Founded in 2004, High Aspirations (HA) is a Kansas City, Missouri, non-profit organization, providing a proactive mentoring program to address the social, emotional, academic and spiritual needs of Black males ages 8-18 in the city's urban core. Preventing negative behaviors including violence prevention continues is an essential organizational focus.

By planting an all-African American faith-based mentoring program in the heart of the city, African American males' lives will be changed. These young men will be tomorrow's leaders. A nurturing program for African American males with a growing social capacity will lead to a better quality of life for all, beginning in the inner city and resonating throughout the area and world.

30,000-Square Foot Campus

High Aspirations' Mentoring Campus (HAMC) is 30,000 square feet and includes a 4,800 square foot Mentoring Center with a barbershop, two break out meeting rooms, one intern-workspace, three restrooms and a lounge area. The center also includes an open floor plan, with a teaching kitchen, youth friendly access to educational tools, and opportunities to earn rewards through a state-of-the-art media-game room with positive lifestyle components. 

HA has also developed The Mentoring Center APP (MAPP), which provides connection with our participants 24/7. MAPP includes job openings, vocational and college information, program partners, free items and resources, and local deals and benefits. The campus also includes an outdoor pavilion, 12 raised bed gardens, a mini soccer field, a flower garden as well as landscaping, security lights, cameras, and a giant BBQ pit.

More Than 72 Community Partners

HA has more than 72 community partners allowing connections with other agencies through the High Aspirations Network (HAN). HAN meets quarterly and is a place for sharing and networking with similar agencies. Since HA has been in the Longfellow neighborhood crime has decreased by 20%.

The program's irrefutable success is rooted in HA's deep commitment to link at-risk boys and young men to positive influences, specifically wisdom, experience, guidance of diverse successful adult male mentors, peer-to-peer accountability and support. 

HA remains committed to evidence based strategies, continuously evolving to adopt updated and enhanced programs most appropriately suited to serving Kansas City's at-risk, black male youth. Among the participants, 95% live in or adjacent to COMBAT defined violent crime hot spots. 

COMBAT Funding Supports Key Components

A COMBAT funding supports key components of HA's leadership programming, delivering youth violence prevention messaging, supporting academic success, inspiring leadership and promoting service learning. HA's leadership program meets COMBAT's priorities: encouraging abstention from violence and negative influences.

During 2023, HA will continue to grow in capacity by growing by one third and adding a Sunday 2-hour session raising its capacity to 210 mentees and adding additional interns, mentor's and mothers to encourage more men and young boys and literally strengthen their “High Aspirations.” 

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.