Local Changemakers: Pastor Adrion Roberson

KC United is a vision from God. 13 years ago, we started out just providing an after-school sports outlet for youth. In 2009, we were invited out to a huge sports field at Open Door Baptist Church.

While we stood there on the sidelines, my oldest son asked me, “Pops, can’t you see it?”

“What are you talking about?” I asked.

“Can’t you see It? The helmets, the kids running on the field—can’t you see it?”

“Gamechangers” came about because we wanted to address the issues our students were facing by connecting their parents and families with our work. When we are thinking about future leaders, we must think about their parents, too. So we launched “Strengthening Families”, which brings parents together in our after-school program to learn about ways to engage their youth. Through this work, parents are supporting themselves and each other by talking about their finances, discussing their life goals, and addressing their own mental health while maintaining their jobs and their homes.

For the youth in Gamechangers, we started incorporating reading, writing, math, and the arts as part of our 4-days a week after-school program. We realized if we could start getting these kids exposed to the amenities and opportunities that other surrounding metro cities have, then they will be better set up for future success.

Ultimately, these programs are part of our larger vision and mission, which is: “To exceed the needs of the 'whole' family. (spiritually, educationally, economically, socially/emotionally and physically) through highly effective year-round, after school programs and services that will meet each individual...where they are to get them where they desire to be.”

KC United is about utilizing community resources to impact the hearts and lives of people and their families. It’s critical that we invest in these future leaders. To be great together is exemplified in the name of our organization, “KC United.” You can see systems in place that are meant to keep us divided, so if we start with our youth and their families, we believe we can address root issues in our communities and show the world that we are truly greater together.

—Rev. Adrion Roberson