Head Start sign, which was on display at the Family Fun Resource Fair, May 9. | Photo by Julia Williams

Julia Williams

Editor-in-Chief

For 60 years, Head Start — a nationwide organization — has worked to provide education and resources for children ages three to five years old, offering services to low-income families and children with disabilities. 

While the Office of Head Start (OHS) serves as an administrative system for Head Start organizations throughout the U.S. — and its territories including Guam and Puerto Rico, among others — to obtain grant funding and manage services, each city and location has its own local organization that assists with program operations on a local level. 

For Jackson, Cass and Platte Counties, the Mid America Regional Council (MARC) — a nonprofit association for city and county governments and a planning organization across the Kansas City metro, according to its website — oversees its area Head Start locations. This includes two within Northeast Kansas City: YMCA Columbus Park Head Start (1104 E. Fourth St.) and a branch of Head Start — which includes children under three years old and pregnant women — Early Start or EarlystART- St. Mark Child and Family Development Center at 2008 E. 12th St., within the Independence Plaza Neighborhood. 

In addition to cities having their own local program operators, each Head Start location is also backed by a sponsor. On March 21, YMCA — or The Y — announced it would revoke its sponsorship with Head Start — which involves four locations across the metro including Columbus Park — effective on May 9 after a 20-year partnership. 

“After much consideration, we made the difficult decision to transition out of Head Start programs,” YMCA shared in a press release. “The Y has been honored to operate Head Start programs for the past 20 years. Despite years of dedicated effort to recruit and retain qualified staff in an increasingly difficult workforce environment, it is no longer sustainable to operate Head Start programs.”

While MARC Head Start Program Director Kasey Lawson shared that MARC has a multitude of sponsors among its 33 locations across Jackson, Cass and Platte Counties, YMCA served as the sponsor for its Columbus Park, Fourth Street location. 

Lawson said in an interview that Friday, May 9 was the last day services were offered at the Columbus Park Head Start location through YMCA. However, as Head Start operates based on the county’s school district’s schedules, Lawson shared that Head Start would be out for summer session at this time of year, regardless of its current sponsorship status. 

However, its EarlystART location on 12th Street will remain unaffected by these changes, as its program is not sponsored by YMCA and has a separate provider. 

MARC is currently searching for new sponsorship partners to assist with the Columbus Park Head Start location, but Lawson said they are hopeful this location will be able to resume services in the fall. 

“I’m really excited about the opportunity,” Lawson shared in an interview. “It’s challenging to move through a transition but I’m hopeful for the future. We always welcome support and volunteers.”

Family Fun Resource Fair 

In efforts to celebrate MARC Head Start’s work throughout its three counties over the last 20 years — and to celebrate the 60th anniversary of Head Start nationwide — the nonprofit hosted a “Family Fun Resource Fair,” on May 9 at its location, 600 Broadway Blvd.  

This event — which Lawson shared was five months in the making — was open to the public, and with over 40 vendors, workshops and live entertainment from Kadesh Flow, Dinosaur O’Dell and The Elders, it offered an opportunity for children and families to gain resources and network with local organizations across the City. 

Of vendors in attendance on May 9 included Show Me KC Schools (2201 Lexington Ave.) and its Spanish School Navigator, Catlali Valdes. 

Valdes, who is in her second year working with Show Me KC Schools, shared it was her first time tabling a MARC Head Start event 

“It’s important for families to know the resources and options available,” Valdes said in an interview. “It can be tricky to navigate school options for first time parents; This is a wonderful resource.”

Her role at Show Me KC Schools, she shared, is to guide Spanish-speaking families in finding the school that will be the best fit for them.

“This event is a great opportunity to know all the opportunities, options and resources out there,” Valdes said. “We’re here to help families.”

Among other vendors who offered resources for attendees on May 9 was Literacy KC — a local, adult education program — and its Connection Coach, Stacy Williams. 

“We’re here as a resource to let [the community] know we’re out here,” Williams said in an interview. 

Williams shared the Family Fun Resource Fair would serve as a kick-off for a slew of summer tabling events Literacy KC will attend throughout the summer. 

As the program’s connection coach, Williams shared she assists students in finding jobs, while at the same time, builds relationships with organizations across the Kansas City metro. 

Located at 3036 Troost Ave., Literacy KC in addition to its workforce assistance, offers other services including computer and English language courses through its English language program. The program also aids participants in obtaining their GED for free. 

For additional information on MARC Head Start, Show Me KC Schools or Literacy KC, Visit: https://marcheadstart.org/, https://showmekcschools.org/ or https://literacykc.org/.