South Round Top Youth Explore Monarchs to Promote Safer Neighborhoods
On August 2, 2025, the South Round Top neighborhood — located in the eastern part of Kansas City, Missouri, along East 28th Street — hosted a youth-focused event as part of Community Capital Fund’s Strengthening the Health of Neighborhoods (STRONG) program, funded by the KC Health Department’s Violence Prevention Fund.
The event welcomed 21 participants, including eight youth, and centered on monarch butterflies, their migration, and environmental conservation. Using books, puppets, coloring sheets, and an interactive Monarch Migration Game, children explored the butterfly’s life cycle, the perils of its 2,000-mile journey, and actions they can take to protect pollinators, including planting milkweed and avoiding pesticides.
Beyond environmental education, the event advanced the Blueprint for Violence Prevention by creating opportunities for youth engagement, fostering supportive relationships among residents, and strengthening neighborhood cohesion. Participants built connections with neighbors and learned about positive activities that encourage safe and constructive behaviors. Beverly Green, the neighborhood organizer, noted that attendees left eager for the next event and more involved in their community.
The South Round Top Youth Initiative demonstrates how hands-on learning and community connection can contribute to safer, healthier neighborhoods.
Click here to learn more about the Strengthening the Health of Neighborhoods initiative.
