“Lights On KC”
A new program “Lights On KC” designed to give youth and young adults in Kansas City a safe and positive environment for evening recreational activities will have an introductory pre-kickoff event from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, October 19, at the Southside Kansas City Optimist Club, 11154 Blue Ridge Blvd.
Youth of all ages, church and community leaders, families and violence prevention organizations are urged to attend the event which will feature a performance by GX International – Global Xpressions, an evangelistic hip hop and break dance team. Free hot dogs provided by Sonic, popcorn and a sundae bar will be available.
The first evening event sponsored by the program will be for young adults 21 to 30 from 6 to 11 p.m. Friday, October 25, in the gymnasium in the rear building of the South Patrol Police Campus, 9701 Marion Park Dr. Persons must register in advance online by emailing concernedclergykc@gmail.com and giving their name, age and phone number.
The free event will include dinner, basketball with former college players, a movie, board games and community resources. It will be hosted by the Hickman Mills Community Alliance and South Patrol.
“Lights On KC” is modeled after a successful youth recreational and violence prevention program started in Newark, New Jersey, that has events every Friday night during the school year and events three nights a week during the summer.
The local program intends to start off having evening events at various locations with or without gyms throughout the city on the 4th Friday of every month. The host organizations will be required to furnish a meal and life skills training, but they will be able to choose the age population of youth or young adults they wish to serve.
The groups that initiated the program here in Kansas City, including the Concerned Clergy Coalition of Kansas City and the Hickman Mills Community Alliance, envision it growing through partnerships with other organizations willing to host monthly events so eventually such events are held at least once a week.