Several local nonprofit organizations are helping youth get a job this summer in Wyandotte County.
In the past few years, one summer employment program has changed into a more diverse youth development and mentoring initiative.
Supported by funding from the Board of Public Utilities, the youth program helps youth acquire skills necessary for college or their first job.
The emphasis is on helping at-risk and lower income youth in the community, coordinating with Unified Government Neighborhood Business Revitalization groups.
In 2021, BPU is helping nine area nonprofits assist hundreds of youth in the community, a spokesman stated. The organizations include:
• The Argentine Betterment Corporation
• The Armourdale Renewal Association
• The Central Avenue Betterment Association
• Downtown Shareholders of KCK, Inc.
• Groundwork Northeast Revitalization Group, Inc.
• The Leavenworth Road Association
• The Rosedale Development Association
• Turner Community Connection, Inc.
• The Northeast Optimist Club
These organizations have created a number of unique training and educational initiatives to help young persons, including a learn-to-earn program, leadership development-mentoring programs, business mentorship, art camp and a young ambassador’s program and programs focusing on learning life skills, according to the spokesman.
Many of these programs 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, the spokesman stated.
