First, they were announced on the floor of the House as special guests.

Then on the floor of the Senate.

And in between, LINC’s team of more than a dozen LINC site coordinators plied the hallways and the offices of lawmakers in Jefferson City on Feb. 20, lifting the achievements — and the struggles — of providing free before- and after-school programming serving more than 7,600 children in and around Kansas City.

“We have to be the student’s voice,” said Eric Lanier, LINC’s site coordinator at James Elementary School in Kansas City Public Schools. “We have to advocate for them in order to show legislators how to [make] change for our state.”

LINC leverages state and federal funds to provide educational and recreational programs across five school districts to children whose families in many cases could not afford such services.

LINC’s work is done in before- and after-school programs in 45 school sites with $10 million in annual funding — including $5.4 million in state funds from the Missouri Department of Social Services’ Out of School Time family support program, and $2 million through state allocations for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families under maintenance of effort.

Another $2.6 million, or 26%, comes from grants through the federal 21st Century Community Learning Centers program.

The population of children LINC serves is diverse, mostly from families in low-income situations who qualify for free or reduced-price lunches (FRL).

• Eighteen of the schools with LINC sites in the Kansas City Public Schools are 100% FRL.

• LINC’s Hickman Mills School District sites range from 67% FRL to five schools that are 100% FRL.

• LINC's Center School District sites range from 63% to 100% FRL; Grandview School District sites from 68% to 87%; Fort Osage School District sites from 45% to 70%.

• Topping Elementary in the North Kansas City School district is 67% FRL, and the Kansas City public charter school, Lee A. Tolbert Academy, is 100% FRL.

The message to lawmakers: LINC’s free programming supports these school families, helps children thrive and strengthens the academic performance of their schools.

“We’re building character,” said Marlisa Collins, LINC’s site coordinator at Kansas City’s Foreign Language Academy. “We’re building a foundation for the students. We’re building a safe haven for their parents.”

LINC’s team was determined to make their case on behalf of their LINC communities and the relationships they have built together.

“It’s what we do every day,” said LINC’s Danisha Clarkson, the site coordinator at Kansas City’s Banneker Elementary School. “When you’re in the field, you’re constantly seeing families struggling, students struggling academically and you know what you do in the after-school program is so important — and it’s so important to be here (with state lawmakers in Jefferson City) as well.”

The LINC team had many stops to make in the House, including Rep. Richard Brown’s office, whose south Kansas City district includes the highest number of LINC sites, serving a daily average of nearly 800 children.

Other state representatives and their staff on LINC’s list included the Grandview area’s Rep. Joe Runions, Midtown Kansas City’s Rep. Barbara Washington and Rep. Judy Morgan, South Kansas City’s Rep. Greg Razer, Rep. Mark Sharp and Ashley Bland Manlove; East Kansas City’s Rep. Yolanda Young; Northeast Kansas CIty’s Rep. Ingrid Burnett; and Northland Rep. Mark Ellebracht.

On the Senate side, LINC’s schools are feeling the vacancies of recent resignations, leaving most sites without representation.

Former 7th District senator Jason Holsman and former 9th District senator Kiki Curls both stepped down at the beginning of the 2020 session to accept governor-appointed positions on state commissions. Combined, the two vacant senatorial offices represent 91% — or more than 4,200 — of the 4,700 children daily in LINC programs.

In the Senate, LINC’s team sought out Sen. John Rizzo, representing Kansas City’s Northeast Neighborhood, and the Northland’s Sen. Lauren Arthur.

And in each lawmaker’s chambers they entered, LINC’s team carried with them LINC’s commitment to a dedicated list of core results — thriving adults, children who are healthy, ready for school and achieving success, children who are safe in their families and families that are safe in their neighborhoods that are strong.

“That’s the foundation of what LINC believes in,” said Carl Wade, LINC’s Program Specialist. “We want to push it and move forward and let everybody know these are the core results and these are the outcomes that we want for our families.”

Download graphic of LINC’s ADA in January 2020.