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Greetings!
This is the weekly report to the LINC Commission for the week of Dec. 16, 2011. Our board is deeply interested in our work and wanted to learn about -- and share with others -- the great things LINC is helping to accomplish. |
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Missouri Receives $2 million for summer child hunger initiative
Missouri will receive up to $2 million from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to provide access to healthy foods to approximately 10,000 vulnerable children from the St. Louis, Kansas City, Hickman Mills , and Center school districts next summer.
"No child should ever go hungry in Missouri; but unfortunately, many children who receive free or reduced-price meals are at risk of malnutrition during the summer," said Gov. Jay Nixon. "I have long been a strong advocate for these programs to help children in need, and I'm pleased that Missouri is leading the way to help these children in the summer months as well."
The Summer Food Service Program uses Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards to give low-income families with school-age children more food resources.
The Missouri project operates as a collaborative between the Dept. of Social Services, Dept. of Elementary and Secondary Education, Dept. of Health and Senior Services, LINC in the Kansas City area, Area Resources for Community and Human Services (ARCHS) in St. Louis, and the school districts mentioned.
In 2011 the program was launched in the Center, Hickman Mills, and Kansas City school districts using LINC sites as access points because of their connection to the community and its work with school-age children.
Because of Missouri's success in the first year of grant implementation, the number of children receiving a food benefit from the grant will quadruple from 2,500 to 10,000. In addition to providing substantial nutrition benefits during the summer, this investment -- $1 million for St. Louis and $1 million for the Kansas City area -- will generate substantial local economic benefits for grocers, farmer's markets and other food retailers.
As part of the project implementation the USDA will execute an independent evaluation of this project. The evaluation will determine whether the model implemented in Missouri offers an effective method to improve food security among children during the summer. At the conclusion of the evaluation a report will be made available to Congress and the public.
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LINC sponsors spelling bee with public libraries
There are three levels to the Jackson County Spelling Bee: school winners advance to the Division Bee, and division winners advance to the Championship Bee. The winner from the Championship Bee advances to the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C.
The annual bee is a great opportunity for students around the country to show what they know in the national spotlight. It is a way to encourage our young people to work hard in school to improve their reading and spelling abilities.
In Jackson County there are currently 81 sites registered to participate, including 13 LINC Caring Communities sites in four partner school districts: Kansas City (Mo.), Grandview, Independence and Fort Osage.
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Chess tournaments draw big numbers
The annual LINC Chess K-12 Winter Tournament hosted nearly 100 students on Saturday, Dec. 10 at the Central Branch of the Kansas City Public Library.
 The tournament is one of several held by LINC Chess during the school year and drew 98 students from the Kansas City area. It is an opportunity for students to apply skills learned during LINC Chess programs in a setting outside of classes.
Four more tournaments will challenge students through May 2012, including the first-ever Girls Tournament in January and an Independence Tournament in February. Visit www.kclinc.org/chess for a complete list.
LINC also organized an Adult Chess Tournament in November with 58 players competing in three divisions. Several competitors were graduates of the LINC Chess Education Academy, which teaches adults how to play and teach chess using the same methods used in the LINC Chess after school program.
In January, new chess programs will begin in the Fort Osage, Grandview, Hickman Mills, Independence, Kansas City, and North Kansas City school districts.
LINC believes chess is a great way for students to learn and think strategically and enhances students' self-confidence, self-esteem and academic achievement. To get involved visit www.kclinc.org/chess or www.facebook.com/lincchess
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Hundreds of haircuts donated to KCPS students for the holidays
Barbers and beauticians from 31 barber shops and beauty salons will donate their traditional day off on Monday, Dec. 19, to participate in Barber and Beauty Day at Attucks Elementary School, a LINC Caring Communities site in the Kansas City Public Schools. Students will receive free haircuts so they can look sharp for the holidays.
This is the third year a LINC Caring Communities site has organized Barber and Beauty Day and the second year Attucks students have benefitted from the stylists' generosity.
Again this year, Power Partners, an alliance of electrical contractors and labor in the Greater Kansas City Area, are upgrading the electrical capacity of the gymnasium to accommodate the stylists' equipment. Capital Electric and IBEW Local Union 124 are donating materials and labor for the day.
Barber and Beauty Day is organized by LINC Site Coordinator Jamie Braden and her staff member Mahlon Davis. Stan Strauss is the principal at Attucks.
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Computer classes teach valuable skills
Seniors in Kansas City are learning how to navigate unfamiliar technology by attending Senior Adult Computer Literacy Classes at Southeast Caring Communities Neighborhood Resource Center.
 Classes will cover basic computer topics such as hardware, software, printers, internet and email, and Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
By learning more about computers, seniors will be better able to communicate with their grandchildren and relatives, and access useful resources online such as filing taxes and maps.
The classes are sponsored by LINC and the City of Kansas City, Mo. and are held Tuesdays and Thursdays, 1-2 p.m.
Ray Thomas is the LINC Site Coordinator. The site is a partnership between LINC and the City of Kansas City, Mo.
For more information call (816) 444-9300 or email rthomas@kclinc.org
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Roll Call in Northeast combats crime
Over 60 concerned residents of the Northeast neighborhood surrounding James Elementary attended a Roll Call forum with Kansas City Police Dept. East Patrol Station police officers Maj. Anthony Ell, Sgt. Jennifer Jones and other patrol officers.
The event was sponsored by James LINC Caring Communities and the KC Safe Schools project. It was moderated by Ronald Nguyen of Legal Aid of Western Missouri and Katie Greer, president of the Indian Mound Neighborhood Association.
Residents voiced their concerns over several crime related issues in the area and received tips from the officers on strategies to deter criminal activity.
Maj. Ell also provided an update on the plan to relocate the East Patrol Station to an area just north of 27th and Prospect.
This is the third roll call to be held at James since March. The events bring together neighbors, area organizations, police, and school staff to address issues of crime and safety.
James Elementary is one of 20 LINC Caring Communities sites in the KCPS district. Raul Lopez Gomez is the Site Coordinator; Jo Nemeth is the principal.
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New name, logo reflect increased school-centered focus in Kansas City
In November the School District of Kansas City, Mo. stated that the new colloquial name for the district will be Kansas City Public Schools.
The change reflects an increasing focus on school-centered thinking and better implies that schools "belong to the community they serve."
KCPS spokesperson Eileen Houston-Steward said, "We also want to develop a sharper focus on where learning occurs, at the school level. This new name and logo ties us closer to our families and the community we proudly serve."
The change will occur gradually over the next few months and will end with a formal, public unveiling.
Changes will also be seen in communications with the district including a new KCPS website.
To see the new logo and take a tour of the new website visit www.kcmsd.net
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Certification draws attendees from Springfield, Joplin to Educare event
In December, the LINC Educare initiative held a three-day car seat certification course in Kansas City, Mo.
Attendees came from as far away as Joplin and Springfield, Mo. to complete the Car Seat CPS Certification Course and become a CPS Technician. On the final day the class gave out a free car seat.
Educare has hosted car seat safety courses for caregivers, as well as endorsed seat belt safety among students and parents at local schools.
The event was hosted at Boone Caring Communities in the Center School District on December 7-9.
In January Educare will present another session of Developing Your Child Care Business classes. This six-week course helps area child care providers access resources and learn tips on how to run their business more effectively.
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Mentoring exemplifies link between education and success
In response to a request by Grandview School District Superintendent Dr. Ralph Teran, mentoring programs will soon begin at all five LINC Caring Communities sites in that district.
The Grandview Men's Groups will bring fathers and community members to share success stories with 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade boys. The stories will exemplify that performing well in school is linked to having a successful career.
Male LINC staff members will also work with boys twice a week to teach leadership skills.
The program will begin in January. In December, mentors from Conn-West Caring Communities heard an overview of the Character Counts! program which will be used as a framework within the mentorship program.
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Mentoring exemplifies link between education and success
LINC's 2011 Year in Photos shows how we have affected our communities - from school families to the Greater KC Metro area.
See how we learned, played, connected, improved, read, cooked, explored and gave thanks this year at www.kclinc.org/yearinphotos
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 Happy Holidays from LINC
LINC wishes you and your family a safe and happy holiday season.
The LINC office will be closed Dec. 21 through Jan. 3 and will reopen on Wednesday, Jan. 4.
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Contact Information
Brent Schondelmeyer, Director of Communications
phone: (816) 410-8350
email: bschonde@kclinc.org |
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LINC is excited to host the 2012 Jackson County Spelling Bee with its sponsors, the 
