After months of intentional outreach through area congregations, 150 one-to-one visits with community residents, and 25 research meetings with park officials, city council members and the police, CCO leaders in Northeast Kansas City discovered some troubling trends.  Participants report a dearth of healthy recreational options for youth, residents complain of dilapidated and unsafe local parks, local high schools report a 75% drop out rate among Hispanics, and the local Police Patrol has the fastest growing rate of crime in the metropolitan area.    

Of course, this analysis is not unique to the City’s Northeast neighborhoods.  For example, high school completion rates throughout Kansas City proper drop 13-32% compared to suburban communities.  Impoverished neighborhoods across the City are in jeopardy of loosing their most valuable resources: their youth.