KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Over the past four years, Abreon Adams has seen people she knows get killed in Kansas City, Missouri. Adams is only a junior in high school at University Academy. She is also a member of Youth Ambassadors KC.
This year, Youth Ambassadors launched a violence prevention program along with the other classes it offers.
“We have to make a change because we can’t keep fearing for our life when we want a ride home from the bus, or walk home, or even step outside and feel the fresh air, you don’t know if you’re going to make it back in the front door,” Adams said.
Other ambassadors agree with Adams.
“I think (the violence) is kind of crazy,” Quinton Jones said. “It’s like it could happen to you.”
Quinton and his twin Quincy Jones, both freshmen at Ewing Marion Kauffman School, said they have a friend who was related to LeGend Taliferro, a 4-year-old boy who was shot and killed while he was asleep in his apartment this year.
“I don’t see how you could kill somebody. It would be very hard for me if I tried to do that. So I just don’t get it,” Quincy said.
The teens will cap off the violence prevention program with Youth Ambassadors’ first-ever Peace Summit this Wednesday, Sept. 30. The virtual event will allow teenage ambassadors to share what they’ve learned with their peers.
Organizers hope hearing the message from young people makes a greater impact.
“They always inspire me to think deeper," said Asha White, the office manager and executive assistant for Youth Ambassadors. "They always bring new ideas to the table. They bring their feelings to the table. It’s phenomenal to hear from them."
When the COVID-19 pandemic forced schools to close, Youth Ambassadors had to move its classes online too. The nonprofit, which offers classes on afternoon and weekends, felt it was necessary to keep the program alive during the stay-at-home orders.
Teens said the transition was easy and worthwhile.
“We give them the skills they typically don’t learn in school,” White said.
From financial literacy to how to use their voices for change, Youth Ambassadors teaches life skills while giving the teens their first job and paying them to do work in the community.
“It actually gets us thinking about stuff in the community and out in the world,” Quinton said.
“I’m not really a talkative person,” Adams added. “So when I am with Youth Ambassadors, it’s a comfort zone for me. I’m able to talk to adults and other kids my age I can relate to.”
Only middle and high school students can participate on the Zoom version of the Peace Summit. All others can follow the event on Youth Ambassadors’ Facebook page.
Register for the event by clicking here. It will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 30.
