By Paul Thompson
Northeast News
May 11, 2016

KANSAS CITY, Missouri – How far would you travel to lend a helping hand?

For recent Independence Avenue Community Improvement District intern Rick Burro, the answer to that question is halfway around the world. Burro came from the Netherlands to spend two weeks working in the Historic Northeast this April, as part of a community service project completed by each student at his school.

The Independence Avenue CID can thank community ambassador Carl Markus for piquing Burro’s interest in the service opportunity. Burro’s mother is a former Kansas City resident and a friend of Markus. Although she raised her family in the Netherlands, she brought her son along when she visited this past Christmas. During the vacation in Kansas City, Burro had the chance to speak with Markus about his work with refugees and the improvement efforts surrounding Independence Avenue. He was quickly intrigued.

“I was just really fascinated about what he had told me,” said Burro. “Basically, my school gives us the freedom to choose when, where, and what we’re going to do. I love the Northeast, I think it’s a beautiful place, and I wanted to give back to the community.”

Burro wrote a synopsis explaining why he wanted to come to the Northeast, and it was approved by CID president Bobbi Baker-Hughes. The CID came up with a variety of tasks for Burro to accomplish while he was serving as the organization’s temporary intern.

“For example, we put up banners along the Avenue. We also participated in the planning committee for World Refugee Day,” said Burro. “I got to meet some refugees as well, and talk to them about what their life was like in the Northeast.”

Burro also took advantage of the International Marketplace during his internship. He was tasked with shopping along the Avenue and compiling a display of International Marketplace finds for the North-East Library. Markus said the CID was eager to show Burro the international flavors he could find right in the Northeast.

“The true reason that we wanted him to come here was that we wanted him to experience the International Marketplace,” said Markus. “We gave him some parameters, but we left him really open because we wanted to do a display at the North-East Library of what’s available in the community. He liked the selection of merchandise that he could find; he really felt like he was in a bazaar.”

Burro concluded his internship on Friday, April 29, and departed the Kansas City area the next day. Before leaving, though, he talked about the school program that allowed him to experience the Historic Northeast.

“I cannot imagine not having such a program, because it really opens your eyes and teaches you what the world is like. There’s so much more to the world and to people than what you see on the internet and television and social media,” said Burro. “It’s amazing to see the world and to see people. It truly gives me a great feeling to know that I actually helped people out.”