Program Description
ThrYve is a youth violence prevention and leadership development initiative affiliated with the KU Center for Community Health and Development, the Department of Applied Behavioral Science, and the Office of Community Impact. ThrYve partners with schools and community organizations in Kansas City, Kansas to support youth ages 13–18 through mentorship, skill-building, and positive community engagement.
Program Locations (Wednesdays):
Volunteers support after-school programming at one of the following Kansas City, KS school sites:
- Wyandotte High School
- J.C. Harmon High School
- Sumner Academy of Arts & Science
- Carl B. Bruce Middle School
- Rosedale Middle School
Volunteer Responsibilities:
ThrYve volunteers primarily support Wednesday after-school programming and may assist with:
- Supporting youth during structured sessions focused on leadership development, conflict resolution, civic engagement, and violence prevention
- Building positive, supportive relationships with youth through mentoring and encouragement
- Assisting facilitators with small-group discussions and activities
Helping maintain a safe, inclusive, and respectful learning environment - Encouraging youth voice, teamwork, and participation
- Assisting with program setup, transitions, and wrap-up
- Supporting periodic Wednesday field trips
- Assisting with 1–2 Saturday or weeknight events per semester, such as youth leadership activities, family engagement events, or field trip
- Documenting attendance or session notes when requested
- Supporting additional violence-prevention or community-based activities as needed
Qualifications
- All majors are welcome
- Interest in working with youth in school-based and community settings
- Openness to a range of backgrounds and lived experiences
- Reliable transportation to Kansas City, KS
- Ability to commit to Wednesday afternoon programming
- Willingness to participate in occasional field trips or special events
- Background check required
Time Commitment
- Wednesdays during the school year (afternoons)
- Periodic Wednesday field trips
- 1–2 Saturday or weeknight events per semester
Interested? Email thryve@ku.edu to learn more or get started.
Our community partners rely on volunteers to facilitate and support their programs. Before signing up for a volunteer opportunity, please consider whether you have the time and capacity to serve. We understand that life happens, but please try your best to provide community partners at least a 48-hour notice if you need to cancel your volunteer shift.
If you plan to participate in long-term volunteering or service projects with our community partners, we highly recommend completing a Service Project Agreement to set clear expectations between you and the organization.
If you plan to use any service hours completed through our community partners for the Certificate in Service Learning service hour requirement, we recommend completing a Service Verification Form to ensure those hours can be verified by our team.
