Prayers & pugilism for kids in KCK
Youngsters 8 and up have a new PAL in Kansas City, Kan. On Monday, the KCK Police Department introduced a Police Athletic League program in a former church at 800 N. 5th St. Organizers have ambitious plans and high hopes for the brand new PAL chapter.
“We see this program as a way of breaking down barriers between police and kids,” says KCK Police Officer Rodney Ashley, one of two full-time officers assigned to PAL. “It will help kids build better relationships, get them involved in healthy, constructive activities and open doors for kids they might not have. It will also show them that police are real people.”
About 175 kids were among 350 people who attended the Jan. 7 soft opening to learn about PAL KCK and enroll their children. Organizers had publicized the event via schools and social media. The regular training schedule began Jan. 8. Lalo Robles, a retired professional boxer and coach is teaching “the skills and discipline” of the sport weekdays, 5-8 p.m.
PAL KCK operates for metro area girls and boys. There’s no charge to participate. Members aren’t required to speak English, have previous boxing experience or reside in KCK. They must, however, have a 2.0 or higher GPA. Homework help will be available, and extra help for members who are struggling academically.
“(Those) kids will spend half of their time boxing and half getting tutored,” says Matt Tomasic, PAL KCK executive director.
Dance, other activities and sports, and a community garden will be additional components of the program as it expands beyond boxing.
“There’s no limit to what we can do,” Ashley says. “If we have kids interested in something, we’ll try and make it available.”
Marcella Morales-Gaona is director of the sustainable community garden, which will be planted with native pollinators and organic and heirloom herbs and vegetables. Community police officers jumpstarted the garden in October when they placed eight fruit trees.
Like most nonprofits, volunteers will be the lifeblood of PAL KCK. Organizers are seeking volunteers to interact with kids and help in the garden. To learn more, visit the Website, www.palkck.com, email info@palkck.com or drop by.
“This is going to survive by people volunteering to help,” Ashley says.
PAL is a 75-year-old national program with 300-plus chapters in the U.S. and U.S. Virgin Islands. It exists, states the Website (www.nationalpal.org), “to aid in the prevention of juvenile crime and violence by providing mentorship, civic/service, athletic, recreational, enrichment and educational opportunities.”
Ashley says, “I wanted this assignment because I felt I could have a bigger impact on youth, a lasting impact, through athletic activities.”
He considers it a plus that he’s a newcomer to boxing.
“It’s cool, I’ll be learning with the kids,” he says.
The public is invited to the grand opening/ribbon cutting Feb. 7 at 4 p.m. KCK Mayor David Alvey will wield the ceremonial scissors.
Until last February, the facility was a derelict 129-year-old church. Over the months, it was transformed. A 20-foot boxing ring and punching bags replaced pews in the nave, the exterior was freshened up and windows uncovered. The biggest job was scraping and painting 10,000 square feet of wall space, Tomasic says, adding that it was ideally repurposed.
“The great thing about the open sanctuary, tall ceilings and big open space is (that) it’s essentially an auditorium.”
He applauds the city’s commitment; the KCKPD supports PAL KCK. Other funding comes from grants and private donations.
Tomasic, a retired Kansas City, Mo., police officer well-known for his longtime stint at the Westside CAN Center has eschewed a leisure-filled retirement for a new career. He “saw first-hand the lasting benefit of strong relationships between officers and the communities they serve.”
That motivates his work leading PAL KCK, he says, “making a difference in the neighborhood I grew up in.”
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Donations can be made online or by mail to:
Police Athletic League of Kansas City, Kansas at old St. Mary’s Catholic Church
800 N. 5th St., Kansas City, KS. 66101
