First century Greek philosopher Plutarch said, “The mind is not a vessel to be filled but a fire to be kindled." It's a statement that could almost serve as mantra for
PREP-KC, a Kansas City, Missouri, nonprofit that exposes students attending the city's urban school districts to a post-high school world of potential, possibility and promise.
“PREP-KC is an education intermediary that really aims to ignite the potential in all students," said Beth McCarthy, the organization's Director of Community and Industry Partnerships. “Some schools just don't have the resources to help students think bigger than their circumstances, but we want every student to see that they can set big goals for themselves."
There are approximately 68,000 students in grades K – 12 in PREP-KC partner schools, and, according to the organization's data, 84% of those students are low-income. In fact, PREP-KC's partner districts, which are located in both Kansas and Missouri, serve 19 of the 20 zip codes with the lowest median income across the Kansas City metro area.
“For students from communities of poverty, education, college and careers aren't often being talked about at home. This is one of the reasons we try to reach children as early as elementary school," said Beth. “We are very purposeful in the opportunities we provide students throughout their school years. We want them to know that their zip code shouldn't impact how far they go."
Said Beth, “PREP-KC pioneered a Market Value Assets program in 2016 because we recognized that far too many of the students we serve lacked access to opportunities that prepared them for the rigors of college and lacked hands-on experience in careers that interested them. Their schools just don't have the time to develop the partnerships and opportunities to take learning to that next level."
More specifically, PREP-KC partners with area businesses and organizations to provide high school seniors with Industry Recognized Credentials, internships and entrepreneurial opportunities. Students can also pursue college credit.
“We know students graduating from high school with a Market Value Asset are more likely to go to college, stay in college and leave with a degree. So while we can't personally help all 68,000 students in the schools we support, we can put the systems and structures in place to help the schools help them," said Beth, adding proudly, “At the end of the 2023 – 2024 school year, in the Kansas City, Kansas, Public Schools, an estimated 66% of graduating seniors left with at least one MVA. That's a more than 30% increase over the prior year!"
“Last year's grant from the Opus Foundation was the catalyst for PREP-KC being able to expand our in-person and virtual college and career exploration experiences. With that funding, we were able to bring on fulltime staff to identify, develop and implement new and unique life-changing experiences. These experiences are a lynchpin of how we reach and support students, so the funding was truly transformational," said Beth gratefully.
According to Beth, during the 2023 – 2024 school year, PREP-KC led 156 in-person experiences that reached more than 7,400 students and 264 virtual sessions that reached more than 15,800 students. While these figures are consistent with the prior school year, because these most recent exploration experiences were more purposefully integrated, they resulted in more students earning an MVA.
“We recognized that employers in the construction sector and other industries that rely on the skilled trades professions need access to a broader, more diverse talent pipeline to keep pace with continued hiring demands for projects across the Kansas City region," said Beth. “Four of our partner schools support a construction and trades pathway, but it needs additional industry engagement so students leave with the readiness and network needed to pursue a career in the field."
The goal of the enhanced construction and trades pathway is to provide students with experiences and activities co-designed with the industry that focus on connecting students with trades professionals beginning as early as third grade. By middle school, the hope is for students to participate in hands-on activities and tour high school skilled trades classrooms. The goal for high school students is that they visit work sites, participate in apprenticeships and internships and attend industry career fairs.
“Our partners' goal by the end of the 2024 – 2025 school year is to have recruited and enrolled 455 students into the construction and trades pathway, to increase related MVAs by 10% and for 25% of graduating seniors to apply for jobs with skilled trades employers," Beth said. “We couldn't set such lofty goals without the financial support of partners like the Opus Foundation."
Since its founding in 2006, PREP-KC has grown in size and impact each year and now serves six urban school districts and four urban charter schools that educate a total of 68,000 students in the heart of bistate Kansas City. With support from their funders, PREP-KC has supported 6,154 high school graduates in earning a Market Value asset and is increasing that number each year. The mind truly is a fire to be kindled, and with the right support, what an intense blaze it can be.
“PREP-KC is an education intermediary that really aims to ignite the potential in all students," said Beth McCarthy, the organization's Director of Community and Industry Partnerships. “Some schools just don't have the resources to help students think bigger than their circumstances, but we want every student to see that they can set big goals for themselves."
There are approximately 68,000 students in grades K – 12 in PREP-KC partner schools, and, according to the organization's data, 84% of those students are low-income. In fact, PREP-KC's partner districts, which are located in both Kansas and Missouri, serve 19 of the 20 zip codes with the lowest median income across the Kansas City metro area.
“For students from communities of poverty, education, college and careers aren't often being talked about at home. This is one of the reasons we try to reach children as early as elementary school," said Beth. “We are very purposeful in the opportunities we provide students throughout their school years. We want them to know that their zip code shouldn't impact how far they go."
Supporting Students in Grades K – 12
One of PREP-KC's core areas of focus is creating in-person and virtual college and career exploration experiences. For elementary age students, that could include workplace tours, hands-on STEM activities or career-jumping, in which volunteers from a wide range of professions participate in an event akin to speed-dating. At the high school level, experiences include learning financial literacy, discerning talents and passions, participating in career-focused pathways and gaining critical Market Value Assets (MVA).Said Beth, “PREP-KC pioneered a Market Value Assets program in 2016 because we recognized that far too many of the students we serve lacked access to opportunities that prepared them for the rigors of college and lacked hands-on experience in careers that interested them. Their schools just don't have the time to develop the partnerships and opportunities to take learning to that next level."
More specifically, PREP-KC partners with area businesses and organizations to provide high school seniors with Industry Recognized Credentials, internships and entrepreneurial opportunities. Students can also pursue college credit.
“We know students graduating from high school with a Market Value Asset are more likely to go to college, stay in college and leave with a degree. So while we can't personally help all 68,000 students in the schools we support, we can put the systems and structures in place to help the schools help them," said Beth, adding proudly, “At the end of the 2023 – 2024 school year, in the Kansas City, Kansas, Public Schools, an estimated 66% of graduating seniors left with at least one MVA. That's a more than 30% increase over the prior year!"
Creating Career Experiences
In 2023, PREP-KC received the Gerry Rauenhorst Building Community Award, our associate-driven award that honors our founder Gerry's legacy of giving and his firm belief that business has a responsibility to strengthen society. The $70,000 grant represented $1,000 for every year since Gerry signed the contract to build his first project.“Last year's grant from the Opus Foundation was the catalyst for PREP-KC being able to expand our in-person and virtual college and career exploration experiences. With that funding, we were able to bring on fulltime staff to identify, develop and implement new and unique life-changing experiences. These experiences are a lynchpin of how we reach and support students, so the funding was truly transformational," said Beth gratefully.
According to Beth, during the 2023 – 2024 school year, PREP-KC led 156 in-person experiences that reached more than 7,400 students and 264 virtual sessions that reached more than 15,800 students. While these figures are consistent with the prior school year, because these most recent exploration experiences were more purposefully integrated, they resulted in more students earning an MVA.
Building a Construction Pathway
In the spring of 2024, the Foundation provided PREP-KC with an additional $60,000 grant to support a more robust and results-oriented construction and trades pathway within the schools.“We recognized that employers in the construction sector and other industries that rely on the skilled trades professions need access to a broader, more diverse talent pipeline to keep pace with continued hiring demands for projects across the Kansas City region," said Beth. “Four of our partner schools support a construction and trades pathway, but it needs additional industry engagement so students leave with the readiness and network needed to pursue a career in the field."
The goal of the enhanced construction and trades pathway is to provide students with experiences and activities co-designed with the industry that focus on connecting students with trades professionals beginning as early as third grade. By middle school, the hope is for students to participate in hands-on activities and tour high school skilled trades classrooms. The goal for high school students is that they visit work sites, participate in apprenticeships and internships and attend industry career fairs.
“Our partners' goal by the end of the 2024 – 2025 school year is to have recruited and enrolled 455 students into the construction and trades pathway, to increase related MVAs by 10% and for 25% of graduating seniors to apply for jobs with skilled trades employers," Beth said. “We couldn't set such lofty goals without the financial support of partners like the Opus Foundation."
Since its founding in 2006, PREP-KC has grown in size and impact each year and now serves six urban school districts and four urban charter schools that educate a total of 68,000 students in the heart of bistate Kansas City. With support from their funders, PREP-KC has supported 6,154 high school graduates in earning a Market Value asset and is increasing that number each year. The mind truly is a fire to be kindled, and with the right support, what an intense blaze it can be.