Five years ago, an incident involving teens on the Plaza, a shopping and entertainment district, resulted in a nine o’clock curfew at many public destinations for anyone under 17. Kansas City needed to create new activities for teens, and the city built Mayor’s Nights — chaperoned evenings focused mainly around athletic activities in parks department gyms. After some Library teens expressed their frustration that “midnight basketball” was their only nightly option, the Library actively responded by applying to the Mayor’s Office for grant funds to become an additional location for the Mayor’s Nights program.

During Mayor’s Nights at the Library, teens learn and learn to lead, while having a blast. They participate in activities like The Largest Smash Brothers Tournaments in the World and the Youth Empowerment Summit. Partnerships with local organizations, including the Black Archives, Missouri State Parks, and the Harry Potter Alliance build teens’ understanding of their city. Expanding Mayor’s Nights into the Library has been an “aha” experience for city officials about the Library’s critical role in youth development. The Library has increased revenue for its Summer Learning program, while increasing trust in the relationships between teens and staff members.

This is the Library’s second summer of participation in this initiative, and the most significant outcome thus far has been an outpouring of teen leadership and commitment to the Library. Our Mayor’s Nights crew has transformed into the self-proclaimed “Teen Leaders of Today!” who meet weekly throughout the year to plan ongoing activities, provide guidance to the Library, and advocate within the City and the State on their Library’s behalf. Impressed with this group’s leadership capabilities and ideas, the Mayor’s Office has begun requesting feedback from the Library’s teens for other youth initiatives throughout the city.