Serving at and with Avenue of Life was without a doubt, a life changing experience for me. The people I met and the stories they shared opened my mind up to a world of lived experiences that shook the way I view American life.

Community members that are served by this organization face a wide variety of obstacles, including but not limited to:

• Poverty
• Unemployment
• Immigration status
• Homelessness
• Food insecurity
• Economic hardship
• Low education levels
• Lack of access to healthcare
• Lack of access to childcare

Racism and classism are the primary social factors that contribute to these struggles include. In the Wyandotte County community specifically, however, residents face additional obstacles from the following sources of power and subsequent lack of assets:

• Racialized policing
• Debt collectors (primarily Gas/Electric companies and landlords)
• Inequitable immigration policy
• Inadequate public education

This organization works to provide temporary and long-term solutions for the people they serve. If there is a need, Avenue of Life can help with it. The provide clothing, food, toiletries, diapers, household supplies, sports equipment, skills courses on technology, literacy, finances, parenting, assistance in paying bills, acquiring a lawyer, home repair, childcare, medical care. By giving folks in their community a hand up in their most trying of days, with any luck, they may be able to move on with their lives and achieve a standard quality of living.

• Providing adults and families the fair opportunity to improve their literacy skills

• Everyone should have the opportunity to improve their education and Literacy KC gives this opportunity to the public

• Literacy KC provides services that are acquaintable and useful for their students