is a nationally-recognized organization known for its efforts to improve the lives of children and families in Kansas City through its Caring Communities initiative and for its focus on improving services that families depend upon -- education, child welfare, health, neighborhood development, seniors and others. LINC organizes its work around nine core results.

Quality Child Care Campaign: LINC and other community partners have launched a community education campaign to promote quality child care. The campaign gives providers information on training opportunities and helps consumers find quality child care. The campaign includes posters, printed materials and video. Other partners in the effort include The Family Conservancy and Mid-America Regional Council.
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LINC in Kansas City: LINC presented its extensive efforts within the city of Kansas City, Mo. to two city council committees (Public Safety & Neighborhoods and Housing) during an Aug. 13th meeting. LINC has 24 Caring Communities sites within the city. Watch presentation | See a map.

Door to Door: LINC site coordinators and community volunteers went door-to-door in the Ruskin Heights and Ruskin Hills neighborhoods (Hickman Mills School District) to learn about community hopes and needs and to share information about LINC's Caring Communities initiative. The effort attracted local media attention. Watch Channel 9 segment.

Community Agenda for Public Education: The LINC Commission joined over 100 local and national organization in endorsing a document The Community Agenda for America's Public Schools that promotes the fundamental ideas behind the approach and success of community schools - what LINC calls Caring Communities. Read more.

New Caring Communities Site: Indian Trails located in the Fort Osage School District will be opening this Fall. Learn more.

New Foreclosure Help Website: At the request of NeighborWorks America, LINC (with support from the Mid-America Regional Council) has built a website to provide consumer education and information about free foreclosure counseling services in the Kansas City area. Visit KCForeclosureHelp.org.

Giving Back: LINC founder Bert Berkley's new book Giving Back: Connecting You, Business and Community is out and receiving attention from local media. Read KC Business Journal column | Kansas City Jewish Chronicle story | Channel 41 interview. Berkley also addressed approximately 200 people at an author event hosted by the Kansas City public library. Watch the video.

POWER of Diversity: Partnering Organizations With Essential Resources (POWER) held a celebration for the minority business and mentorship program named for Herman A. Johnson, a LINC founding Commissioner who died in 2004. LINC is a partner in the business development effort. Learn more about this year's graduates and the Kansas City Chamber of Commerce program. Watch the video.

Health Services in Center School District: LINC and the Center School District have cooperated to bring the Swope Health Services Mobile Medical Clinic to a district elementary school. Watch a video.

Foreclosure Maps and Data: The Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City has produced maps illustrating foreclosure statistics for the Kansas City area. Launch map slideshow.

Suburbanization of Poverty: A LINC report, Suburbanization of Poverty in KC Area School Districts, shows growing poverty in Kansas City area school districts. Increases in free and reduced lunch percentages (by district and individual school, 2000 to 2006) show poverty becoming more concentrated in the Kansas City, Mo. School District as enrollment declines, while inner ring suburban school districts experience significant increases in both number and percentage of poor students. The same basic data is shown in a table Enrollment and Poverty Trends in KC area school districts that covers enrollment and poverty for each school year since 2002.