How the KC Strong Fund is Reducing Violence After the Super Bowl Shooting
Nearly a year ago, our community was rocked by the Chiefs Championship Parade Day shooting. In the immediate aftermath of the tragedy, United Way and the Chiefs partnered to launch the KC Strong Fund, which ultimately raised more than $2M from more than 4,000 donors, benefiting 20 verified gunshot victims and 14 local nonprofit organizations. We’re highlighting stories of the impact your generosity has made on grant recipients.
Dustin Hency is thankful for a second chance to life. When he was just a teenager, Dustin was shot six times. He did two stints in prison. And last August, he was shot again.
“After I got shot this time,, I was like man, I just got to try to do something different to try to boost myself up in the working environment because the streets ain’t what it is no more,” Hency said.
It was actually a few of his cellmates who told him about Uncornered, a Kansas City nonprofit whose mission is to eliminate violence by reducing shootings and homicides by connecting directly with those engaged in street violence and offering them a different path forward. The organization is one of 14 nonprofits selected to receive KC Strong funding.
“We’re actively going after that 1% of young men and women who are actively violent and committing crimes in the community,” said Jeff Dayton, licensed professional counselor with Uncornered. “We’re vigilant about pulling in those networks of people so we can shift their mindset, help the community, so they can make a change in their life and in their families’ lives.”
Through anger management, a program called ‘Rethink Conflict,’ mental health counseling, and even opportunities for career training, participants—called catalysts—receive a stipend while completing the program and also help recruit former associates who they believe could also benefit.
“I want to reach out to at-risk youth, juveniles and things because people need to hear from people that’ve walked down that walk of life already,” Hency said. “We’ve got to think about other ways to get things across instead of just violence. Because it’s either ending up dead or in jail.”
Through Uncornered, Dustin has obtained a new professional certification. He has big dreams for the future—and most of all., wants to be a better role model for his children and future grandchildren.
“I’m here for a reason with all the things I’ve done been through in my life,” Hency said. “Five years from now, I see myself having my own business off the ground and giving back to the community in Kansas City, because this is where it all started.”
The investment of KC Strong Funds into Uncornered is already having a major impact. Because of the community’s generosity, the organization is pouring all it can into turning the tide on violence in Kansas City.
“It’s astronomical because it allows us to build on the resources, that we can go out in the community to get the right guys,” Dayton said..” So just the fact that you are investing in us, giving us the ability to invest in our community, that’s how we can change and save lives.”