KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Ivanhoe Neighborhood Council is hiring part-time help to clean up their community.
The money mostly comes from a COMBAT grant at a rate of $8.60 an hour and they're looking for young members of the community. There's room for about ten people to be a part of this program.
"They come into a leadership role, so we prepare them for when they go out for another job and so they know how to fill out a time sheet, so they know how to check their own work and different things like that," said LaShonda Washington, Ivanhoe Neighborhood Council youth program coordinator.
"We teach them the efficacy, or working and how to just be a good employee and so they’re going to be able to walk out with a lot of experience," added Jacob Moore, program manager for the Healthy Streets program.
The workers will pick up trash, weeds, and fix up vacant lots such as the one at 38th and Park or at 41st and Garfield.
It's a program neighbors such as Glyndia Lang appreciate.
"I think it’s a good idea, I really do. It gives the youth something to do and it keeps our community, nice and clean and makes you feel good about where you live," she said.
By giving young people responsibility, program leaders hope they can set the kids on the right path and possibly deter crime.
"I’ve seen many youth go this way. I’ve seen many youth go that way. So, we’ll see if we can keep on that straight and narrow path," Washington said.
Moore said cleaning up neighborhoods has been shown to have an impact on crime in the area.
"Statistically it says it will reduce crime, it will increase pride in the neighborhood it will make the community just feel safer all around," Moore said.
Anyone interested in the program can email IvanhoeNeighborhoodCouncil@gmail.com.
The hours are Monday through Friday, 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
