Since 1998, BPU has provided thousands of opportunities for Wyandotte County youth to work and receive job training skills through a variety of summer employment and training opportunities in the community.
What started as a simple youth employment program has transitioned into a more diverse youth development and mentoring initiative.
Today, BPU partners with local nonprofit organizations to connect young persons with businesses, helping them attain the skills they will need for college or their first real job.
The emphasis is toward at-risk and lower income youth in the community, in coordination with Unified Government designated Neighborhood Business Revitalization groups. In 2017, BPU is helping nine area nonprofits assist hundreds of local youth in the community. This includes:
• The Argentine Neighborhood Development Association
• The Armourdale Renewal Association
• The Central Avenue Betterment Association
• Downtown Shareholders, Kansas City, Kansas
• The Historic Northeast-Midtown Association
• The Leavenworth Road Association
• The Rosedale Development Association
• Turner Community Connection
• The Northeast Optimist Club
These organizations have created a number of training and educational initiatives to help young persons, including a Learn-to-Earn program, a Leadership Development/Mentoring program, and a young Ambassadors Program. All are geared toward helping young people learn more about business etiquette, time management, crisis resolution, financial responsibility, while becoming stewards of their community as they grow and mature.
BPU is proud to partner with these groups and assist these area youth, and remains committed to bettering the community through its award-winning socially responsible efforts, a spokesman said.
– Story from David Mehlhaff, BPU chief communications officer