Author

John Wilson

John Wilson

John Wilson joined Kansas Action for Children in September 2017 as vice president. He became president and CEO of KAC in 2019, after leading the group’s work in early education, health policy and family supports. Before his time at KAC, Wilson worked at the Alliance for a Healthier Generation. As a Kansas State Representative, he worked to redefine the culture of the Legislature to make it more open and collaborative. The best parts of his day are when he’s spending time with his wife, Jami, and their two sons, Parker and Henry.

OPINION
Gov. Laura Kelly expanded paid family leave for Kansas state employees last week, but the majority of Kansas workers still lack access to paid leave or even job-protected leave. (Getty Images)

Supporting working parents will help Kansas kids thrive, this Labor Day and beyond
By: - September 5, 2022

The Kansas Reflector welcomes opinion pieces from writers who share our goal of widening the conversation about how public policies affect the day-to-day lives of people throughout our state. John Wilson is president of Kansas Action for Children. On this day 140 years ago, 10,000 New York workers marched — unpaid — to recognize their contributions […]

OPINION
Cutting the sales tax on groceries would save Kansas families $500 or more a year on their grocery bills and improve food insecurity, according to the governor's office. (Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

By ending Kansas’ sales tax on food, our state can live up to its ideals and help those in need
By: - February 2, 2022

The Kansas Reflector welcomes opinion pieces from writers who share our goal of widening the conversation about how public policies affect the day-to-day lives of people throughout our state. John Wilson is president of Kansas Action for Children. This Saturday we celebrated Kansas Day, noting our state’s beginnings and contributions to this nation. We have much […]

OPINION

Expanded child tax credit could transform lives — but we have to make it permanent
By: - August 3, 2021

The Kansas Reflector welcomes opinion pieces from writers who share our goal of widening the conversation about how public policies affect the day-to-day lives of people throughout our state. John Wilson is president of Kansas Action for Children. We’re standing on the edge of a transformational moment, not just in Kansas, but in all of the […]

OPINION

How Kansas kids – and their families – could benefit from the American Rescue Plan
By: - April 11, 2021

The Kansas Reflector welcomes opinion pieces from writers who share our goal of widening the conversation about how public policies affect the day-to-day lives of people throughout our state. John Wilson is president of Kansas Action for Children. The American Rescue Plan is more than stimulus checks. Indeed, the legislation signed last month by President Joe […]

OPINION
The Kansas Department of Revenue reported tax revenue in the month of December exceeded projections and added to the cash cushion available to the 2022 Legislature and Gov. Laura Kelly. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)

To make big changes in Kansas, look beyond Election Day
By: - October 22, 2020

The Kansas Reflector welcomes opinion pieces from writers who share our goal of widening the conversation about how public policies affect the day-to-day lives of people throughout our state. John Wilson is president of Kansas Action for Children. All eyes are on Election Day. The local, state and national races decided Nov. 3 will shape our […]

OPINION
A child at a Douglas county child care center pauses to have their temperature taken at the front door. (Submitted by Kansas Action for Children)

Kansans must ask leaders to support child care
By: - July 28, 2020

The Kansas Reflector welcomes opinion pieces from writers who share our goal of widening the conversation about how public policies affect the day-to-day lives of people throughout our state. John Wilson is president of Kansas Action for Children. As the COVID-19 pandemic spreads across Kansas and the nation, all eyes are on the K-12 education […]

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