The founder of Kansas City Urban Youth Center, Chuck Sailors, began with a deep passion and heart for youth who are underserved in the urban areas of Kansas City. As a youth pastor at an urban Kansas City African-American church, he became overwhelmed with the need. He began to work with a small group of older teens who struggled with relationships, school, family, sex and drugs and began to have great success with one student after the next helping release them from the strong bonds of alcohol, drugs, violence and other issues.
It became apparent that something more had to be done to reverse the trends and bring hope to this community. With this revelation, Chuck decided to start mentoring a small group of five 11- and 12-year-olds. With his guidance, these youth have gone on to attend college, earn leadership awards from their schools, and/or start Bible study groups in their schools. They have learned to overcome the obstacles, stereotypes and segregation that so many young African-Americans in urban Kansas City must contend with.
Chuck and the founding board members incorporated Kansas City Urban Youth Center in March 2004. On the first day of afterschool programming, they served 20 youth from a neighboring apartment complex. In the short time since, KCUYC has grown to serving more than 200 youth in three sites across urban Kansas City.
The founder of Kansas City Urban Youth Center, Chuck Sailors, began with a deep passion and heart for youth who are underserved in the urban areas of Kansas City. As a youth pastor at an urban Kansas City African-American church, he became overwhelmed with the need. He began to work with a small group of older teens who struggled with relationships, school, family, sex and drugs and began to have great success with one student after the next helping release them from the strong bonds of alcohol, drugs, violence and other issues. 
