North Kansas City, Teaching and Reaching Youth (TRY)

The North Kansas City School District was one of the original teams trained under the MO 100 initiative.  The original focus was “activities” for Red Ribbon Week.  Then in 1993 the team was re-organized and re-structured under the new name Teaching and Reaching Youth (TRY) in partnership with the school district.
 
TRY members have worked hard to create measurable change in the community and involve youth in program planning and implementation. 

Major programs include:

• Community Awareness Programs

• S.A.S.H (Students Against Self Harm)
• Bridging the Generations
• Bullying Prevention and Awareness – Stop Violence
• Developmental Assets
• Family University
• Rachel Challenge

• Social Marketing Campaigns

The community has been very supportive of these programs. As a result, we have accomplished numerous successful outcomes that include:

• Passage of Tobacco-Free Campus Policy

• Passage of Minor in Possession Tobacco Ordinance

• Passage of Keg Tracking

• Open House Parties Ordinance

• Minor in Possession by Consumption Ordinances
• Prior to becoming state law

• Reduction of vendors willing to sell alcohol and tobacco to minors

Reduction of adults willing to buy alcohol and tobacco for minors.

Middle School students from throughout the Northland gathered Feb. 23 for Operation Smoke Screen (OSS), an interactive event sponsored by Youth With Vision to teach youth about advocacy. The event was held at the Pleasant Valley Baptist Church in Liberty, Mo.

Maple Park and Eastgate middle school students attended the event. Those attending from Maple Park (left to center:) Amy Sielaff, School Community  Resource Specialist, Dakota Wilson, Cieara Blattman and Lauren Williams.  From Eastgate Middle School (center to far right): Courtney Brummett, Autumn Swinson, Andrew Pham and Wendy Marckx, School Community Resource Specialist.

OSS included workshops in print and broadcast media followed by a mock city council meeting focused on a possible smoking ban in restaurants in  “AnyWhere USA.” Students were assigned to be part of every element of the community, both pro and anti the ban, as well as city council members and media reporters.  Each community group had the opportunity to present their opinion on the ban. After an initial tie vote and further presentations and discussions, the council voted to institute the ban.