Timing for today: 10:00 AM - 12:00 Noon, 5:30 PM - 8:30 PM
A space for youth to connect, learn, and grow together.
The idea behind Kansas City Youth Group was formed in the early 90s when a group of kids realized that with the growing Indian population in the Kansas City area, there lacked a common place for those kids to meet. It wasn’t enough to see a few other Indian kids at school or simply interact across the crowded temple hall during Holi or Diwali. This group of kids approached a few of the moms who were active in the Temple and asked them a simple question, can you chaperone a monthly event where Indian kids from all over Kansas City can get together? Thus, the Youth Group was born.
HTCC Temple
At inception, the Youth Group was open to kids ages 10-18 from all over the metro area. Monthly events ranged from social gatherings at the Temple to skating events and even an annual holiday party. Within a few years, membership in the Youth Group exceeded 100 members and the board consisted of 5-7 teens, responsible for coordinating monthly events, including the pinnacle event of each year, the Youth Group Talent Show. Over the years, the talent show featured the best of Indian dancers, singers and even a few comedians amongst the member pool.
The success of the youth group was largely due to the tireless efforts and commitment of three dedicated mothers who led and supported it throughout the years. They were the hosts of several events, the chaperones that parents relied on, and the bakers of the best brownies in the city. Even years after their own kids graduated and moved away, these dedicated moms carried on the traditions set forth in the early days, to ensure that kids for years to come would have a place to meet other Indian kids and create bonds that would last a lifetime. It just wouldn’t have been the same without those dedicated mothers: Suma Hegde, Neelam Kumar and Pratibha Trivedi.
In addition to the countless friendships and endless laughs born out of the Youth Group, the crowning achievement of the group was the civic engagement. Year after year, members of the Youth Group participated in events to help enrich the lives of others. From volunteering at the local Soup Kitchen, to providing Thanksgiving meals for families, to adopting angels at Christmas, the Youth Group members took on every opportunity to ensure they gave back to their communities.
The Kansas City Youth Group stood for one most basic tenet, cultural enrichment, and connection for kids. It didn’t matter where they lived, there was a place for everyone, with membership ranging from Olathe all the way to Warrensburg. The best part of the Youth Group was that it allowed kids to find community within the community, regardless of where they came from. It didn’t matter to which God one prayed, which language was spoken at home or which high school one attended, the Youth Group was a melting pot where lifelong relationships were forged.
Check out Youth Group activities at: www.ygkc.us
