Kansas City, Missouri
Justice 101
Trip Type
Connect Trip - These trips are primarily hands-on service. They focus on how to actively develop partners in your own neighborhoods so that, together with your neighbors, you can work to make your community a place where all people can thrive.​ Learn more about the different between Connect Trips and Reach Trips by clicking here.
​
Ages
Elementary School Students, Middle School Students, High School Students, College Students, Adults, Intergenerational Groups​
Maximum Group Size
25 people, including adults
​
Available Dates​​​
-
June 8 to 13, 2025
-
June 15 to 20, 2025
-
June 29 to July 4, 2025
-
July 6 to 11, 2025
​
Kansas City is more a mosaic than a single city, a patchwork with highways, rivers, and historical lines sewn in stories of power and privilege. The metropolitan area encompasses two states and eight counties which are made up of more than 160 unique towns, each with their own culture, politics, and identity. With such a broad landscape, “The City of Fountains” is a city flooded with invitations to the work of justice. Groups who come to Kansas City will join us to answer the question: With so much need in this world, how do we begin to make a difference?
Groups that come to KC will come for a Justice 101 experience. Your group will begin on Monday with an all-day service experience in Kansas City’s Historic Northeast. This experience will open your eyes to the realities of economic, housing, and food injustice in the area. Your group will also explore the city’s history of racism, visiting with representatives from various metro Racial and Economic justice coalitions and representatives. Groups will serve with the Refugee and Immigrant Population of Kansas City and learn about the struggles of the public education system (there are 15 different school districts in the city of Kansas City, MO, alone!). Groups will spend time intentionally thinking about the mosaics that are your hometowns, the lines drawn where you live, and how we can take lines of division and make new and beautiful stories of healing by our collective work for justice.
​
Your group will explore how the topics you’re learning about are relevant to your own community and will develop a plan for how you can continue this work when you get home. Be The Neighbor weeks are learning and launching trips, meaning participants will leave the week equipped to live lives of love, service, and justice in ways that are relational, sustainable, and dignity-affirming!
Be The Neighbor’s summer programming begins on Sunday evening and concludes on Friday morning. You may stay an additional night to explore see the city in this location for an additional $10 per person. Check out is 10 am Saturday morning.
Trip costs follow our equitable pricing model. You can read more about it here. We want everyone to be able to participate no matter their financial realities. Regardless of which level you select, your trip includes:
-
A simple breakfast, lunch and snack Monday morning through Friday morning
-
A dedicated Site Director and Intern(s) to facilitate your week
-
Fully planned service and educational experiences
-
Theological reflections created to engage participants in connecting what they are learning to their faith
-
Lodging, including showers, dedicated sleeping rooms, gathering rooms, and kitchens use - most sites include air mattresses or cots for all of your participants
-
Costs covered for honorariums for speakers, activities, supplies for projects with community partners, and any entrance fees for educational experiences
-
A reusable water bottle for each participant
-
Discussion guides for small groups on Reach trips and small group interactive education led by BTN staff on Connect trips
-
Journals for each participant
-
Online orientation for your adult leaders
-
A coupon code to get t-shirts at-cost (shirts will be included at the Neighbor pricing level)
Please note that your group will be responsible for dinners and transportation during the week.