Positive Norms Campaign

It is Time to Step up! This Positive Norms Change Campaign was created by the Youth of Wyandotte County asking adults in their community to step up and be a role model. Youth identified priority areas where they need support from adults in their life and communities. For each of these areas you will find information on the realities faced by youth, resources to support them, and calls to action to help keep them safe.

Digital Safety

Cyber safety for teens involves being aware of potential online risks and taking steps to protect themselves. Key areas include privacy settings, responsible online behavior, and understanding how to identify and avoid scams, cyberbullying, and other dangers. Open communication with trusted adults is also crucial.

Digital safety for youth refers to the knowledge, skills, and behaviors necessary to navigate the online world safely and responsibly. It encompasses understanding potential risks like cyberbullying, inappropriate content, and online predators, and knowing how to protect personal information, devices, and reputation. Ultimately, it’s about empowering young people to make informed decisions and manage their digital footprint effectively.

The Reality: Digital Safety is complex, but imperative

The reality of digital safety for youth is complex and constantly evolving, with both potential benefits and significant risks associated with online activity. While digital technologies offer opportunities for learning, connection, and community building, they also expose young people to challenges like cyberbullying, inappropriate content, online predators, and the misuse of personal information. Effective digital safety strategies require a holistic approach that includes education, open communication, and a focus on building digital literacy skills

Online experiences can significantly impact a young person’s mental health, with risks such as anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, and even suicidal ideation stemming from negative interactions, and exposure to harmful content.

43% of young adults had seen self-harm content on Instagram.
32.5% indicated that they had performed the same or similar self-harming behavior as a consequence of seeing self-harm content.
20% of teens have sent or received a nude or semi-nude photo or video of themselves.
25% of young people see illicit drugs advertised for sale on social media.
5% of middle and high school students reported they had been the victim of sextortion.
323% increase in online enticement of children between 2021 and 2023 reported by National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
12,600 sextortion victims reported by the FBI from October 2021 to March 2023, at least 20 of whom died by suicide

Positive Action Steps for Adults

Importance of Open Communication

Youth often react defensively to cautions or corrections to online behavior. Experts agree that creating an environment where they feel connected to you as a parent and safe in disclosing experiences and content, they see online is critical to equipping them with the skills they need to stay safe.

Setting Boundaries and Expectations

Discuss and establish clear rules and expectations for technology use, including appropriate online behavior, privacy settings, and responsible social media practices

Utilizing Safety Features

Familiarize yourself with and utilize parental controls, privacy settings, and other safety features offered by online platforms and devices.

Role Modeling

Be a positive role model by demonstrating responsible online behavior yourself, such as limiting your own screen time, practicing good privacy habits, and being mindful of your online interactions.

Call To Action

The internet can be a very cool place that provides education and opportunities that might not exist otherwise. Normalizing open and regular conversation about online activity, even when things are going well, makes it much easier for parents to have the harder discussions later. Make it part of regular conversation. Regularly asking questions such as “Have you seen anything online that scared or surprised you recently?” can create opportunities to for youth to voice concerns or share about their experiences in ways that they otherwise might not be comfortable doing so.

Role model the behavior you want youth to exhibit online. Showing youth what information is appropriate to share online and showing others respect online is a great way to lead by example.

Sharing your own learning experiences about online safety can help normalize the conversation and show children that everyone makes mistakes and can learn from them. Get comfortable having difficult conversations and sharing human experiences with internet usage. Tailor your conversations to your child’s age and understanding. Start early with basic concepts like not sharing personal information and gradually introduce more complex topics as they get older.

Economic opportunities for youth

Economic opportunities for youth involve providing them with the necessary skills, resources, and support to pursue sustainable livelihoods. This can be achieved through various avenues like vocational training, entrepreneurship programs, access to financial literacy, and mentorship. These initiatives aim to equip young people with the tools to enter the workforce, start their own businesses, and contribute to economic growth.

Youth with economic opportunities are less likely to engage in risky behaviors or become involved with the criminal justice system. Achieving economic independence can boost young people’s self-esteem and confidence, empowering them to pursue their goals and contribute to their communities.

The Reality: Economic Opportunities for Youth are not Prolific

While global youth employment has seen some recovery since the pandemic, significant challenges remain, with millions of young people still facing unemployment or underemployment. The reality is that educational systems, labor markets, and social policies haven’t uniformly supported young people in transitioning to financial security and successful adulthood.

Positive Action Steps for Adults

Providing Mentorship
Formal and informal mentorship programs connect young people with experienced adults who can offer advice, support, and networking opportunities

Role Modeling
Formal and informal mentorship programs connect young people with experienced adults who can offer advice, support, and networking opportunities

Financial Literacy Education
Formal and informal mentorship programs connect young people with experienced adults who can offer advice, support, and networking opportunities

Call to Action

Adults can advocate for policies and programs that address systemic inequalities that disproportionately affect certain groups of young people

Adults play a crucial role in supporting youth economic opportunities, both directly and indirectly. Economic stability at home positively impacts a young person’s engagement in education and work, while adult involvement in career exploration and financial literacy can significantly shape a young person’s future success. Furthermore, programs that support young parents in balancing work and education can be vital for both individual and family well-being

As a role model, your role is to support youth and provide them with career guidance, not career decisions. Youth will need resources and encouragement as they figure out their potential career path. Give youth access to your own wealth of knowledge, while respecting their independence, and individuality.

Building Strong Foundations: Life Skills & Emotional Wellness for Youth

What would it look like to see a generation of young people who not only dream big, but have the tools, confidence, and emotional grounding to achieve those dreams. Life skills and emotional wellness are not add-ons to youth development; they are the foundation for thriving.

When youth know how to manage their emotions, communicate effectively, make wise decisions, and navigate real-life situations, they are more likely to succeed in school, relationships, and the workforce. As adults, it is our responsibility to model, teach, and champion these essential tools for lifelong thriving success.

The Reality: Gaps That Undermine Growth

Life Skills

Nearly half of U.S. states still do not require all high school students to take a stand-alone personal finance course, leaving millions of students without guaranteed access to essential financial education.
Many youth leave school feeling unprepared for independent living; lacking experience in cooking, budgeting, or job readiness.

Emotional Wellness

According to the CDC, over 40% of teens report persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness.
Youth experiencing emotional distress are more likely to struggle with school engagement, social relationships, and future employment.
One in six youth experience a mental health disorder each year, yet many don’t receive support due to stigma, lack of access, or unawareness.

These challenges are real, but so is our power to change them.

Positive Action Steps for Adults

Teach What School Often Doesn’t
Find ways to model and teach essential life and emotional skills; from budgeting and job applications to naming emotions and using healthy coping strategies.

Create Safe Spaces to Be Real
Let youth know it’s okay to struggle, and that they don’t have to do it alone. Open conversations about mental health, self-esteem, and emotions help destigmatize asking for support.

Lead with Empathy and Vulnerability
Don’t just tell youth to “be responsible” or “calm down.” Show them how. Share your own learning curves and coping techniques. Help them build emotional regulation through your example.

Promote Hands-On Learning
Support programs and workshops that provide practical experience like job skills, cooking classes, resume writing, mindfulness, journaling, and group discussions.

Normalize Growth Through Trial and Error
Encourage youth to try, fail, reflect, and try again. Remind them that mistakes are part of the learning process, not signs of failure.

Celebrate Small Wins and Skill-Building
Notice and praise when youth demonstrate growth, whether it’s managing frustration better, showing leadership, or completing a small task independently.

Call To Action

Every young person deserves to feel emotionally grounded and life-ready. These are not luxuries, they are necessities for well-being, confidence, and self-sufficiency.

You don’t need to be an expert to make a difference. You just need to show up, model growth, and provide space for learning. Whether you’re a parent, mentor, teacher, or neighbor, your actions matter.

Let’s work together to equip our youth with the life tools and emotional strength they need, not just to survive, but to thrive. Start today by listening, supporting, and empowering.

Fighting Ignorance and Fair Treatment from the System

Imagine a world where fairness is not just a principle but a lived experience for every young person. Picture a community where youth are treated with dignity and respect, where their voices are heard, and their potential is nurtured. This is a world where adults lead by example; showing through their actions that equity, compassion, and justice are not lofty ideals but daily practices.

For too many young people, especially those from marginalized communities, the reality falls short of this vision. They encounter barriers of ignorance, bias, and outdated systems that limit their opportunities and stifle their growth. But together, we can change this. Every action we take, every conversation we start, and every system we challenge contributes to a ripple effect; shaping not only the lives of individual youth but also the norms that define our communities.

When adults model fairness, empathy, and advocacy, they don’t just change the systems, they teach youth how to create change themselves. By fostering environments where justice and understanding are the norms, we show the next generation how to stand up for what’s right and build a better future.

The Reality: Statistics That Speak Volumes

Disproportionate Incarceration: Black youth are 4.7 times more likely to be held in juvenile facilities than their white counterparts.
Mental Health Concerns: Approximately 70% of incarcerated youth meet the criteria for at least one mental health disorder, yet many lack access to adequate treatment.
Educational Disparities: Nearly half of students in juvenile justice facilities perform below their grade level, and many have histories of truancy and school failure.
Family Struggles: Families often face financial hardships due to system-related fees, with some having to choose between essential needs and staying connected with their incarcerated youth.

Positive Action Steps for Adults

Be an Ally for Justice
Show young people what fairness looks like in action. Start by listening to youth who have experienced inequities and acknowledging their stories. Engage authentically by volunteering with mentorship programs or advocacy initiatives that empower system-involved youth. Let your presence affirm their worth and demonstrate that they matter.

Picture a young person who feels overlooked finally seeing an adult step into their corner, advocating for their potential and not their mistakes. That moment of being seen can transform a life.

Foster Understanding in Your Circles
Use your voice to challenge ignorance. Share stories of progress and fairness in your community. Normalize discussions about justice and equity, focusing on solutions that uplift everyone.

By initiating these conversations, you model the importance of questioning bias and seeking understanding—behaviors youth will mirror in their interactions.

Celebrate and Teach Advocacy
Empower youth to be changemakers. Partner with organizations that provide tools for young people to advocate for themselves and their peers. Celebrate their leadership and amplify their voices in community spaces.

Imagine a youth-led initiative, inspired by your encouragement, that pushes for restorative practices in schools. Your actions plant seeds of courage and agency that grow into systemic change.

Model Restorative Practices
Let fairness guide your interactions. Resolve conflicts with empathy, prioritize healing over punishment, and advocate for second chances. Encourage schools, community centers, and courts to adopt restorative approaches.

When youth see adults valuing relationships and focusing on repair, they learn that justice is about building bridges, not burning them.

Highlight the Wins
Change doesn’t happen overnight, but every step forward matters. Celebrate stories of communities implementing equitable practices and making a difference in the lives of youth. Share these victories to inspire others and build momentum for broader change.

When we can all begin to see a community where young people graduate from diversion programs into thriving careers because someone believed in their potential, commitment to that vision will fuel this cycle of hope and opportunity.

Call To Action

At the heart of this work is a simple truth: we are stronger when every member of our community is treated with respect, dignity, and fairness. By living out the values of justice, compassion, and accountability, we not only create safer and more equitable systems but also model behaviors that inspire youth to do the same.

It doesn’t take much to imagine the ripple effect of these actions—how the fairness we model today can influence generations to come. Take the first step. Advocate, educate, and empower. Together, let’s build a culture where fairness and equity are the norms that define us.

Youth Group Activities

Community Center and Physical Activities

Open Gym & Free Play Activities

Beatrice Lee Community Center Activities

Activstars Cheer Wednesdays 6:30-8:30p for Youth ages 4 -17

ActivStars youth cheerleading is designed to help participants learn everything they’d want to know about cheerleading and pom dance in a single program, using a modern curriculum that emphasizes team building, sportsmanship, and dedication to being part of a team. It’s the perfect way to bring fun and community in with chants, arm motions, jumps, kicks, and even some stunts for the more experienced cheerleaders.

$15 registration fee, $10 per week for 45-minute class/practice, payable at site.
Enroll online or at class/practice site.
Parents and friends are welcome to watch the first class/practice.
New students will be accepted up to the third week.

This is a continuing program each semester. Students must register by the third week to be able to complete the semester. Students may advance to all levels. Call 816-994-2644 for more information.

DMB Dance Wednesdays and Fridays 6p and Saturdays at 9a for Youth ages 5-16

This course is designed to introduce young students to tap, ballet, and jazz. Class is designed to teach children basic dance steps, turns, leaps, foot positions, carriage of the arms, and progression. This program will help build self-esteem and performing techniques will be learned. A performance will be scheduled in the spring. Dancewear, costumes (for the spring recital), and dance shoes are required.

$10 registration non-refundable per immediate family plus a monthly fee.
Classes are held at various times and schedules vary.

Please call the community center for information at 913-551-0438

Eisenhower Community Center

Youth Ceramics Tuesdays 6–7:30p for Youth all ages

Come join the fun and get creative with clay! This class is perfect for beginners and experienced artists. You’ll learn how to clean and paint special clay pieces called greenware and bisque. Supplies are available from the instructor. Cost is $16 per class. Call Eisenhower Community Center at 913-596-7070 to sign up.

George Meyn Community Center

Martial Arts Mondays 5:30p & Wednesdays and Thursdays 10a for Youth ages 4-15

$15 registration fee, $10 per week for 45-minute class/practice, payable at the site.
Enroll online ONLY.
Parents and friends are welcome to watch the first class/practice.
New students will only be accepted up to the third week, Monday, September 22. This is a continuing program each semester. Students may advance to all levels. Karate-Gi uniforms (433) will be available but not required. Call 816-994-2644 for more information.

Self-Defense/Karate-Martial Arts teaches:

Essential Life Skills – Respect and Discipline
Safety Awareness, Abduction Prevention, and Anti Bullying
Advancement through Black Belt with Certified Black Belt Instructors

Joe E Amayo/Argentine Community Center

Sports

Youth Spring Soccer – Saturdays from April 11th until May 23rd. Four different leagues spanning from kindergarten to 6th grade. Games will take place between 8:30a and 3:30p. Games will be played at Compass Mineral Sporting Fields. Registration runs from January 26th till March 20th. Cost to register is $20.

Flag Football – Saturdays from April 11th until May 23rd. Three different leagues: 4-6 years old, 7-9 years old, and 10-14 years old. Games will start between 9a and 2p in Bonner Springs.

Arts & Crafts

Epic Arts KC – Located at 609 & 611 North 6th Street, the clay studio is the heart of the Epic Arts Campus. We offer affordable clay classes to community members of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds. We’re passionate about making all forms of art more accessible in Kansas City, and think everyone should get the chance to play in clay!
The studio was a community effort from the start. For years, an old storefront had sat vacant on the corner of 6th & Tauromee. In 2010, local community organizer & artist Steve Curtis brought local nonprofits and dozens of volunteers together to renovate the space and help cover utility costs. Epic Arts KC offers a ton of opportunities for youth and their families to play in clay and make something special

Organizations that Serve Youth

Kansas City, KS Police Athletic League (KCKPAL)

All across America, Police Athletic Leagues have fostered strong relationships between the police and the communities they serve, especially with young people. In Kansas City, Kansas, in just five years, they’ve built one of the strongest PALs in the nation. At the KCK PAL, they’ve built a safe haven in the urban core that parents and kids now rely on to help them steer clear of crime and gang influences, while providing a unique offering of skill-building and fun activities for kids ages 8-18, always at no cost to the kids.

Archery
Driver’s Education
Fitness and Boxing
Gardening & Nutrition
Gun Safety
Hunting
Fishing & Camping
Low Rider Bicycle Club

Young Women on the Move

Young Women on the Move founded in 2005 to teach middle school and high school youth the attitudes, behaviors, and skills necessary to lead a healthy life in every aspect. Its name symbolizes girls moving toward the future with healthy minds, bodies, and spirits that are focused on life’s possibilities. YWOM serves middle and high school youth in the Kansas City, Kansas Public School District and beyond.

School-based after-school and summer groups are led by trained facilitators and focus on self-development, strengths discovery, and building a healthy life in all respects—physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health; relationships; academic success; college and career preparation; and financial literacy. Activities engage youth in decision making, teamwork, personal accountability, and motivation, building motivation, creativity, and hope. The Young Women on the Move Trailblazers mentoring program is active and accepting applications.

Starting in 2020, YWOM and partners collaborated to teach Love Notes Risk Avoidance Curriculum to about 1,250 youth annually in-school, after-school, and summer programs. Love Notes evidence-based workshops focus on the Success Sequence: setting meaningful life goals, attaining academic and career success, and building healthy and sustainable relationships. The curriculum helps youth to strengthen their self-advocacy skills, decision-making skills, and communication skills.

ThrYve

ThrYve supports a community-level approach to prevent youth violence by empowering youth and families to thrive by providing a safe and supportive environment for our youth and families to flourish. They work closely with youth and community members to provide a collaborative network of youth opportunities, including programs, training and outreach efforts that collectively help to reduce youth violence and promote more equitable conditions, particularly for the youth of racial and ethnic identities.

There are over 40 community partners across 14 sectors of the community that collaborate to support the mission and represent various sectors including neighborhood organizations, faith-based organizations, government, law enforcement, media, schools, social service agencies, parents, youth, and more. Through their framework that includes six project components, their community partners work collaboratively to implement both community and individual-level strategies to support youth and empower them to positively develop in a safe community.

Youth Ambassadors

Established in 2010, Youth Ambassadors (YA) is a strengths-based educational, non-profit employment program designed to empower underserved Greater Kansas City youth ages 14 -18 to use their talents to contribute to the safety and vitality of our neighborhoods and communities.

Youth Ambassadors is a trauma-informed, youth-centered place for teens to learn and grow. Their youth receive specialized training in Health & Wellness, Youth Entrepreneurship, Community Development, Life & Job Skills, and Creative Expression. Ambassadors who have mastered the social emotional learning curriculum offered at YA, are promoted to participate in additional paid work on community impact projects and internships such as maintaining community gardens, public art murals, neighborhood clean-ups, leadership on public health initiatives and collaborative educational projects.

Youth Ambassadors is designed to be a “first job experience” where youth gain valuable skills related to professionalism, time management, fiscal responsibility, personal development, team work, and accountability.

Health & Wellness
Youth Entrepreneurship
Life & Job Skills
Creative Expression
Financial Literacy

Heartland 180

Heartland 180, Inc. is a youth services organization that provides in-school and after-school programming for students from 6th through 12th grades, empowering them to direct their future through a proven Social Emotional Learning (SEL) curriculum. H180 also serves parents or guardians of youth looking for “handles” to better communicate with or to encourage a child involved in self-destructive behavior toward a better future for the health of the entire home and family.

Mission Adelante

Mission Adelante, which means Mission “Go Forth” in Spanish, is an Evangelical mission and church founded by Jarrett and Kristen Meek in 2005 as an outreach to Latino immigrants. As missionaries in Bolivia, the Meeks had experienced the challenges of navigating life in a foreign country and believed that God had called them to go out of their way to serve, share life, and share Jesus with immigrants in their own city. Shortly after returning to Kansas City, they assembled a team of friends who had a similar heart for immigrants and began planning the launch of a new ministry. After relocating to an urban neighborhood in Kansas City, KS with a significant immigrant population, the Meeks began meeting their neighbors and learning about the needs of the community.

Within a few short years, Mission Adelante moved to a more permanent facility and has grown to include a network of house-churches and various ministries involving all age groups within both the Latino and Bhutanese communities in Kansas City, KS. The heart of their ministry remains focused on relational disciple-making, and leaders from their community are emerging through intentional leadership development initiatives. Partnerships within their community are giving them the opportunity to come alongside other refugees groups including Chin, Karen, and Kareni Christians from Burma. The emphasis on making disciples and developing leaders is bearing fruit as individual transformation is becoming community transformation through Community Development initiatives.