A local organization is focused on helping inner city teens find their voices through creative expression.
Youth City Network has been in Kansas City, Kansas for nearly a decade serving students 11-18 years old. Every month the program hosts an open mic night for kids to share their stories, raps, music and poetry.
"With open mic nights it was just an opportunity for kids in the community to discuss their fears, whatever is going on in their life, to discuss with peers about school, family, about relationships," said Lucretia Haley, the co-founder of the nonprofit organization.
One such student is Antwon Crowder, a junior in high school.
"It's definitely changed me," he said. "It opened up avenues I never knew were there, and I thought if I can do this more and worrying about sports and all of that other stuff less, and keep up good grades, this is a possibility that I can take advantage of and something I can use."
Antwon said being part of Youth City Network also helped him get through the heartbreak of losing his father to cancer.
"He used the program as his outlet. He used it as an opportunity to share about his family issues, to share about what he's going through with school; he had a bout with bullying," said Haley. "He just wants to influence the community, he wants to influence the nation and possibly the world."
Antwon now has dreams of going to college and becoming a motivational speaker.
"Think about how not only can you do this to help yourself, but how you can do it to help other people," he said. "There's always a silver lining. It may look dark at times and you may want to give up, but you just got to stick to your guns and try your best to see the light in the dark, and that light for me was Ms. Lucretia Haley.”
Youth City Network also works with schools and other organizations to put on workshops for students. At the center of all of its programs there are two rules.
"Respect yourself and also respect who is up there," said Haley. "A lot of kids come in and they're shy. Let's support them.”
"At school sometimes you can't talk about it, with your parents sometimes you can't talk about issues you want to talk about, and even with your peers," said Haley. "They want to come and talk about stuff. It's a great place to just share."
The next open KC Teen Mic Night is scheduled for February 23 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. It will be held at the 8th St Family YMCA.
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Jade DeGood can be reached at Jade.DeGood@KSHB.com.
