Confidence and joy: New basketball players thrilled with gift of shoes

The donors’ support sends a wonderful message to the students and the community, said Whittier Principal Phillena Layne. See the “confidence boost” that the students get “knowing that the community is behind them.

Take a look back at a challenging, wonderful year

As we look forward to 2025, take a journey back with us through the year that was. Thank you all our families, neighbors and community partners for making it a wonderful year.

KC Black History Project 2025: Legacies of impact

“A life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives.” — Jackie Robinson. Welcome to the 2025 Kansas City Black History Project with a new collection of free booklets, posters and calendars to be shared in honor and celebration of great men and women in our city’s history. Click to learn more and download the project.

Good health (and brakes that work): BikeWalkKC gifts LINC kids with bikes, safety training

It’s not the sparkling green paint job that Garry mentions first when listing favorite things about his new bike. Not the smooth glide. Not the speed. The Gladstone Elementary student in LINC’s Caring Communities program was in love with the brakes.

This is me: Clay Guild opens new opportunities for self-expression

Maybe it happened within a half hour, certainly by the 45-minute mark. But at some point, the LINC kids’ understanding of the simple directions from the KC Clay Guild art teachers ran fully amok — just like it was supposed to.

LINC helps U.S. Marines go for 52,000 toys in KC holiday distribution

The numbers — like Kansas City’s generosity and love — keep growing. This holiday season the U.S. Marine Corps’ Toys for Tots operation in the Kansas City area is aiming to distribute more than 52,000 toys. That’s a 30% increase since LINC first started helping the Marines in the monumental task five years ago.

LINC winter chess tournament draws 138 players from across area

The tournament drew 138 players to Gladstone Elementary School in Kansas City. Here are the results and a photo gallery.

Improving Genesis school makes case for charter renewal

One year after their school was shaken by the threat of closure, families and staff at Genesis School in Kansas City were back before the state making a case for its future with renewed strength.

Shop-with-a-Cop night shares holiday generosity

“This is a very good thing for the community to have,” said 16-year-old Anthony, one of the LINC children sharing in the event. “We need to show our love and our kindness to spread good things around Kansas City.”

Lights On Afterschool celebrations capture community school spirit

LINC’s Caring Communities sites celebrated the power of community schools with music, student performances, science shows, art, dance, lots of fun food and more during the month of October. Check out some of the scenes.

Big day in the Southland: Fall Festival shows off community love, joy

A brilliant fall sun shone on LINC’s first Fall Festival — and on dancing and singing students, art shows, science shows, horse rides, crafts and rows of tables where community partners displayed their resources and services available to families in south Kansas City.

Sports, fitness and life lessons for all: LINC athletic programs multiply

“It builds team work. It builds relationships. And it gives kids a sense of belonging to something. We want them to know they are important. We’re putting people in place that are going to teach them those skills of life.”

Palestine Senior Center celebrating new adventure with LINC partnership

“It’s a new day. A new journey. We’re going to work on our community organizing . . . get members back, thriving, being safe in their community and making sure they have a stake in everything that goes on in their neighborhoods.”

Fall Festival to bring Caring Communities fun, resources to South Kansas City Oct. 19

The Caring Communities Day celebration packs so much fun, LINC is doing it twice, this time heading to Kansas City’s Southland. The Fall Festival, Oct. 19, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., will bring free music, food, games, family resources and more to Longview Shopping Plaza at Blue Ridge Boulevard and Longview Road.

PBS feature 'A Tale of Three Cities' takes deep look at KC's most violent year

Following the most violent year in Kansas City’s history, award-winning filmmaker Michael Price explores successful crime reduction programs across the region in search of solutions.

LINC families, community love free movie night with Starlight

Free movie night at Starlight Theatre Saturday drew thousands from all over Kansas City, and LINC made sure its LINC kids were heard. “If you are in a LINC program,” came the call out from the stage, “I want you to scream as loud as you can!” And suddenly thousands sounded like tens of thousands.

Chiefs, NFL celebrate BoysGrow's work for youth and good health

Just a little more than a day before the Chiefs were to kick off the new football season, the NFL came to town to celebrate — and surprise — one of LINC’s partners in the work of spreading healthy, locally grown food.

Back-to-school highlights LINC's many services for families, neighborhoods

It was back-to-school week for the LINC Caring Communities sites, highlighting once more the wide array of services standing ready in LINC’s work of making stronger families together.

Better than ever: LINC and KCPS school leaders meet to kick-start new year

The set-up could hardly be better. LINC and KCPS, as both are enjoying renewed strength, organized a meeting of their school leaders ahead of the school year to better understand the many things they can do together inside and outside of the classroom to help children and families thrive.

'Aspire to be great': NBA star leads Hickman Mills mental health and basketball camp

We dropped in at Hickman Mills Middle School where Jason Terry, NBA star and coach, led the four day Hickman Mills & Jason Terry Relentless Mental Health and Basketball Camp. LINC helped support the camp organized by Cyrus Rodgers’ Faces of the Future Foundation. Take a look at the camp’s hard work and the important mission.