Much more than dance programming, Kansas City Friends of Alvin Ailey's (KCFAA) AC and ACTG programs help students, primarily underserved youth of color, develop their social-emotional and coping skills, strengthen relationships, deepen community engagement and improve related skills. 

AileyCamp is KCFAA's school-based program for middle school-age youth.

The AileyCamp The Group is an after-school community-based program held at KCFAA in the historic 18th & Vine Jazz District of Kansas City. ACTG serves high school-aged graduates of AC. It supports these graduates as they continue their personal development through group discussion, forums and opportunities to explore local diverse cultural institutions, while also gaining dance experience year-round.

Mental Health First Aid

Personal development in the context of prevention services has been a primary component of AC since its inception. New elements to the program include the incorporation of the personal development curriculum and financial literacy into monthly ACTG workshops. KCFAA has trained all staff and contractors in Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) and will continue to do so going forweard.

Together, AC and ACTG serve approximately 130 youth, the majority of whom reside in areas identified on the hot-spot violent crime areas. 

Serving Youth At Increased Risk

KCFAA's offices and studio are located at the corner of 18th and Woodland roads in the historic 18th & Vine Jazz District. Youth from the communities our programs target experience increased risks of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), including violence, substance use, and other social determinants of health. Many participants are children in foster care or those who are cared for by grandparents, aunts, uncles or other guardians.

Participating in meaningful, culturally relevant, and trauma-informed prevention services decreases children and youths' likelihood of developing mental health and substance use issues.

KCFAA intends for AC-ACTG's meaningful, holistic, culturally relevant, and trauma-informed prevention services to 1) decrease children and youths' likelihood of developing substance use issues and 2) increase students' protective factors including resilience, social-emotional skills, coping skills, drug refusal skills, and related skills to avoid perpetration or victimization of violence.

Locations

Click on the window icon (upper right corner) of the map below to expand. List of all program locations is included with expanded view of map. Locations are also listed on this page below the map.