Networking Expo to Explore Ideas and Connect KC Organizations and Communities
January 30, 2025
Kansas City, MO − (Highpoint Digest) − Kansas City celebrated a day of collaboration and appreciation at the ReBuild KC Networking Expo on January 22 in the Kansas City Convention Center Grand Ballroom. Community members connected with one another, shared ideas, and explored how local neighborhood projects drive growth and transformation across the city. More than 45 non-profits and community organizations actively engaged with participants, showcasing the meaningful impact they create in Kansas City.
Since 2022, ReBuild KC has invested nearly $19 million to support 134 projects and programs aimed at affordable housing, job training, violence prevention and more!
“ReBuild KC has empowered our neighborhoods to tackle critical needs and drive transformative change. The Networking Expo celebrates this progress and strengthens our commitment to building a thriving Kansas City,” said Mayor Quinton Lucas.
“ReBuild KC was created to empower our city to ‘ask for what we need,’ and the innovative ideas brought forward-affordable housing projects, healthy community initiatives, nonprofit support, and more-have truly inspired us all,” said City Manager Brian Platt.
The Neighborhood Services Department awarded ReBuild Grants to organizations whose projects supported one or more of the categories below:
- Affordable Housing Projects: Initiatives that provide affordable housing and relocation assistance for disproportionately impacted communities.
- Non-Profit Assistance Projects: Support for non-profit organizations serving impacted or disproportionately affected populations.
- Violence Prevention Projects: Programs that promote safety and reduce crime through efforts such as neighborhood watch groups, improved lighting, and home surveillance in high-risk areas.
- Healthy Childhood Environment Projects: Services that include childcare, home visits, foster youth support, and early learning initiatives.
- Housing Assistance Projects: Efforts aimed at aiding individuals experiencing homelessness.
- Job Training Projects: Workforce development programs targeting unemployed or underemployed individuals.
- Strong, Healthy Community Projects: Enhancements to neighborhood safety and health, including home repair programs and property rehabilitation.
ReBuild KC Recipient Impact Statements:
The Children’s Place
The Children’s Place is Kansas City’s specialized trauma treatment center serving the mental health needs of young children since 1978. With dedication, support, and the highest level of research-based care, The Children’s Place walks hand-in-hand with children from birth to eight years old as they heal from life’s deepest hurts. For more than four decades, children and families have looked to The Children’s Place as a safe and welcoming place to heal from trauma.
“The RebuildKC grant has made it possible for us to make significant improvements to our campus, which stretches from Rockhill Road to Troost Avenue,” said Ann Thomas, President/CEO of The Children’s Place.
“These funds helped update our campus and expand our impact in the community in two ways; first, by expanding our parking area we are safely able to host more people for training and events in our facility. Secondly, the additional fencing allowed us to provide a protected outdoor green space for children to play. Both actions complement the important work we do ensuring that Kansas City children and families have access to early childhood mental health services when they need to heal from traumatic events.”
Reconciliation Services
For more than 30 years, Reconciliation Services has worked to address the root causes of the economic and racial disparities facing individuals in the urban core of Kansas City, Missouri. Reconciliation Services strives to reach residents living in the 10 neighborhoods east of Troost Avenue, Kansas City’s historic economic and racial dividing line, as they face the highest rates of poverty, poor physical and mental health outcomes, violence, lack of education, and lack of access to life-stabilizing resources. Additionally, RS strives to bring neighbors together from different socioeconomic and racial backgrounds in an effort to create meaningful community connections that can lead to reconciliation.
“With the support of ReBuildKC funding, Reconciliation Services was able to finalize our Reveal Strength Campaign and renovate our historic Troost Corridor building, creating a state-of-the-art facility that honors our building’s historical character while significantly enhancing our capacity to meet the growing needs of our neighbors,” said Jodi Matthews, Chief Impact Officer of Reconciliation Services.
“In 2024 alone, our expanded capacity allowed us to serve over 3,500 neighbors-making vital resources like healthy meals, document assistance, rent and utility assistance, and counseling more accessible. This investment not only improves the dignity of our program spaces but also strengthens entire neighborhoods by giving our neighbors the tools they need to thrive.”
To view all grantee projects, explore the ReBuild KC interactive map.
This grant program was made possible through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).
Source and Image Credit: Kansa City, MO
