Community Partners Help to Make the Summer Great!

by Sara Lissauer, Development Coordinator

  

The vast array of activities that have been available to the KCUYC students this year has been possible through the support several local organizations. Two such organizations are Pleasant Valley Baptist Church and Calvary Temple Baptist.

Pleasant Valley Baptist Church through Pastor Vernon Armitage came into relationship with KCUYC over the past year donating their time, treasure, and talents to impact the lives of our youth. The church has been involved in the renovation of our new program space and has provided several new books for the Center’s library. On June 20th the church came through in a powerful way for our kids again by hosting a carnival at our East Hills program site for the neighborhood families. This event brought together hundreds if people from the church and the community in loving fellowship.

    
Also our partnership has been expanded between the Youth Center and Calvary Temple Baptist led by Reverend Eric Williams. Our two sites are partnering together to provide a daily summer program to approximately 150 students from 1st-8th grade. In addition, students from the Youth Center have been enjoying physical activity twice a week in Calvary’s Health and Wellness Center. Activities have included training in fencing as well as time in the youth fitness zone. Pastor Williams comments on the partnership between our two organizations: "Life in urban Kansas City for is tough for kids. It's very easy to find yourself with the wrong people, at the wrong time and involved with the wrong things. The Urban Youth Center provides a safe, structured environment for children who need it the most. I have found that collaboration with the Urban Youth Center is a wise way to provide a safety net for the kids we pray for daily."


The summer program has been such a success in large part due to program partners such as these. We are grateful to the many that have played a role in the lives of our young scholars.

If you would like more information about how to partner with the KCUYC or would like to volunteer through one of our many programs for youth, please contacts us at volunteer@kcurbanyouthcenter.org .