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New place for south KC kids to go after school

Posted at 3:52 PM, Aug 15, 2016
and last updated 2016-08-15 18:55:43-04

With Kansas City's homicide rate on the rise and several of the victims being children, there's a new place in south KC that hopes to bring some hope.

"I think so far, it's pretty nice," said parent Shanise Washington. "It's pretty nice."

Washington brought her daughter to the grand opening celebration for the Hope Hangout, a place for kids to spend time after school or on weekends.

"Yeah, I would love to come here," said Washington's daughter Kalyssa.

Hope Hangout found a home in the Bethel Family Workshop Center at 10801 Ruskin Way in the Hickman Mills neighborhood. Not only does it provide a lounge for kids, it will also offer tutoring, mentoring, and just a place for kids to study.

"The cool thing about kids is when they find something that feels good they tell each other. I'm not worried about them showing up. I'm worried about having enough food to feed them all," said Marva Moses, the Hickman Mills Prevention Coalition Executive Director who helped start the Hope Hangout.

Paid for initially with $59,000 from COMBAT, a Jackson County drug fighting tax, the mayor hopes the center will help fight crime.

"We have too many issues now with young people dying and young people killing and everything we can do to prevent that is important," said Kansas City Mayor Sly James. "[Kids] find themselves on the corner with some kids that they shouldn't be hanging out with. Now they don't have to be there. They can be here instead. And that's good."

Organizers hope the center helps fill a void in this south KC neighborhood, where some parents believe kids are often left looking for after school activities.

"I think it will help keep the kids a little more handled and in control," said Washington. "There's a lot of children out here that might be a little misguided so they need something out here that will actually help steer them in the right direction."

A place where they can find hope after school.

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Justin Wilfon can be reached at justin.wilfon@kshb.com.

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