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A networking group for agencies serving youths in Wyandotte County is back in business.

“After a period of inactivity, The Collaborative wants the community to know it is back and very much alive,” said Beverly Johnson, a longtime advocate for children and a member of the executive committee that helped relaunch The Collaborative.

The Collaborative had traditionally been a gathering where organizations and agencies serving youths in Wyandotte and Leavenworth counties could meet quarterly to share what they were doing.

“The Collaborative is a networking opportunity and a time when speakers share information pertinent to youth and to all who work for the benefit of youth in our community,” said April Dohle, another executive committee member.

The Collaborative will meet at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 9, at Wyandotte West Library, 1737 N. 82nd St., in Kansas City, Kan., with Irene Caudillo of Catholic Community Services as guest speaker.

In addition The Collaborative’s executive committee will honor a youth worker and an outstanding youth at the meeting. In addition to Johnson and Dohle, the executive committee members are Sunny Church, Wyandotte West Library; Chiquita Miller, Wyandotte County Home Extension; and Brenda Mortell, Habitat for Humanity.

The Collaborative was once so popular, its meetings often were standing room only, Johnson said.

“In the early years,” said Miller, “The Collaborative started Parents University, the Back to School supplies program, a small directory of services for youths and their families, and an annual program highlighting students in Wyandotte and Leavenworth counties.” All of the programs were made possible by the various committees operating under Youth Opportunities Unlimited. Early leaders were Caudillo, Marya Schott, and Andrea Umbreit.

When Y.O.U. closed, other organizations took over Parents University, and other major programs. Grace Boswell, and Shawna Davis moved into an office at Kansas City, Kansas Community College to keep the quarterly meetings going. Ultimately, the leadership of the quarterly meetings was moved to YouthNet and directed by Teri Wharton Brooks, and later by Miguel Jaramillo. When no one stepped up to restart the group after YouthNet closed in 2007, an executive regrouped to provide an Advocacy program in February 2008, and its members have continued the format of quarterly meetings.

Miller said that without a sponsoring agency, The Collaborative is now truly a labor of love, led by a volunteer committee.

Typical programs for the quarterly meeting will include a speaker, opportunities for attendees to introduce themselves and their agency, and to share brochures and program fliers. Each meeting also features three people who highlight their program or agency, followed by time to network.

For Tuesday’s meeting, reservations are requested to Beverly Johnson at (913) 262-3658 or bjohnson@kcnet.com.

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