Brian Bartlett was eight years old, just days away from starting the fourth grade at Center Elementary School and LINC’s Caring Communities after-school program.

The child was killed as he slept Saturday night, Aug. 10, when a barrage of gunfire ripped through his family’s house in the 8300 block of Tracy Avenue. His mother was wounded. Investigators still have no suspect information or know of any motive for the shooting, police said.

LINC’s partner school districts are gathering their families and communities to summer festivals to launch the start of the 2019-2020 school year with games, school supplies and enrollment opportunities.

The 2019 School Suspension Summit in Kansas City challenged notions of power, race and identity to take on inequitable disparities in area school suspension data.

More Giving Groves are coming to LINC sites, giving more children the chance to help grow and nurture fruit-bearing trees for their schools and their communities.

The Center School District passes a $48 million bond issue with an overwhelming 82 percent of the vote in Tuesday’s election.

We are happy to share LINC in Photos 2018 -- a visual representation of LINC's impact and presence in the community. We look back on the year with pride in the accomplishments of our community and gratitude for the opportunity to be a part of the work. We wish you all the best for the year ahead. Happy holidays!

The first conference in the Heartland dedicated to the serious and growing issue of youth homelessness was held in Kansas City on September 12. The circumstances that result in a youth becoming homeless are unique and varied, but trends are identifiable and best practices exist. The agenda provided information about data trends, tools, and strategies that are proven to work to end homelessness among youth.