Description: Beginning as part of a public school reform initiative in Kansas City, Kansas, KCK Study Circles now helps people address neighborhood issues. Its mission is to connect, revitalize and empower residents to produce positive change in their communities. Since its inception in 1999, KCK Study Circles has succeeded in bringing parents and youth into community roles, raising test scores in the schools, and engaging them in community life. Churches are pairing with schools to guide students and offer support not always available in the neighborhoods. Youth have been engaged through a number of initiatives, and neighborhood groups continue to form to build stronger relationships between neighbors and the schools and community organizations. To date, more than 1,800 Kansas City residents have taken part in study circles.

Dates active: 1999-present

Web-site for project: http://www.unitedway-wyco.org/docs/what.html

Issue(s): Education; Youth issues and youth development; Law enforcement or crime prevention

Sub-issue(s): KCK's program has addressed a number of issues, including education, youth, racism, and a range of neighborhood issues (prostitution, vandalism, taking on crime and drug houses, vandalism, etc.).

Level(s): Neighborhood; city

Initiators: The superintendent of schools initiated the first round of study circles in a low-income sector of the city, populated mostly by people of color, to try to engage parents in their children's education. This was accomplished with guidance from a broad-based advisory committee, and with the active partnership of the United Way of Wyandotte County. The United Way then began housing the program as a project under its community engagement initiative.

Particular goals: The program focuses on reconnecting parents to schools for "grassroots community development." The objective is to engage those least connected to school and community issues and remove barriers to participation. The program's ultimate goal is "success for all our children."

Number of participants/year: 1,800+

Population of community: 150,000

Time spent by participants: Participants' time in study circles vary. Some groups met for four two-hour sessions, followed by action forums and action proje

Staffing/funding: 1.5 paid staff. The project was initially funded by the Kaufmann Foundation (a three-year grant), with in-kind support from United Way, and a grant from the Study Circles Resource Center's Study Circle Fund. Coordinators are now hired by the United Way which raises funds on a project-by-project basis. (For example, the school system has funded youth projects based in the schools.) Coordinators are charged with significant fund-raising responsibilities.

How meetings were structured: Study circles are led by impartial trained facilitators who manage the discussion and takes participants through a series of questions and viewpoints in a discussion guide. The dialogues start with personal stories and progresses to helping the circle look at a problem from many points of view. Next, the group explores possible solutions. Finally, they make plans for action and change.

Sample outcomes:

• Test scores improved in neighborhoods where parent involvement increased.
• Formation of SAAV (Student Advocacy Against Violence).
• Summer program for youth (Mix Up the Power).
• Downtown clean-up project involving youth.
• Students on in-house suspension took part in study circles.
• Initiation of the Adopt-a-School program, which pairs churches with schools to help church members guide youth.
• The involvement and empowerment of African-American and Hispanic communities.
• Black Roses, an after-school dancing and drumming activity for youth.
• Belrose Housing Complex started a tenant's association, held a youth sports camp, and rid the neighborhood of about 10 drug houses.
• Other successes:
  • Greater trust and communication between parents and school administrators and staff.
  • More parents and other citizens actively involved in volunteer efforts to support youth and schools in their neighborhoods.
  • Innovative neighborhood-level organizing and commitment and ability to engage the hard to reach. There's also a commitment to outcomes and outcomes measurement.

Benefits: "The participants of KCK Study Circles help drive the focus of the program. So, we're working this fall to re-launch our community study circle program and address the issue of racism. We realize that if study circles are good for the schools then they're good for the neighborhoods, and if they're good for neighborhoods, they're good for the entire community. It's a full circle." — Linda Quinn

Full story:

• Fanselow, Julie, "Churches put their faith in students: Kansas program creates school partnerships." http://www.studycircles.org/en/Article.557.aspx
• Mengual, Gloria, "Neighborhoods rally to boost school achievement in Kansas City, Kansas." http://www.studycircles.org/en/Article.96.aspx
• Quinn, Linda, "Coming full Circle." http://www.studycircles.org/en/Article.460.aspx
• Fanselow, Julie, "Kansas City, Kansas: Where Neighborhood Voices Lead to Better Solutions." http://www.studycircles.org/en/Article.248.aspx

Organizations that helped with this project: http://www.studycircles.org