-ever Senior Legacy Award, given to retired Wichita Public Schools teacher Sandra Rankin.
The Carl G. Brewer Community Center, named for the former Wichita mayor, reopened Dec. 6, 2025, after renovations managed by the city's Park and Recreation Department.
Upcoming community events
- Friday, Aug. 21: Audacy Summer Concert Series at Naftzger Park featuring Roadhouse Saints (60s/70s/80s music). Food trucks and games at 6 p.m., music at 8 p.m. Free and open to the public.
- Friday, Aug. 28: Audacy Summer Concert Series at Naftzger Park featuring Across the Pond (British Invasion). Same schedule. Free.
