Unique library and food pantry in Independence "the start of something big"

The Farview community in Independence gathered for a joyous block party Aug. 17, celebrating the opening of a unique neighborhood library that shares a food pantry and other services.

'Your kids, Your families': Work against chronic absence in Hickman Mills means to get personal

The Hickman Mills School District and Attendance Works are taking aim on chronic absence, working with LINC and several community partners to develop personalized strategies that could help all communities ease the heavy impacts of missed time in class.

'An exceptional young man' lost to gun violence in Center, LINC community

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.

New website ready for KC families caught in scramble for summer and after-school programs

Finding affordable local summer and after-school programs can be a frantic scramble for Kansas City families. A new non-profit site — InPlay — has launched in KC to make that search easier. The Kauffman Foundation-funded site is open for business and seeking listings.

Feeling 'the buzz' after 'incredible turnout' for KCPS SummerFest

More than 7,200 children and adults joined in the KCPS SummerFest back-to-school event Aug. 3. Families enjoyed games, performances and crafts as they also completed enrollment and received backpacks and school supplies.

Center families get a jump on enrollment, fun at Back to School Bash

There was business to take care of for many of the families visiting Center’s Back to School Bash — like enrollment, immunization checks and such. But Center made sure it was fun.

Face-painting, balloon animals, mini-golf and hot dogs entertained the hundreds of adults and children who wandered through the many information booths, including a table for LINC.

'Justice in the Schools' moves fast in Year One to help KCPS families with free legal services

Justice in the Schools project director Cori Smith came with a host of numbers to present to the LINC commission meeting in May. But the one that startles her the most, she said, is the four-out-of-10 students who move in or out of their Kansas City Public Schools classrooms every year.

Kansas City Public Schools wins national award for efforts to combat evictions

The Kansas City Public Schools’ unique partnership with determined researchers and lawyers to help rescue district families from evictions earned national recognition this week.

KCPS won the 2019 Research and Assessment Leadership Award awarded by the Council of the Great City Schools.

The school district partnered with LINC, the Kansas City Eviction Project and Legal Aid of Western Missouri in creating data tools to alert school officials where district families were vulnerable and in danger of eviction.

'Together Towards Tomorrow' for Hickman Mills starts with rally, enrollment

The Hickman Mills School District’s drive to become a high-performing district is preparing for launch.

The mission’s theme — “Together Towards Tomorrow” — will guide its year-opening festivities, welcoming families for enrollment to its schools and its LINC before- and after-school programs, and celebrating with a community rally.

Back-to-School Immunizations Drive underway at KCMO Health Department

The Back-to-School Immunization Drive is underway at the Kansas City, Missouri Health Department, and parents and guardians are being urged to bring their children in now to avoid those long lines and wait times that only get worse as the first day of school approaches.

Back-to-school state tax holiday weekend coming Aug. 2

Kansas City-area shoppers once again will reap the benefits of back-to-school bargains when Missouri’s sales tax holiday kicks off at 12:01 a.m. on Friday, Aug. 2. The tax-free weekend runs through Sunday, Aug. 4.

Festivals, enrollment fairs to celebrate start of new school year

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.

Fake genetic test scheme seeks Medicaid, Medicare information for identity theft

State officials are warning service providers of a genetic testing scheme happening in many states, including Missouri.

Scammers are offering individuals cheek swabs claiming it is for genetic testing, but their intent is to obtain Medicare or Medicaid information for identify theft or fraudulent billing purposes. Fraudsters are targeting beneficiaries through door-to-door visits, booths at public events, health fairs, and telemarketing calls.

Sly James to unveil autobiography, talk of his fight for children's literacy at Plaza Library

Kansas City Mayor Sly James, launching his new autobiography, A Passion for Purpose, will sit down with co-author Sean Wheelock at the Kansas City Public Library Plaza Branch July 25 to discuss his career and the life experiences that have shaped his values and views, including his fierce advocacy for children’s literacy and education.

Learn chess or learn to teach it. LINC's free summer programs open to all

Chess Camp is geared toward children who have already participated in at least one of LINC’s chess tournaments and who want to advance their game. Chess University would be ideal for parents who want to be able to teach the game to their children and for school staffers who want to be able to help tutor children learning chess in after-school and summer school programs.

For families in need of a summer food site: Just text

No Kid Hungry is helping families in need of summer food help quickly find their nearest providers with a texting service.

KC School Suspension Summit: 'Oppression shows up when you don't know it's happening'

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.

LINC readers eager to dive in at 'Summer Reading Splash' at Sprint Center

Children from LINC programs will join some 2,000 children at the Sprint Center June 19 for the Summer Reading Splash extravaganza. Turn the Page KC and several partners put on the program to help keep children reading through the summer.

LINC ready to grow as Hickman Mills, Center prepare families for changing schools

LINC is working with Hickman Mills staff to help ease the families’ transitions as the district closes Johnson and Symington elementary schools and the freshman center this summer. LINC is also opening a new Caring Communities site at Indian Creek Elementary School in the Center School District for the 2019-2020 school year.

Songs of their lives; KC East High School refugees, migrants tell their stories in music

East High School teacher Diane Mora challenged her students — many of them refugees or migrants — to find the emotions of their lives in the songs they love — and then write about it.