Community Change for Youth Development in Kansas City: A Case Study of How a Traditional Youth-Serving Organization (YMCA) Becomes a Community Builder

Kansas City, Missouri is one of six sites in a national demonstration project, Community Change for Youth Development (CCYD), that aims to increase basic supports and opportunities available to youth aged 12-20. The lead agency is the YMCA of Greater Kansas City. Because of its considerable organizational capacity and relationship with funders, the YMCA was successful in operating and expanding CCYD. The benefits of working with the YMCA of Greater Kansas City and the challenges faced by the organization in leading a community-based initiative in three urban Kansas City, Missouri neighborhoods, are the focus of this report. (source: Public/Private Ventures Web site)