Bonita Gooch is a publisher, editor, writer, business owner, community activist, concerned citizen and mother of one. A native of Wichita, Bonita left home after high school and returned 23 years later, ready to rest and raise a family.  As should be evident from her list of responsibilities, Bonita hasn’t rested yet.

Since November 1996, she’s worked to grow The Community Voice newspaper from a fledgling publication to a force within the Wichita community.  When her family purchased the paper, it was a small monthly publication with limited distribution.  Under her leadership, the paper’s distribution has grown more than 20 times.

Bonita also increased the publication’s frequency from monthly to bi-weekly, but is most proud of the reputation the paper has developed across the state for quality and integrity in journalism.  She is particularly proud of the advocacy and education role the paper provides for its primary target, Kansas’ African-American community.

Bonita received her B.S. in Journalism from Kansas University and a Masters in Public Administration, with an emphasis in Urban Management, from Kansas University.  Since graduating she has participated in a long list of professional management, marketing and business ownership workshops, classes and seminars.