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🌟TODAY is the Day! #givingtuesday Our 600 area youth served deserve more. Here’s how your generosity can have an immediate impact here at MLK Jr. Family Services: ✅Skill Development: Your support helps students improve their study habits and spelling skills through weekly face-off competitions. These moments of friendly competition spark academic growth and confidence. ✅Homework Success: Thanks to YOU, more students are not only finishing their homework—they’re submitting it on time, showing increased accountability, and gaining essential skills for success in school and beyond. ✅Confidence & Leadership: With your help, we’re empowering youth to step into leadership roles, fostering confidence and the skills they need to thrive in school, in their communities, and in life. Our programs encourage self-assurance, goal-setting, and public speaking—key components in shaping tomorrow’s leaders. ✅Cultural Experiences: Your generosity provides opportunities for our youth to connect with the richness of their heritage and explore an array of cultural experiences. Whether through field trips, art programs, or cultural celebrations, we ensure that they develop a strong sense of identity, pride, and global awareness. ✅Program Continuity: Your gift today ensures that our youth have access to year-round support, from afterschool programs to mental and holistic health programs until 9pm each weeknight at our Community Center! By offering consistent programs, we partner with our families to build a stronger sense of community. 🌟Today, we invite YOU to be part of this life-empowering mission. Together, we will provide a brighter future for the children in our community, just as Dr. King envisioned—where hope, opportunity, and love reach all. 💰Double Your Impact with 24-hours of Giving! Thanks to the generous support of PeoplesBank, the first $2,500 in donations will be matched dollar-for-dollar. TODAY, your gift will have double the impact in supporting our mission. Will you answer the call? Give at: https://lnkd.in/eb4VJJw5 #ShapingFutures #TransformingGenerations #BelovedCommunity413 #GivingTuesdayMLKFS

🌟 Invest in the Future of Civic Engagement This Giving Season 🌟 In today’s political landscape, partisanship often overshadows the deeper purpose of democracy. But students participating in the We the People program are learning that democracy thrives on collaboration, understanding, and respect for diverse perspectives. A recent study revealed an almost 10% increase in elementary students’ enjoyment of working with others after completing the program—showing the powerful impact of experiential civic education on young learners. These skills are essential for cultivating thoughtful, engaged citizens prepared to tackle our society’s most pressing challenges. This giving season, your support empowers us to create and expand these vital programs. Your contributions directly fund research-based resources for teachers, making civic education accessible to students across the nation. Today’s students represent our hope for a future shaped by constructive dialogue and collective problem-solving. Join us in investing in that hope. 💙 Donate today to make a lasting impact. #CivicEducation #civics #FutureLeaders #GivingSeason

Today’s students represent hope for a future where dialogue, understanding, and action can address the serious challenges our nation faces. Programs like We the People provide students with the tools to navigate these challenges by fostering collaboration and critical thinking. 📊 In a recent study, elementary students showed an almost 10% increase in “liking to work with other students”—a critical skill for civic engagement—after participating in the We the People program.* 💡 Your donation—of any size—ensures that more students have opportunities to learn that democracy is about listening, understanding, and valuing the contributions of others to strengthen our communities.  Together, we can help students build the skills they need to work together and lead effectively. 👉 Invest in Democracy Today at civiced.kindful.com Interested in going even further? Join our Stewards of Civic Unity donor club to connect with others who share your dedication to empowering learners and educators to carry and strengthen our democracy.

🌟 Invest in Civic Education for a Stronger Future 🌟 When we engage younger learners in civic education, we’re investing in a democracy that will thrive for generations to come. At the Center, our programs are designed to meet students where they are—helping them grow as informed, engaged citizens at every grade level. 📊 Our recent data shows the following: 124% growth in elementary students’ civic knowledge after program participation A jump from 38% to 50% of students who say they “always get along well with people different from themselves” These skills are foundational to building a more connected, understanding society. Your support this giving season can ensure that students across the country have access to these vital resources and that teachers are empowered with tools to inspire the next generation of leaders. Donations of any size are critical. Looking to make an even greater impact? Join our Stewards of Civic Unity donor club to connect with like-minded supporters who believe in equipping youth for active citizenship and a brighter tomorrow: https://lnkd.in/gQ_JWZgP Invest in our future today. #CivicEducation #civics #FutureLeaders #YouthEmpowerment #StewardsOfCivicUnity #GivingSeason

🎉 What a year it has been for The Beacon! As 2024 comes to a close, I’m reflecting on everything we’ve accomplished and the powerful journalism our team has delivered. This year, we: 🌟 Launched a brand-new website 📚 Partnered with the Kansas City Media Collective on a comprehensive voter guide 🤝 Held over 20 community events 📰 Published hundreds of stories that shine a light on overlooked issues in Kansas, Missouri, and Kansas City And it’s not just about the numbers—it’s about impact. Here are just a few standout stories from our reporters this year: 📌 120 Kansas kids are abandoned by their families because their mental health needs are too high. This series dives into the glaring gaps in behavioral health services. – Blaise Mesa 📌 What you need to know to vote as a homeless person in Kansas City. A practical resource guide that makes a tangible difference. – Mili Mansaray 📌 National conservative groups are working to limit transgender rights. They’re finding success in Missouri. A deep dive into state-specific impacts of national trends. – Meg Cunningham 📌 The Missouri legislature is cutting local governments’ power to pass their own laws. A look at how preemption laws shape what’s possible at City Hall. – Josh Merchant 📌 Raytown High students wanted a crackdown on violence, guns in school. Making the right changes is tricky. Elevating students' voices in conversations about safety solutions. – Maria Benevento 📌 Plasma you sell in east Kansas City could end up in medicine an ocean away. Exploring the for-profit plasma industry and its impact on the local community. – Suzanne King Raney None of this would be possible without our readers, supporters, and partners. Thanks to NewsMatch, every dollar donated now will be doubled—helping us continue this critical work into 2025. https://lnkd.in/g2CUPYbf

Last Sunday, my husband and our daughters joined a powerful community of girls from all across Denver, their moms, dads, grandparents, brothers, and friends, to run the Girls on the Run of the Rockies Fall 5K. It was an unexpectedly healing way to spend the first Sunday after the election, reminded of the joy and strength of women and the communities that celebrate them. Watching my girls cross the finish line, hand-in-hand with their dad (who may or may not have been lovingly dragging them at that point) was really emotional. Through GOTR, these girls learned valuable lessons about resilience, community, and kindness. And despite crossing the finish line feeling miserable and making declarations to "never run again, not even after the ice cream truck", 72 hours later they were asking to sign up for next year’s program. Type 2 fun for the win! As I stood there in a massive group of spectators, my fundraising brain couldn’t help but wonder about the revenue generation of this (really big) race. I later learned that 72% of all participating girls in our community receive scholarships to be part of GOTR. The prioritization of access over revenue isn't inherent to all non-profits, for many reasons good and complicated, but GOTR has found a way to make it work. I share this story as a point of joy, as a recommendation if you have elementary-age girls, and as a suggestion for support heading into the giving season. I’d love to hear what nonprofits you’re supporting during this holiday season, too! #GirlsOnTheRun #empowerment #girlpower #community #kindness #challengeyourself #resilience #family

🚨 Highlighting another impactful DonorsChoose project! 🚨 Imagine the frustration of having thoughts and ideas but lacking the means to share them. Many nonverbal students face this challenge daily. The ‘Help Students With Disabilities Learn How to Write!’ project aims to change that by providing essential communication tools. 📢 How You Can Help: Visit the project page to learn more and consider making a donation. Every contribution, no matter the size, brings these students closer to unlocking their full potential. Let’s provide these learners with the tools they need to communicate and succeed! #DonorsChoose #SpecialEducation #AssistiveTechnology #SupportClassrooms #InclusiveEducation

🗽 Building the Future of Democracy Through Civic Education 🗽 When we invest in young learners, we invest in the future of our democracy. The Center’s civic education programs provide students at every grade level with the tools they need to grow their knowledge, civic skills, and understanding. 📊 Elementary students experienced 124% growth in civic knowledge after participating in our programs. 🤝 50% of students reported always getting along well with people who are different from them, compared to 38% before. Your support ensures access to these transformative programs for students and resources for teachers working to foster growth and civic engagement. 💡 Make a difference today: civiced.kindful.com 👉 Donate now to provide students with critical opportunities to learn and lead. 🌟 Want to make a lasting impact? Join our Sustaining Democracy Circle with a $25 monthly gift. Together, we can prepare the next generation to strengthen and sustain our democracy. #CivicEducation #FutureLeaders #InvestInDemocracy #SupportTeachers #EmpowerYouth

Code Read, a youth-led nonprofit founded by Mackenzie Krestul in 2016, has donated 2,000 books to Canterbury Ave Elementary School in Los Angeles. The organization's mission is to provide access to literature for underserved youth in Los Angeles County, having already contributed over 50,000 new books to date. 'Every individual deserves to have books in their own home—books that resonate with them, igniting a passion for reading,' expressed Mackenzie Krestul, the visionary behind Code Read. The donation aligns with research highlighting the positive impact of book access on literacy rates, academic success, and fostering creativity among children. To celebrate the donation, Canterbury Ave Elementary students earned a free book fair hosted by Code Read on April 3rd. Each student will have the opportunity to select two new books and receive a book bag and other goodies, empowering them to choose their own reading material. With support from her siblings Jordan and Maddy, and mother Amanda, Mackenzie has spearheaded Code Read's efforts to bridge the book access gap. The nonprofit has received grants from organizations like The Nora Roberts Foundation and the Walmart Foundation. Code Read has launched a capital campaign to raise funds for a custom Bookmobile, aiming to expand its outreach to Head Start centers, children's hospitals, juvenile detention centers, and senior centers. @CodeRead's initiatives underscore the importance of equitable access to literature in fostering a love for reading and promoting literacy among underprivileged youth. #BookDonation #YouthLiteracy #EducationEquity

The first years of a child’s life can determine the rest of their development. Investing in early care and education (ECE) makes sense—it helps children prepare for successful futures and creates a high return on investment of public dollars. Funders of any size have a real opportunity to help create a system where all children can thrive. In our new guide, we share 7 principles that we have found to be crucial for ensuring success: https://lnkd.in/dGJTXM-3 #ECE #education #earlychildhoodeducation #earlycare #philanthropy #philanthropicfunding #socialimpact #socialchange