Students to end summer program with a celebration in the Green Impact Zone

Sixteen students who participated in the NEXUS of Excellence summer program in the Green Impact Zone will celebrate completion of the program with an event recognizing their accomplishments. The seven-week enrichment program was designed for young people ages 13–18, who live in the 150-square-block zone in the urban core of Kansas City, Mo., where efforts are underway to transform a neighborhood that has experienced years of decline into a thriving, sustainable community.

NEXUS stands for the Next Generation Empowered to serve eXemplifying excellence, Using mind, body and spirit Sustaining the community to make an impact on the world. The program is designed to encourage entrepreneurship in the fields of energy and the environment. Participants people attended classroom training at the Pioneer campus of the Metropolitan Community Colleges, talked with local business leaders, and took part in field trips to “green” business operations, including two local urban farming operations. The program culminated with the development of business plans to help the students put their new knowledge into action. Participants also earned community service hours toward high school graduation.

The event will take place on Friday, July 30, 5:30–8 pm, at the Green Impact Zone office, 4600 Paseo. At the event, the students will showcase what they’ve learned during the seven-week program. Four groups of students will present on different elements of the program:

1. The NEXUS Exposure Trips
1. Missouri Legislative Black Caucus Foundation – Youth Leadership Conference in St. Louis, Mo.
2. Camp Wildwood – Youth Leadership activities
3. Trips to a water treatment plant; the Federal Reserve Bank museum; U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 7 Environmental Justice Program; and a KCP&L power plant
2. The Green Impact Zone’s key focus strategies and how they, as students, can impact the zone
3. Entrepreneurship ideas they have for green businesses in the zone
4. One of the students will perform a special NEXUS rap he has created.    

A video on the program created by the Metropolitan Community Colleges and featuring some of the students will be shown, and the students will receive special letters of congratulations from Congressman Emanuel Cleaver II. 

The Green Impact Zone is a 150-square-block area of the urban core, stretching from 39th to 51st streets and from Troost to Prospect and Swope Parkway. With help from federal stimulus funds, Green Impact Zone neighborhood leaders and other partners are working to transform the zone into a sustainable community, making it more energy efficient with SmartGrid technology; improving streets, sidewalks and curbs; adding and upgrading transit services; weatherizing homes; and bringing new businesses and jobs to the area.