What is Impact Center Schools?
There are approximately 200 homeless or at-risk students in the Center School District. We believe that no student should worry about where they will lay their head at night. We have made it our mission to end student homelessness in the Center School District.
Using the Collective Impact approach modeled by Avenue of Life in Kansas City, Kansas, we aim to see all Center Scholars secure and maintain permanent, dignified, affordable housing.
By partnering with government, school, non-profit, religious, and for-profit organizations, we aim to remove social, economic, health, and housing barriers for families. Join us as we seek to end student homelessness.
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Impact Raytown!
How did we get here?
In 2016 a group of community leaders, led by Mark Potter and Linda Braaten, met with Dr. Nibbelink and other leaders from the Center School District to listen to some of the challenges the Center School District faces. At the initial meeting, this group heard great things about the Center School District and some challenges involving declining attendance rates, a lack of accessible mental health providers, increased poverty, and obstacles involving college and career readiness.
Over time, a group known as Center Impact was formed. This group continued to invite more people to the table who could help achieve the shared vision of “Creating a network of mentors who empower Center scholars to thrive and the Center community to flourish.”
It soon became apparent that Center scholars would benefit from mentoring relationships, and the homeless families would greatly benefit from added resources. At this point, the group turned to Avenue of Life, which generously offered to become our model and coach. And that’s why we’re here today – we want to create a network of relationships and resources that will cause our scholars to thrive and our community to flourish.
Our Work So Far
Since the inception of Impact Center Schools in 2019, we have worked with over 30 homeless families in the Center School District. We have placed 78 scholars (33 families) in affordable, dignified, sustainable housing.
Case Navigation Flow Chart
How does it work?
Impact Center Schools is a three-phase program that takes families from being homeless to being self-sufficient and empowered to take control of their future. Our three phases are carefully thought out to equip families to create a better future for themselves while gaining stability through dignified, affordable, long-term housing.
FOOD MINISTRIES SERVED
VOLUNTEERS
DIAPERS DISTRIBUTED
Pull-UPs Distributed
What Drives Us
Our Mission
Empowering families to break the cycle of poverty through self-dignity, renewed mindset, and newly created opportunities.