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I fell in love with Wichita and want to continue to make it a community we all can be proud of."

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Janelle King is an art advocate, community activist, interior designer, entrepreneur and owner of multiple businesses including The Workroom, based in Wichita, Kansas. As a champion of Wichita-- from public speaking, to The Chung Report feature, to multiple newspaper articles, she is a goto spokesperson for Wichita pride with an emphasis on shifting the perception challenge we face.

Janelle leads meaningful collaborations and social movements finding ways to bring the community together as a whole and uniting people through the arts. Because of her love for Wichita, she continues to work toward a more vibrant, dynamic community and encourages each and every one of you to roll up your sleeves, get a little dirty or uncomfortable and join in.

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Wichita Regional Chamber of Commerce 2019 Exceptional Young Leader

 

Special thanks to Rik and Gabe at Method Productions, my extremely talented friend and creative director Morgan Cofer Martinez and the cutest clothes from Lauren Mercado at HPLA because duh! of course I support and shop local. 

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Community Contributions

  • Over 100 local artists in store and online- The Workroom supports the local arts community by giving significant opportunity for exposure and sales. Focusing on diversity of artisan, craft, and skill, The Workroom is your one-stop-shop for all things made local.  
     

  • Largest FlagSwag Selection and Distribution- The Workroom has played a significant role in the resurgence of the Wichita flag and maintains the hub for Wichita-centric product offerings to showcase your local pride.
     

  • 2nd Saturday Artisan Market- Host of an open-air art market that drives thousands of attendees each year to support local artisans, food trucks, and local musicians. A family friendly, free community event held monthly.
     

  • Light Up Reflection Sq Park- Updated amenities and coordinated a series of events to activate an underutilized parklet in downtown Wichita as part of a Up The Ambition program funded by Wichita Community Foundation.
     

  • LevelUp- Orchestrated the celebration of Wichita's 148th birthday in a nine-story parking garage highlighting Wichita’s unique small businesses and arts scene.
     

  • Annual Board member and former President of the Douglas Design District- creating, in partnership, a destination for the Wichita area residents to live, dine, and shop amongst our thriving, local small businesses. Personally formed and led the development committee and membership committee, that has since seen membership triple, and served on the retail committee. 
     

  • Avenue Art Days founder and coordinator
    8-year event that has installed 105 street art murals along the Douglas Design District and engaged hundreds of volunteers in enhancing and cleaning up the District. Responsible for all business property permissions, artist engagement and selection, volunteer coordination, and funding. 

  • ​Giving to Local Non-profits- Select days give % of sales to non-profit organizations, frequent product donations for local fundraiser events, host and/or sponsor of several local programs that align with our views to support the arts and people of all race, gender, sexual orientation.
     

  • Community Support & Interaction- Always looking for new ways to interact with the community while maintaining and improving upon existing programs that add to Wichita’s positive image. i.e…AAD, River Festival, Holiday Galleria, DDD
     

  • Wichita State University's Ulrich Museum Alliance Board- Alliance Board Member and Chair of the Bi-annual fundraiser event SculpTour.
     

  • Fighting Local Hunger- During the global coronavirus pandemic causing record unemployment and closing the local school meal program, provided 2,790 free sack lunches to anyone in need from March 25th through May 1st, 2020.
     

  • Retail Incubator Program- supported by an investment from the Knight Foundation Fund at the Wichita Community Foundation. The Garage at Cleveland Corner is a short-term, high visibility retail incubator program in an effort to accelerate talent retention and offer a low risk, low barrier-to-entry opportunity for entrepreneurialism in Wichita.
     

  • BlackoutICT founder- Turning pride into action, the program encouraged Wichitans to make a personal, actionable pledge to create a better future for our community. In partnership with The Chung Report and Wichita Community Foundation.
     

  • City of Wichita's Design Council- Mayoral appointee 2017-2020 to make recommendations to the City Council on the incorporation of Public Art and aesthetic design into public projects. 
     

  • YPW partnership for the 2016 #ilovewichita t-shirt design contest. Consulted, promoted, facilitated the production and sales of the contest that raised funds for the winning local artist and Tallgrass Film Festival.
     

  • 2015 ICTSOS “Be The Change” t-shirt sales distribution. 100% of sales went directly to ICTSOS.

One of my greatest sources of pride through it all is the leadership role I have found myself in. It is far from uncommon to find an aspiring entrepreneur holding a seat at our counter and sharing their dreams. Those eager to begin, ones facing the early challenges of a new business, and those considering major changes or challenges often look to me for advice and support. I think a key to my success has been an openness to see others succeed and show support to them which has in turn provided me with support ten-fold.

- Janelle King, Art Advocate, Community Activists, Interior Designer & Entrepreneur

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