2022 COMBAT Funding: $100,000.00

In High Aspirations' Own Words

HA was created to meet a missing need in the lives of African American boys and young men in the KCMO community and it has continually evolved to meet the changing challenges and enhance the successes it has brought about since 2004.

It is well documented that many young African American males are at risk and disconnected from multiple sectors of society, which includes the classroom, employment sectors and public spaces. Evidence of the path of young African American men into the criminal justice system is also well established and has been sensationalized in recent years, exemplified by numerous fatal incidents between unarmed African American men and law enforcement.

Causes and effects link to education disparities.

• African American Students make up 40% of the elementary students in the KCMO School District of the 40,000 students, yet 75% of the students removed from class were African American, according to The Kansas City Star.
  
  
• Missouri’s high school graduation rate for African American males is 54%, with only 42% graduating on time, as compared to 70% for white males (Missouri Department of Secondary Education 2015 statistics).
  
  
• Further, African American males make up only 4% of the overall college population and of these, only 33.1% graduate within six years.
  
  
• Poverty for the KCMO School District is rampant with 80% of students eligible to receive free/reduced lunch.
  
  
• Nearly all, 99% of HA participants attend schools within the District.

Changing Addresses 3 Times During School Year

The District has battled accreditation issues, superintendent transitions, school closures and a negative public image including a lack of community support that detrimentally impacts its students. School protective factors are difficult to maintain including bonding to school and promoting school pride. Poverty statistics for the urban core, where HA participants reside, are dire. The median family income is $34,100, well below the quality of life level. Eighty-seven percent (87%) of all public housing units throughout the city are located in African American dominated census tracts. Many of the 112 current participants during 2017 were inadequately housed, homeless and food-insecure.

The typical HA participant changes addresses three times during a school year. The majority are living in either single-parent female headed or grandparent-headed households. The vast majority, more than 90%, live within the KCMO School District where free/reduced lunch qualifications have increased so dramatically the US Department of Education ranks the District at 100% eligibility. The dropout rate and graduation rates remain extremely poor compared to local, regional and national data.

90% Reside In Or Near A Crime ‘Hot Spot’

Among HA participants, nearly 90% reside in or adjacent to COMBAT defined “hot spots.” Considering the frequent changes in address for these young men and boys, most if not all, will at some point in a calendar year reside in, near or travel through these hot spots frequently, to attend school, a place of worship, visit family or receive medical care from the city's health care and mental health care safety net providers.  As COMBAT illustrates through defined hot spots: KC's high levels of violent crime are concentrated in certain areas. Unfortunately, most of HA's mentees reside within or adjacent to these pockets.

A  challenge facing HA participants is the competition between life reality (present) and life possibilities (future forward looking). HA endeavors to intervene early in the lives of youth, providing them with the positive influence of a mentor, peer support, academic assistance and leadership building tools to combat persistent negative influences. The challenges, barriers and needs of the Black young men and boys served by HA are many. The support, encouragement, respect, tools for success and love provided by HA and its mentors can and will continue to overcome the negative.

Increasing Programming To Meet Increasing Need

New in 2020, HA increased the amount of programming delivered to participants, thanks in large part to a new HA site and an increased number of mentors volunteering their time.

Who experiences it?

HA's boys and young men, ages 8-18, are all enrolled in HA violence reduction programming because a responsible family member, friend, teacher, faith leader or neighbor recognized that the young man was in need of support and assistance. Risk factors listed here are prevalent and for previous generations of KCMO's young black men nearly unsurmountable per local crime stats and incarceration data. HA is offering evidence-based, proven successful interventions and activities that lift these boys and young men, surrounding them with protective factors and encouraging Higher Aspirations.