photo by: Kim Callahan/Journal-World

The campus of Haskell Indian Nations University is pictured Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2025.

After the shock of mass firings at Haskell Indian Nations University last month, organizations across Lawrence are looking to find ways to support the workers who suddenly lost their jobs.

Evie Lazzarino, the vice president of external affairs for The Chamber, said that when the organization learned of the firings, which were first announced Feb. 14, it reached out to form an ad hoc group to help Haskell’s laid-off workers. Along with The chamber, Lazzarino said a group that included the Lawrence Workforce Center, WorkforceOne, Peaslee Tech and the Kansas Department of Labor organized informational sessions to help those affected learn about what’s next.

“Right now, (the group) is focused on helping the displaced workers,” Lazzarino said.

As the Journal-World reported, nearly 40 probationary employees out of about 160 total employees at Haskell have been fired, including a number of instructors. The Haskell Board of Regents has sent a formal waiver request to Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum and to Russell Vought, the director of the Office of Management and Budget, saying the layoffs would have “disastrous consequences” for the small university.

The Haskell firings occurred as part of the Trump administration’s wave of layoffs, which are intended to shrink the federal workforce, the largest employer in the country. Agencies were instructed to terminate nearly all probationary employees who had not yet secured civil service protection – a move estimated to impact over 220,000 individuals nationwide.

Last week the ad hoc team held a session at Peaslee Tech to help connect employees with resources, Lazzarino said. People with the Workforce Center and WorkforceOne were able to give “hands on help,” including providing advice on resume making and helping people fill out unemployment paperwork. Lazzarino said the group hopes to eventually hold a larger career fair for the affected employees to connect them with new opportunities.

“I think everyone wants to help,” Lazzarino said.

Others across Lawrence have also been looking for ways to be supportive.

More than 100 people turned out at a community meeting on Feb. 21 at First Presbyterian Church, 2415 Clinton Parkway, to discuss the firings and provide support for the Haskell community. That included asking the public to donate to the Haskell Foundation, a nonprofit raising money in hopes of funding temporary contracts for discharged employees. By Thursday afternoon, the foundation had raised $138,541 out of a goal of $350,000.

A second community meeting is planned for 5:30 p.m. Friday at Haskell Auditorium, 155 E. Indian Ave.

City Commissioner Bart Littlejohn said he was at that meeting, which led to his request for the city to work on a letter of support for Haskell and to explore how the city could help.

Littlejohn said the activism in supporting Haskell made him proud of the community.

“That’s Lawrence. That’s what we do,” he said. “Haskell is a big part of our community, and I’m glad to see people step up and help their neighbors.”