Kansas City’s Promise
Report To The
Community
“Kansas City has done it better than anyone else in the country.” General Colin Powell |
Greater Kansas City is the only Community of Promise, among hundreds across the country, that engaged in an independent review of its initiative. The Association for the Study and Development of Community, Gaithersburg, MD, conducted the evaluation of Kansas City's Promise. The report confirms:
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Kansas City’s bi-state effort, collaborative partnerships and innovative systems of delivering the Five Promises to children and youth make Greater Kansas City a model for other communities.
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Children and youth who receive all 5 Promises have a much greater chance for success.
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Kansas City’s Promise must continue in its effort to reach all 375,000 children in the metropolitan area.
KANSAS CITY’S PROMISE — IT’S WORKING!
Three years ago at the
President’s Summit for America’s Future held in Philadelphia,
America’s Promise — The Alliance for Youth, Chairman General Colin
Powell asked the nation to mobilize people from every sector of American
life to build the character and competence of our nation’s youth by
fulfilling Five Promises:
CARING ADULTS: A caring adult gives a young person a guide, a mentor and a role model to emulate. A sense of connection — within and outside the family — is a powerful factor that encourages good social skills, responsible values and a positive identity. Adult role models include parents, teachers, coaches, extended family members and tutors.
HEALTHY
START: A healthy start is not only what children need before
starting school-immunizations and school readiness, but to prepare for a
healthy adulthood, children and adolescents also need accessible and
affordable healthcare, including good nutrition; eye, ear and dental
checkups; substance abuse prevention; and regular exercise from birth
through age 18.
MARKETABLE
SKILLS: Gaining
marketable skills enables youth to find fulfilling work in the 21st
century economy. Young people
must master basic academic and analytical skills, possess desirable
workplace attitudes and know how to fluently use new technology, such as
computers and the Internet.
OPPORTUNITIES TO SERVE: Community
service not only benefits society, it enriches the lives of people who
provide it. Young volunteers have higher self-esteem, develop more
concrete career goals, perform better in school, build leadership skills
and learn how to solve community problems.
PROMISES WERE MADE
The bi-state Kansas City delegation to the President’s Summit for America’s Future, led by Mayor Carol Marinovich of Unified Government/Kansas City, Kansas and Kansas City, Missouri Mayor Emanuel Cleaver, continued by Mayor Kay Barnes, responded to General Powell’s call to action by pledging Kansas City as a Community of Promise, embarking on an effort to provide children and youth in the bi-state five county metropolitan region with the five fundamental resources by the year 2000. There were 900 promises made by 300 businesses, agencies, schools, organizations and faith communities to deliver one or more of the resources to area children and youth. Of these Promises; 47% served the resource area of providing Caring Adults; 33% provided Marketable Skills; 31% provided a Healthy Start; 30% provided Safe Places; and 25% provided Youth in Service.
PROMISES WERE FULFILLED
The Volunteer Connection — a
collaborative initiative of the Kansas City area
Volunteer Centers, was charged with the implementation of Kansas City’s
Promise, along with tracking the Promises.
Heart of America United Way and Wyandotte County United Way
provided staff, resources, and technical assistance to support Kansas
City’s Promise. The
Kauffman Foundation, along with many companies, organizations and other
foundations, provided program and financial support.
Promises Made A Difference
The most compelling story of
Kansas City’s Promise is told by the kids and volunteers who lived the
Promise:
“We had a child who was enrolled
in our tutoring program . . . she was making “below average” and
“failing” grades. After
attending some Promise meetings, our agency made assessment forms for each
tutor to complete if there was a problem with a child.
The tutor realized that this young girl was missing small words and
possibly needed eyeglasses. The
Center joined with another Promise Site to get vouchers for her to receive
glasses. Within a couple of
months, her mother shared with our program coordinator that her
daughter’s grades improved drastically.
Each time she received an excellent grade her teacher would give
her a silver dollar. By the
end of the semester, she had nine silver dollars.
Thank you KC’s PROMISE.”
“Jake started off the school
year slowly and continued to struggle through the year.
He attended an after school program at Central Middle School in KCK.
One of his teachers suggested that he check-out the computer lab at
the New American Community Center at Catholic Charities’ Migrant and
Refugee program . . . Jake was excited . . . he has become a leader and
tutor at the center . . . he is now an avid student and is excelling . . .
“
“He didn’t play basketball in
high school Instead, he honed
his skills at the Troost-Midtown Boys and Girls Club.
Poor grades and personal struggles had him pointed in the wrong
direction, but with a little work and a little help from a few caring
folks, he turned it around and will graduate this spring . . . by the way,
he has received a basketball scholarship to North Central Missouri College
in Trenton, MO.”
“At least 75 volunteers (youth
and adults) contributed over 500 volunteer hours to
develop and build a pocket park for the Armourdale neighborhood. The park was dedicated on June 24, 2000.
The site was chosen because there are no recreational facilities in
the neighborhood “
“750 dads participated in the
R.E.A.D. to Kids program affecting some 1,500 Kansas City children.”
“I have several children that I
see in my clinic that ask for a book as soon as I enter the room.
I believe KC READS enhances the excitement children have for
reading. It is an important
tool to promote literacy in the communities that we serve.”
“One reason volunteering is
important is because it gives people a sense of ownership in their
community and their lives.”
“My first volunteer experience
was in seventh grade. I went to an elementary school to help fourth grade students
with their math skills . . . “
“I had a mom who took the book I
offered her toddler and then confessed that she could not read.
I talked to her at some length about describing pictures and that
she did not need to read to use the books.
She decided that she would learn to read, however, because she
wanted to read to her child she called and worked with a tutor and is now
reading . . . she will also probably get her GED soon.”
“Ladd School is situated in the
heart of the inner city. About
50% of our students
either live in foster care or with grand-
parents. The
volunteers who come to Ladd have impacted our children tremendously.
Our students look forward to their visits.
Often times the Caring Adults who interact with our students are
the only positive role models he or she encounters . . . “
KIDS BENEFITED
Number of caring adults volunteering with children and youth in the Kansas City area is 11% above the national average
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Case studies have found that caring adults represent the strongest resource for children and youth in Kansas City.
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Youth indicated they felt that they received personal attention from people who care, and most importantly, that someone was paying attention to what they did.
Children of Kansas City are safer
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Before and after school programs provided safe places for children to play, and to receive tutoring, coaching and mentoring.
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Programs and events offered on Saturdays and during the summer months provided opportunities for structured, supervised activities in which youth participate.
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Evening events monitored by parent and adult volunteers, created a safe environment for youth and an alternative to the dangers they perceived in their neighborhoods.
More children had the opportunity for a healthy start
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Full-time school nurses, mental health services and classroom visits by nurses and doctors provided health evaluation and monitoring of children and youth.
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Immunization, health screening and referrals enhanced health care for children.
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Exercise areas, healthy snacks, nutrition instruction and high-risk behavior avoidance education programs reaped measurable benefits.
Employers have adopted more programs to provide children opportunities to develop marketable skills
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Programs emphasized reading, tutoring and homework assistance to build basic skills.
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Computer training introduced children and youth to high tech skills.
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Career talks, job shadowing and mentoring opportunities provided lessons and discussions focused on career planning.
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Classes participated in group efforts, such as raising funds for selected projects, delivering holiday food baskets, and neighborhood clean-up projects.
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Students were engaged in intergenerational programs, such as working with seniors to create a community garden.
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Nursing home visits, tutoring younger children, painting and repairing houses and serving meals at community dinners are other examples of youth in service.
Promise sites
emerged as effective model in Kansas City
Promise Sites are organizations
(agencies, schools and faith communities) throughout the bi-state area
that are committed to provide all five resources
to youth in a systematic and coordinated way at one site.
The independent evaluation of Kansas City’s Promise sited the
emergence of Promise Sites as one of its key achievements:
“The Promise Sites exemplify the potential of Kansas City’s Promise approach because they demonstrate what can happen when children and youth are provided with all five resources. Although the number of sites is still small, the ability of the programs to comprehensively serve youth is inspiring.”
Association for
the Study and Development of Community
All of the Promise Sites had
similar philosophies and were seeking to effect similar outcomes.
All of them articulated their belief in giving youth a safe,
healthy environment in which it is fun to learn.
All emphasized personal responsibility and building of social
skills as a prerequisite and integral part of developing marketable
skills. In each program,
youth had access to adults they trusted, could talk to, and by whom they
felt valued.
“We learned a number of lessons as evaluators, and program staff shared with us several lessons they learned. We learned that existing youth programs that share the Kansas City’s Promise mission were in a strong position to become Promise Sites; many types of organizations can sponsor a Promise Site; Kansas City’s Promise helped articulate and validate what the youth programs do; and the five resources can be provided in many different ways.”
Association for the Study and Development of Community
The evaluation included a survey
of the youth at Promise Sites. The
results of the youth survey showed that the youth felt the programs
delivered the five resources very well.
Youth at all Promise Sites reported doing well on the five domains:
positive behavior
PROMISES
WERE CELEBRATED
GENERAL POWELL LEADS SALUTE AND NEW CALL TO ACTION
On September 8, 2000, General Colin Powell joined more than 3,000 Kansas Citians at Hale Arena in “A Salute to Kansas City’s Promise” to honor the thousands of volunteers, of all ages, from neighborhoods, schools, faith communities, corporations and businesses and non-profit agencies who are delivering on the 900 Promises. General Powell lauded Kansas City’s Promise as “first in the nation.” He also challenged everyone to continue the crusade to make sure that all 375,000 Kansas City area children have regular access to the Five Promises.
MAYORS CHALLENGE “PULL YOUR WEIGHT”
“We must renew our promise to provide all children with caring adults, safe places, healthy starts, marketable skills and an opportunity to serve. We must continue to make our youth a top priority.” Mayor Carol Marinovich Unified Government/Kansas City, Kansas |
Mayor Kay Barnes (Kansas City,
Missouri) and Mayor Carol Marinovich (United Government/Kansas City,
Kansas) called upon all area citizens to “Pull your weight” by
renewing promises to ensure all children and youth have access to the five
basic resources.
MISSOURI GOVERNOR SIGNS “STATE OF PROMISE” PLEDGE
Late Governor Mel Carnahan joined
General Colin Powell in signing a formal document declaring Missouri as
the nation’s fifth “State of Promise,”
pledging the support of all state agencies in the effort to provide
all Missouri children and youth with the Five Promises.
“Our children are our future. We have validated this by the hundreds of Promises made to provide them with the necessary resources for success in life. I speak for all of Kansas City . . . I pledge that we will “Pull our weight.” Mayor Kay Barnes Kansas City, Missouri |
Kansas City’s Promise Moves Forward
The evaluation of Kansas City’s Promise provides compelling evidence that children and youth who receive all 5 Promises have a much greater chance for success in life than those who only receive one or two. As Kansas City’s Promise looks to the future, the movement will concentrate on providing all 5 Promises to youth, known by name.
PROMISE SITE FORUM
Kansas City’s Promise held a
Promise Site Forum on November 20-21, 2000 that was attended by 120
community leaders and representatives of agencies, schools, and
communities of faith interested in providing all 5 Promises to children
and youth. Participants
learned about developing Promise Sites from a panel of current site
representatives, and from recommendations outlined in the evaluation study
for the development of Promise Sites in the future.
Ron Kinnamon, Senior Advisor for
America’s Promise who designed
The Five Promises Checklist, was the featured speaker.
The Five Promises checklist is a new community tool connecting
people to the resources they need to fulfill all Five Promises for the
children and youth they know by name.
This tool recommends specific, age-
appropriate actions to fulfill the Five Promises and provides a
process that identifies service providers in the community who have
committed to assist in securing the five actions.
The Five Promises Checklist will
be used as a tool as Kansas City’s Promise moves forward in the
development of new Promise Sites. On
a broader scale, the checklist is a tangible way for communities to
fulfill the Five Promises for every child and youth.
It empowers parents, teachers, coaches, mentors, childcare workers,
troop leaders, juvenile justice workers
and other small group leaders who regularly work with kids and know them
by name to secure and combine resources from all these systems as needed
by their youth. The checklist is also a tool for youth leaders to use to
secure resources for other youth, their peers and younger children.
KANSAS CITY’S PROMISE STEERING COMMITTEE
As Kansas City’s Promise moves forward in the development of Promise Sites and training in the use of the Five Promises Checklist, a new Steering Committee has been established. The committee is comprised of leaders from Promise Sites, schools, faith communities, social services, government, youth, business, volunteer administration, health, foundations, and the original delegate committee. Leadership from Heart of America United Way, United Way of Wyandotte County, and the Partnership for Children will convene the Steering Committee. Mayor Kay Barnes (KCMO) and Mayor Carol Marinovich (KCK) will also convene with a group of bi-state community leaders to provide the guidance and resources needed to ensure that the Kansas City’s Promise movement continues to expand the delivery of the Five Promises to children and youth throughout Greater Kansas City.