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Local banks, foundations help fund metro youth learning lab

By Madison Parry

A new Junior Achievement of Greater Kansas City Youth Learning Lab presented by The Mallouk Family Foundation is coming together through a years-long collaboration between a number of local foundations and financing partners Wells Fargo and Central Bank of KC​.

A collaborative effort between numerous local foundations and banks are bringing a Junior Achievement of Greater Kansas City Youth Learning Lab to the metro.

Image courtesy of Junior Achievement of Greater Kansas City

Presented by The Mallouk Family Foundation, the lab is part of a hands-on initiative that connects local students with mentors and will work to bring innovative, experiential learning to students in the metro area. 

Years of work between the Junior Achievement of Greater Kansas City board of directors, staff and several leading organizations and businesses in the region have been key to bringing the project together.

Funding for the lab was made possible in part by financing partners Wells Fargo and Central Bank of KC. Along with The Mallouk Family Foundation, other critical partners in the project include CommunityAmerica Credit Union, The Sunderland Foundation and The Hall Family Foundation.

Set to open in 2021, the new lab located in Kansas City, Kan. will occupy 22,000 square feet. Centrally located in the Northwood Shopping Center near 47th Avenue and Mission Road, the new space will also house the Junior Achievement of Greater Kansas City offices.

According to the Junior Achievement of Greater Kansas City, the lab will give kids room to think up big ideas, explore careers and practice crucial life-skills outside of the classroom.

“We all know that the path to success starts when we are young – with the foundation laid by parents, teachers and the community,” Peter Mallouk, president of Creative Planning said. “But there is no learning as powerful as experiential learning. We jumped at the opportunity to help JA build out this ambitious program.”