History
The Learning Club was founded in 2002 after two teens mugged and assaulted Brad Grabs on a Sunday afternoon near his home in Kansas City, Kansas. As his anger and fear gave way to compassion and hope, Brad left his career as a teacher at Rockhurst High School and started the Learning Club as a free program for neighborhood children. The former Blessed Sacrament grade school, near 24th and Parallel Parkway, was the home of the first Learning Club site, and also serves as the main office. Initially the program was primarily staffed by volunteers (many from Good Shepherd Catholic Church in Shawnee) and funded by the Gardner Institute. When the Gardner Institute dissolved in 2005, the Learning Club became funded primarily by individual donors from throughout the greater KC metro area, including the Dorman and Fiorella families of Jack Stack Barbecue, who have been a great source of encouragement and support.
In 2008, a police ride-along experience made Brad Grabs aware of the great need that existed in other parts of KCK. When the police officer he was accompanying got a call of a domestic disturbance at the Juniper Gardens public housing project, they drove at high speed, with lights and sirens, toward the complex, only to stop several blocks away. “We never go here alone,” the officer told Grabs, as they waited for two more police cars to arrive before proceeding. As Grabs sat in the police cruiser, he saw dozens of children playing in the very place where police officers were reluctant to enter. That event provided the inspiration to bring the Learning Club to the children of Juniper Gardens, beginning in June of 2012.
A desire to break the cycle of poverty for even more students led to the opening of a third site at the Chalet Manor public housing project in the Argentine area of KCK in the summer of 2013. Most of our initial volunteers at this site came after work at Unbound (formerly the Christian Foundation for Children and Aging).
Hearing about our successful program at other public housing sites, the leader of the St. Margaret’s public housing Residents Association approached us and asked if we would bring the Learning Club to their housing complex. In February of 2014, Learning Club opened a fourth site there with the help of Ryan Lawn and Tree Company. As the site’s sponsor, Ryan Lawn and Tree provides funding as well as volunteers to help operate the site.
In August 2014, Security Bank of Kansas City began to sponsor the Juniper Gardens Learning Club site. They support the site with funding and volunteers, mostly professionals from their main downtown KCK branch.
Responding to a request from the Kansas City Kansas Housing Authority, Learning Club opened our fifth site at the Cyrus K. Holliday public housing complex in March of 2016.
Our only site in Kansas City, Missouri, opened in November of 2017 at the Pemberton Park public housing site. Learning Club proudly served this wonderful community, which consists of grandparents and great grandparents who are raising grandchildren, until COVID and several logistical challenges led us to close this site in 2021.
With support from an anonymous donor, the Learning Club Teaching Internship began with James Snow leading a pilot program in the spring semester of 2018 involving 26 students from Wyandotte High School who served as tutors and mentors to our younger students. The following school year, Laura Swan led the Teaching Internship in its first full school year to include 90 interns from all six KCKPS high schools: Fairfax Learning Center, Harmon High School, Schlagle High School, Sumner Academy, Washington High School, and Wyandotte High School. The Internship continues to engage interns from all KCKPS high schools and Bishop Ward High School.
The Learning Club Teaching Interns receive a stipend and training in education as a career, life skills, and personal and professional development. They provide an extra day of tutoring for our students, giving much-needed support with homework and math skills. Interns serve at four of our Learning Club sites in KCK.
Interns also receive support in pursuing college and career goals, including resume and interview help, visits from college representatives, and scholarship opportunities. The Learning Club Teaching Internship Scholarship was established in 2019 to work toward the goal of growing our own teachers in the urban core. In May 2019, the first three Internship Scholarship recipients were awarded four-year scholarships based on merit, need, and the desire to pursue careers in education. In 2020, 2021, and 2022, three or four interns were selected each year to begin receiving the renewable scholarship. We couldn't be more proud of our future teachers!
Recognizing the Learning Club as a local leader in literacy education, the Superintendent of KCK public schools asked the Learning Club to develop an in-school reading program at New Chelsea Elementary School in 2019. That summer, 12 tutors read with 36 students for 30 minutes each week, inspiring a love for reading among struggling readers. In the spring of 2020, the Learning Club was able to expand the in-school reading program through a partnership with the Wyandotte County District Attorney's Office. Volunteers from the DA's Office read with students at Banneker Elementary (KCK) once a week until COVID restrictions temporarily changed our programming. Since that time, Learning Club has expanded our in-school reading program to include Silver City Elementary in 2022, with plans to begin a program at Whittier Elementary and re-start the program at Banneker Elementary in early 2023.
Learning Club's in-school, after-school, and internship programs run throughout the school year. However, summer has always been a difficult time for children who live in poverty. In order to continue developing the academic skills of our students and provide them with a safe, enriching place with healthful food during the summer months, Learning Club began a partnership with Kansas City Kansas Community College in 2019. Starting that summer, our students, along with some of our staff, have participated in the fun, educational, and engaging program called "Kids on Campus" at KCKCC. Learning Club provides full scholarships for our students to attend this great day camp on the college campus, and transportation and meals are provided each day.
In 2021, as our staff continued to see the detrimental effects of COVID on the social and academic progress of our Learning Club students, we created two programs for middle school students to help meet the unique needs of that age group. The Middle School Boys Group was started first and included games, dinner, sports, and time for reflection. Jesuit Volunteer Ashley Berthiaume then launched the program for girls in middle school called "You Go Girl!" You Go Girl! includes mental health lessons, art activities, guest presentations, field trips, and life skills lessons. These middle school programs provide social support and character development activities for the students who might feel too old for after-school tutoring, but aren't quite ready for Learning Club's high school internship.
Of course, the most important history of the Learning Club is told by the many, many hearts that have been touched and lives impacted through our efforts. With the dedication of hundreds of generous volunteers and a dynamic, devoted staff, the Learning Club has helped unlock the awesome potential of hundreds of children and continues to provide a positive, pivotal education experience for the children in Kansas City who need it most.
In 2008, a police ride-along experience made Brad Grabs aware of the great need that existed in other parts of KCK. When the police officer he was accompanying got a call of a domestic disturbance at the Juniper Gardens public housing project, they drove at high speed, with lights and sirens, toward the complex, only to stop several blocks away. “We never go here alone,” the officer told Grabs, as they waited for two more police cars to arrive before proceeding. As Grabs sat in the police cruiser, he saw dozens of children playing in the very place where police officers were reluctant to enter. That event provided the inspiration to bring the Learning Club to the children of Juniper Gardens, beginning in June of 2012.
A desire to break the cycle of poverty for even more students led to the opening of a third site at the Chalet Manor public housing project in the Argentine area of KCK in the summer of 2013. Most of our initial volunteers at this site came after work at Unbound (formerly the Christian Foundation for Children and Aging).
Hearing about our successful program at other public housing sites, the leader of the St. Margaret’s public housing Residents Association approached us and asked if we would bring the Learning Club to their housing complex. In February of 2014, Learning Club opened a fourth site there with the help of Ryan Lawn and Tree Company. As the site’s sponsor, Ryan Lawn and Tree provides funding as well as volunteers to help operate the site.
In August 2014, Security Bank of Kansas City began to sponsor the Juniper Gardens Learning Club site. They support the site with funding and volunteers, mostly professionals from their main downtown KCK branch.
Responding to a request from the Kansas City Kansas Housing Authority, Learning Club opened our fifth site at the Cyrus K. Holliday public housing complex in March of 2016.
Our only site in Kansas City, Missouri, opened in November of 2017 at the Pemberton Park public housing site. Learning Club proudly served this wonderful community, which consists of grandparents and great grandparents who are raising grandchildren, until COVID and several logistical challenges led us to close this site in 2021.
With support from an anonymous donor, the Learning Club Teaching Internship began with James Snow leading a pilot program in the spring semester of 2018 involving 26 students from Wyandotte High School who served as tutors and mentors to our younger students. The following school year, Laura Swan led the Teaching Internship in its first full school year to include 90 interns from all six KCKPS high schools: Fairfax Learning Center, Harmon High School, Schlagle High School, Sumner Academy, Washington High School, and Wyandotte High School. The Internship continues to engage interns from all KCKPS high schools and Bishop Ward High School.
The Learning Club Teaching Interns receive a stipend and training in education as a career, life skills, and personal and professional development. They provide an extra day of tutoring for our students, giving much-needed support with homework and math skills. Interns serve at four of our Learning Club sites in KCK.
Interns also receive support in pursuing college and career goals, including resume and interview help, visits from college representatives, and scholarship opportunities. The Learning Club Teaching Internship Scholarship was established in 2019 to work toward the goal of growing our own teachers in the urban core. In May 2019, the first three Internship Scholarship recipients were awarded four-year scholarships based on merit, need, and the desire to pursue careers in education. In 2020, 2021, and 2022, three or four interns were selected each year to begin receiving the renewable scholarship. We couldn't be more proud of our future teachers!
Recognizing the Learning Club as a local leader in literacy education, the Superintendent of KCK public schools asked the Learning Club to develop an in-school reading program at New Chelsea Elementary School in 2019. That summer, 12 tutors read with 36 students for 30 minutes each week, inspiring a love for reading among struggling readers. In the spring of 2020, the Learning Club was able to expand the in-school reading program through a partnership with the Wyandotte County District Attorney's Office. Volunteers from the DA's Office read with students at Banneker Elementary (KCK) once a week until COVID restrictions temporarily changed our programming. Since that time, Learning Club has expanded our in-school reading program to include Silver City Elementary in 2022, with plans to begin a program at Whittier Elementary and re-start the program at Banneker Elementary in early 2023.
Learning Club's in-school, after-school, and internship programs run throughout the school year. However, summer has always been a difficult time for children who live in poverty. In order to continue developing the academic skills of our students and provide them with a safe, enriching place with healthful food during the summer months, Learning Club began a partnership with Kansas City Kansas Community College in 2019. Starting that summer, our students, along with some of our staff, have participated in the fun, educational, and engaging program called "Kids on Campus" at KCKCC. Learning Club provides full scholarships for our students to attend this great day camp on the college campus, and transportation and meals are provided each day.
In 2021, as our staff continued to see the detrimental effects of COVID on the social and academic progress of our Learning Club students, we created two programs for middle school students to help meet the unique needs of that age group. The Middle School Boys Group was started first and included games, dinner, sports, and time for reflection. Jesuit Volunteer Ashley Berthiaume then launched the program for girls in middle school called "You Go Girl!" You Go Girl! includes mental health lessons, art activities, guest presentations, field trips, and life skills lessons. These middle school programs provide social support and character development activities for the students who might feel too old for after-school tutoring, but aren't quite ready for Learning Club's high school internship.
Of course, the most important history of the Learning Club is told by the many, many hearts that have been touched and lives impacted through our efforts. With the dedication of hundreds of generous volunteers and a dynamic, devoted staff, the Learning Club has helped unlock the awesome potential of hundreds of children and continues to provide a positive, pivotal education experience for the children in Kansas City who need it most.