Who We Are

YVCKC is fortunate enough to host AmeriCorps members and Interns who serve as Team Leaders and Project Managers to carry out our programming. They are all First Aid/CPR-certified, background-checked adults who are responsible for planning projects, designing service-learning lessons and supervising youth, among countless other things that help YVCKC function smoothly!

Meet Our Team Leaders:

Magie Hogan was born in New Orleans, raised in St. Louis and has been hanging out in Kansas City for the past 5 years.  She graduated with honors from the UMKC Philosophy department in 2010.  Magie loves Kansas City, especially its thriving art scene. She is the artistic director of Chimera Theater Ensemble, and is involved in different performance groups throughout the city.  She love traveling, and the next country on her list is Brazil!  She also enjoys writing, and is trying to write a book this year! Most of all, she loves serving, which has equipped her to work for YVCKC.  Magie has been accused of having more energy than a basket of Russian Dwarf Hamsters—both the smallest and the fastest of all hamster species—which she takes as a compliment. 
Amanda Myer just graduated from Marquette University in Milwaukee with a degree in Social Welfare and Justice. Her hometown is Jackson, Missouri. She enjoys being outdoors, sewing, bingo, rock climbing, and swing dancing. She's  looking forward to this new adventure of working with the Youth Volunteer Corps and exploring Kansas City, and can’t wait to get started working with youth and being part of the community through service. 
Joshua Smith grew up in Williamsville, MO, a tiny town in the Ozarks. He graduated from Southeast Missouri State University with a degree in English, as well as minors in Small-Press Publishing and Religious Studies. In college he spent some time doing community development work in rural Alabama in one of the most impoverished areas in the U.S. Last August he began his second year at Central Baptist Theological Seminary in Shawnee, KS. Joshua lives in Liberty, MO, with his wife Alyssa and their two cats, So-So Friendly and Yare. He's an avid fan of coffee, and enjoys sharing a meal with just about anyone.
Katie Stachurski recently graduated from Lindenwood University in St. Charles, MO, with a B.A. in English Literature and a minor in German.  Though she has a healthy dose of St. Louis pride, she is thrilled to be in Kansas City and anxious to become more active in the community. While she's not sure exactly what she'll be doing in five years, she knows that at YVCKC, she's exactly where she wants to be right now. Some of her hobbies include reading, cooking and baking, biking, listening to music, traveling, and spending time with family and friends. Her interests are far-reaching and include language studies, cultural studies, literature, and sustainable and healthy living. Kate looks forward to working with some wonderful people this year. 
Jessica Stamm is from Lenexa, Kansas, and just graduated from Kansas State University with a degree in Family Studies and Human Services and a minor in American Ethnic Studies.  Jessica has known for a long time that she wanted to work in the nonprofit world, and she's very excited to have this opportunity at YVCKC. She enjoys hanging out with her friends and family, as well as cheering on Sporting KC!

Our Project Management Intern Team:

Sam Kendrick (Synergy) 
is currently a junior English major at William Jewell College. She thoroughly enjoys Polaroid film, peppermint tea, and Oscar Wilde. In July, she will be heading off to India to explore her love of Gandhi and Bollywood. For now, she’s pumped to be a part of the YVCKC team and looking forward to a great semester.
Matt Maxon (YVCKC Main Office)
Rachel McNally (reSTART) grew up in St.Charles, MO and moved to Kansas City, MO for school. She lived in New Orleans for two years and recently moved back to KC. She has been a camp counselor in Tulsa, Oklahoma, for the past 7 years with an organization called New Hope, a non profit dedicated to children with incarcerated parents. She is very excited to be working with at risk youth in her own community for the first time. Her favorite things are crawfish boils, bike riding, camping, and the major motion picture The Wiz.
Dae Smith (KIPP) grew up in Kansas City, spent a year abroad studying in France and initially went to New York to pursue a career in fashion. Now a senior at the University of Missouri—Kansas City, majoring in urban studies with a concentration in community development and social services, she is excited to join and work in the nonprofit world after graduation. She is thrilled to be working with YVCKC this semester, and is excited to get even more involved with the Kansas City community.
Rachael Snider is currently a senior at the University of Kansas. She is pursuing a double major in Communication Studies and Public Administration. She is a people person who loves to help others and build people up. Rachael is also very passionate about the nonprofit community and very excited to be part of the team at YVCKC! 
“Let the beauty we love, be what we do.”—Rumi
Nichole Taylor grew up in Joplin, MO, and has lived in Kansas City for almost 4 years. She is pursuing a degree in Global and International Studies at the University of Kansas, and hopes to one day develop her own non-profit that will focus mainly on empowering women in developing countries. She is very passionate about the KC community and is excited to be a part of the YVCKC team!
Keith Thompson Jr. (Hillcrest) is a new face to the Youth Volunteer Corps of Kansas City. At 26 years old he brings excitement and laughter to the already fun family at YVCKC. He majors in Business Technical Management and specializes in Project Managing. Being the oldest of 5 siblings, Keith has an idea of how to be a role model. His object is simply to be a positive presence in the lives of the youth and give back to the community. 

Our Permanent Staff: 

Lacey Bitter is the YVCKC Assistant Program Director. She works with the Program Director to improve the quality and expand the capacity of the Youth Volunteer Corps of Greater Kansas City. And as a former Team Leader, Lacey is the voice of experience for new Team Leaders seeking her boundless wisdom.
Chris Miller grew up in Effingham, Illinois, a town with a funny name. He graduated from Southwest Baptist University with a degree in Pastoral Ministry and is currently working towards his master's degree at Central Baptist Theological Seminary. He strongly believes in the importance of getting youth involved in volunteer work and looks forward to his time at Youth Volunteer Corps. When not at work or school, he enjoys spending time with his wife of six years and his daughter, who was born last May. He also enjoys running, writing, and a good cup of coffee.
4600 W. 51st St., Suite 300 // Shawnee Mission, KS 66205 // 913-432-9822 ext. 305 // yvc_kc@yvca.org