Give and Grow.
Every youth earns a paycheck with their name on it. Many times this is their first job and we want them to have that sense of pride by seeing their name on a paystub. The cost for us to employ a youth for the summer program is $1,500. This includes their wages and processing fees. Join the many other incredible individuals and organizations and support BoysGrow and our urban Kansas City youth.
Give and Grow.
Every youth earns a paycheck with their name on it. Many times this is their first job and we want them to have that sense of pride by seeing their name on a paystub. The cost for us to employ a youth for the summer program is $1,500. This includes their wages and processing fees. Join the many other incredible individuals and organizations and support BoysGrow and our urban Kansas City youth. Visit our Donate Page
Meet our board.
Ryan joined Boys Grow as a member of the board in fall of 2017. February 2019, Ryan became the Board President. He joined Cargill, Inc in 2008 where he today works as a Workstream Leader for Cargill’s Accelerated Continue Improvement organization. In addition, he leads Cargill Cares, the companies community outreach committee in Kansas City. Ryan and his wife, Melanie, have a son, Chase, and a black lab, Casey. In their free time they enjoy being outside, often at a lake and spending time enjoying Kansas City.
John Gordon Jr. Is the Founder and Executive Director of Kansas City based BoysGrow. Since its inception in 2010, he has been responsible for designing, executing and overseeing the organization’s approach to youth development. A graduate of UMKC, after working in the Northern California Juvenile Court System and seeing the positive impact agriculture had on young people, he relocated back to KC to start BoysGrow in 2010. He lives on the farm with his wife and two daughters, #girldad
Tony L. Van Trece is a lifelong resident of Kansas City, MO., a dedicated family man, and an aspiring community activist. A 2019 graduate of the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law, Tony was Vice President of the Black Law Student Association and received his Juris Doctorate in December 2019. Tony also studied political science at UMKC and served two terms as a volunteer coordinator and program manager with AmeriCorps.
Tony developed keen interests in civil engagement and real estate under his mentor, the late great Senator Phillip B. Curls Sr., who introduced him to Freedom Inc., the Missouri Legislative Black Caucus, and Alliance Property Group. Through these organizations, Tony gained invaluable insights into the world of real estate development and acquisitions, as well as, how public and private partnerships can be effective in creating equitable and ethical real estate development opportunities in the urban core.
Tony is a member of the Missouri Bar Association (where he serves on various committees and sections for the state of Missouri, including the Real Property law section), the Kansas City Missouri Bar Association (KCMBA) (where he currently serves as a representative for the Young Lawyers section for Southwest Missouri), and the Jackson County Bar Association (JCBA). Currently, at Franke, Schultz, & Mullen P.C., Tony will be focusing his practice on premises liability, construction law, contract disputes, and real estate transaction cases. Ultimately, Tony’s life mission is to create quality affordable housing and equitable access to capital for families and professionals of color.
Beth Gerstenberger is the Employee Communications Manager at Seaboard Foods. In this role, Ms. Gerstenberger is responsible for internal communications, recruitment marketing, employer brand, and community enrichment for the company. Passionate about food and how its raised, Ms. Gerstenberger has spent ten years working in agribusiness in roles related to grain, manufacturing, marketing, and distributor communications.
Raised on a family farm, Ms. Gerstenberger pursued her passion to learn more about agriculture at Kansas State University. She holds a Bachelor of Science from Kansas State University in Agriculture, where she majored in agricultural communications and journalism. With a passion for people and business, Ms. Gerstenberger uses her skillset to enhance the workplace experience for Seaboard Foods’ team members and to positively impact the communities where they do business. In the food industry, she is a Food Relief and Community committee member with the North American Meat Industry committees and serves on the Agriculture Relations Council as a board member.
Ms. Gerstenberger has been a Big Sister through Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Kansas City for more than seven years and now mentors her “little” through her college experience at Iowa State University. She lives with her husband in Overland Park, Kan., where she spends time doing house DIY projects, learning pottery, and tending to her flower and vegetable garden.
Mike McEnany is Vice President and the Small Business Loan Manager for Commerce Bank with primary responsibilities of Credit and Market Expansion. He received his B.S. at Missouri State University and an MBA at UMKC’s Bloch School of Business. Mike’s previous volunteer experience includes serving on the Board of Catholic Charities, 3&2 Baseball Coach, and facilitating projects in India and Egypt on best banking practices in financing small and medium size enterprises. When Mike is not spending time with his daughter Kennedy, he likes to be outside, especially golfing or fishing.
Mark Allen is the Managing Director and CEO of WRS Solutions, LLC and Titanium Sports, LLC. WRS Solutions works as a global consulting company with second stage businesses, now in 7 countries. Titanium Sports represents numerous NBA, D-League, and FIBA (international) basketball players as a professional sports agency. Offices for both are located in Kansas City, Los Angeles, and New York City. Mark also works as a senior business consultant for UMKC and the Missouri Small Business & Technology Development Center network. He serves on the boards of four private companies and two foundations. He is active in the community as a youth mentor, has been married for 37 years and has two children and four grandchildren.
Enrique Chi was born in Panama and moved to Kansas City when he was six. He’s the leader and songwriter for Making Movies, a Kansas City-based band with an international following, and he’s making a big difference for kids in his community.
In 2011, Enrique and the band, in collaboration with Mattie Rhodes Center, created a week-long music education camp for youth from under-resourced communities. Last year, they launched a new nonprofit, Art as Mentorship, to offer a three-month music education program that focuses on songwriting as a vehicle for self-expression. Throughout the program, students learn from world-class artists, producers and engineers about writing, recording and performing original works.
Energy, mysticism, roots — it’s hard to describe the music of Making Movies, a band that Rolling Stone says is “breaking down walls in the United States,” with a mix of afro-latino rhythms and psychedelic rock’n’roll that makes the group’s sound something unique. The connection between the Chi brothers (hailing from Santiago, Panama) — together with their Mexican bandmates, the Chaurand brothers — results in an overwhelming musical presence that takes you through landscapes festive, furious, refreshing, and dark.
Whether he’s touring the globe or working with youth on smaller stages, Enrique is known for bringing people together and building community.
Ryan joined Boys Grow as a member of the board in fall of 2017. February 2019, Ryan became the Board President. He joined Cargill, Inc in 2008 where he today works as a Workstream Leader for Cargill’s Accelerated Continue Improvement organization. In addition, he leads Cargill Cares, the companies community outreach committee in Kansas City. Ryan and his wife, Melanie, have a son, Chase, and a black lab, Casey. In their free time they enjoy being outside, often at a lake and spending time enjoying Kansas City.
John Gordon Jr. Is the Founder and Executive Director of Kansas City based BoysGrow. Since its inception in 2010, he has been responsible for designing, executing and overseeing the organization’s approach to youth development. A graduate of UMKC, after working in the Northern California Juvenile Court System and seeing the positive impact agriculture had on young people, he relocated back to KC to start BoysGrow in 2010. He lives on the farm with his wife and two daughters, #girldad
Tony L. Van Trece is a lifelong resident of Kansas City, MO., a dedicated family man, and an aspiring community activist. A 2019 graduate of the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law, Tony was Vice President of the Black Law Student Association and received his Juris Doctorate in December 2019. Tony also studied political science at UMKC and served two terms as a volunteer coordinator and program manager with AmeriCorps.
Tony developed keen interests in civil engagement and real estate under his mentor, the late great Senator Phillip B. Curls Sr., who introduced him to Freedom Inc., the Missouri Legislative Black Caucus, and Alliance Property Group. Through these organizations, Tony gained invaluable insights into the world of real estate development and acquisitions, as well as, how public and private partnerships can be effective in creating equitable and ethical real estate development opportunities in the urban core.
Tony is a member of the Missouri Bar Association (where he serves on various committees and sections for the state of Missouri, including the Real Property law section), the Kansas City Missouri Bar Association (KCMBA) (where he currently serves as a representative for the Young Lawyers section for Southwest Missouri), and the Jackson County Bar Association (JCBA). Currently, at Franke, Schultz, & Mullen P.C., Tony will be focusing his practice on premises liability, construction law, contract disputes, and real estate transaction cases. Ultimately, Tony’s life mission is to create quality affordable housing and equitable access to capital for families and professionals of color.
Beth Gerstenberger is the Employee Communications Manager at Seaboard Foods. In this role, Ms. Gerstenberger is responsible for internal communications, recruitment marketing, employer brand, and community enrichment for the company. Passionate about food and how its raised, Ms. Gerstenberger has spent ten years working in agribusiness in roles related to grain, manufacturing, marketing, and distributor communications.
Raised on a family farm, Ms. Gerstenberger pursued her passion to learn more about agriculture at Kansas State University. She holds a Bachelor of Science from Kansas State University in Agriculture, where she majored in agricultural communications and journalism. With a passion for people and business, Ms. Gerstenberger uses her skillset to enhance the workplace experience for Seaboard Foods’ team members and to positively impact the communities where they do business. In the food industry, she is a Food Relief and Community committee member with the North American Meat Industry committees and serves on the Agriculture Relations Council as a board member.
Ms. Gerstenberger has been a Big Sister through Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Kansas City for more than seven years and now mentors her “little” through her college experience at Iowa State University. She lives with her husband in Overland Park, Kan., where she spends time doing house DIY projects, learning pottery, and tending to her flower and vegetable garden.
Mike McEnany is Vice President and the Small Business Loan Manager for Commerce Bank with primary responsibilities of Credit and Market Expansion. He received his B.S. at Missouri State University and an MBA at UMKC’s Bloch School of Business. Mike’s previous volunteer experience includes serving on the Board of Catholic Charities, 3&2 Baseball Coach, and facilitating projects in India and Egypt on best banking practices in financing small and medium size enterprises. When Mike is not spending time with his daughter Kennedy, he likes to be outside, especially golfing or fishing.
Mark Allen is the Managing Director and CEO of WRS Solutions, LLC and Titanium Sports, LLC. WRS Solutions works as a global consulting company with second stage businesses, now in 7 countries. Titanium Sports represents numerous NBA, D-League, and FIBA (international) basketball players as a professional sports agency. Offices for both are located in Kansas City, Los Angeles, and New York City. Mark also works as a senior business consultant for UMKC and the Missouri Small Business & Technology Development Center network. He serves on the boards of four private companies and two foundations. He is active in the community as a youth mentor, has been married for 37 years and has two children and four grandchildren.
Enrique Chi was born in Panama and moved to Kansas City when he was six. He’s the leader and songwriter for Making Movies, a Kansas City-based band with an international following, and he’s making a big difference for kids in his community.
In 2011, Enrique and the band, in collaboration with Mattie Rhodes Center, created a week-long music education camp for youth from under-resourced communities. Last year, they launched a new nonprofit, Art as Mentorship, to offer a three-month music education program that focuses on songwriting as a vehicle for self-expression. Throughout the program, students learn from world-class artists, producers and engineers about writing, recording and performing original works.
Energy, mysticism, roots — it’s hard to describe the music of Making Movies, a band that Rolling Stone says is “breaking down walls in the United States,” with a mix of afro-latino rhythms and psychedelic rock’n’roll that makes the group’s sound something unique. The connection between the Chi brothers (hailing from Santiago, Panama) — together with their Mexican bandmates, the Chaurand brothers — results in an overwhelming musical presence that takes you through landscapes festive, furious, refreshing, and dark.
Whether he’s touring the globe or working with youth on smaller stages, Enrique is known for bringing people together and building community.
Meet our board.
Ryan joined Boys Grow as a member of the board in fall of 2017. February 2019, Ryan became the Board President. He joined Cargill, Inc in 2008 where he today works as a Workstream Leader for Cargill’s Accelerated Continue Improvement organization. In addition, he leads Cargill Cares, the companies community outreach committee in Kansas City. Ryan and his wife, Melanie, have a son, Chase, and a black lab, Casey. In their free time they enjoy being outside, often at a lake and spending time enjoying Kansas City.
John Gordon Jr. Is the Founder and Executive Director of Kansas City based BoysGrow. Since its inception in 2010, he has been responsible for designing, executing and overseeing the organization’s approach to youth development. A graduate of UMKC, after working in the Northern California Juvenile Court System and seeing the positive impact agriculture had on young people, he relocated back to KC to start BoysGrow in 2010. He lives on the farm with his wife and two daughters, #girldad
Tony L. Van Trece is a lifelong resident of Kansas City, MO., a dedicated family man, and an aspiring community activist. A 2019 graduate of the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law, Tony was Vice President of the Black Law Student Association and received his Juris Doctorate in December 2019. Tony also studied political science at UMKC and served two terms as a volunteer coordinator and program manager with AmeriCorps.
Tony developed keen interests in civil engagement and real estate under his mentor, the late great Senator Phillip B. Curls Sr., who introduced him to Freedom Inc., the Missouri Legislative Black Caucus, and Alliance Property Group. Through these organizations, Tony gained invaluable insights into the world of real estate development and acquisitions, as well as, how public and private partnerships can be effective in creating equitable and ethical real estate development opportunities in the urban core.
Tony is a member of the Missouri Bar Association (where he serves on various committees and sections for the state of Missouri, including the Real Property law section), the Kansas City Missouri Bar Association (KCMBA) (where he currently serves as a representative for the Young Lawyers section for Southwest Missouri), and the Jackson County Bar Association (JCBA). Currently, at Franke, Schultz, & Mullen P.C., Tony will be focusing his practice on premises liability, construction law, contract disputes, and real estate transaction cases. Ultimately, Tony’s life mission is to create quality affordable housing and equitable access to capital for families and professionals of color.
Beth Gerstenberger is the Employee Communications Manager at Seaboard Foods. In this role, Ms. Gerstenberger is responsible for internal communications, recruitment marketing, employer brand, and community enrichment for the company. Passionate about food and how its raised, Ms. Gerstenberger has spent ten years working in agribusiness in roles related to grain, manufacturing, marketing, and distributor communications.
Raised on a family farm, Ms. Gerstenberger pursued her passion to learn more about agriculture at Kansas State University. She holds a Bachelor of Science from Kansas State University in Agriculture, where she majored in agricultural communications and journalism. With a passion for people and business, Ms. Gerstenberger uses her skillset to enhance the workplace experience for Seaboard Foods’ team members and to positively impact the communities where they do business. In the food industry, she is a Food Relief and Community committee member with the North American Meat Industry committees and serves on the Agriculture Relations Council as a board member.
Ms. Gerstenberger has been a Big Sister through Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Kansas City for more than seven years and now mentors her “little” through her college experience at Iowa State University. She lives with her husband in Overland Park, Kan., where she spends time doing house DIY projects, learning pottery, and tending to her flower and vegetable garden.
Mike McEnany is Vice President and the Small Business Loan Manager for Commerce Bank with primary responsibilities of Credit and Market Expansion. He received his B.S. at Missouri State University and an MBA at UMKC’s Bloch School of Business. Mike’s previous volunteer experience includes serving on the Board of Catholic Charities, 3&2 Baseball Coach, and facilitating projects in India and Egypt on best banking practices in financing small and medium size enterprises. When Mike is not spending time with his daughter Kennedy, he likes to be outside, especially golfing or fishing.
Mark Allen is the Managing Director and CEO of WRS Solutions, LLC and Titanium Sports, LLC. WRS Solutions works as a global consulting company with second stage businesses, now in 7 countries. Titanium Sports represents numerous NBA, D-League, and FIBA (international) basketball players as a professional sports agency. Offices for both are located in Kansas City, Los Angeles, and New York City. Mark also works as a senior business consultant for UMKC and the Missouri Small Business & Technology Development Center network. He serves on the boards of four private companies and two foundations. He is active in the community as a youth mentor, has been married for 37 years and has two children and four grandchildren.
Enrique Chi was born in Panama and moved to Kansas City when he was six. He’s the leader and songwriter for Making Movies, a Kansas City-based band with an international following, and he’s making a big difference for kids in his community.
In 2011, Enrique and the band, in collaboration with Mattie Rhodes Center, created a week-long music education camp for youth from under-resourced communities. Last year, they launched a new nonprofit, Art as Mentorship, to offer a three-month music education program that focuses on songwriting as a vehicle for self-expression. Throughout the program, students learn from world-class artists, producers and engineers about writing, recording and performing original works.
Energy, mysticism, roots — it’s hard to describe the music of Making Movies, a band that Rolling Stone says is “breaking down walls in the United States,” with a mix of afro-latino rhythms and psychedelic rock’n’roll that makes the group’s sound something unique. The connection between the Chi brothers (hailing from Santiago, Panama) — together with their Mexican bandmates, the Chaurand brothers — results in an overwhelming musical presence that takes you through landscapes festive, furious, refreshing, and dark.
Whether he’s touring the globe or working with youth on smaller stages, Enrique is known for bringing people together and building community.
Ryan joined Boys Grow as a member of the board in fall of 2017. February 2019, Ryan became the Board President. He joined Cargill, Inc in 2008 where he today works as a Workstream Leader for Cargill’s Accelerated Continue Improvement organization. In addition, he leads Cargill Cares, the companies community outreach committee in Kansas City. Ryan and his wife, Melanie, have a son, Chase, and a black lab, Casey. In their free time they enjoy being outside, often at a lake and spending time enjoying Kansas City.
John Gordon Jr. Is the Founder and Executive Director of Kansas City based BoysGrow. Since its inception in 2010, he has been responsible for designing, executing and overseeing the organization’s approach to youth development. A graduate of UMKC, after working in the Northern California Juvenile Court System and seeing the positive impact agriculture had on young people, he relocated back to KC to start BoysGrow in 2010. He lives on the farm with his wife and two daughters, #girldad
Tony L. Van Trece is a lifelong resident of Kansas City, MO., a dedicated family man, and an aspiring community activist. A 2019 graduate of the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law, Tony was Vice President of the Black Law Student Association and received his Juris Doctorate in December 2019. Tony also studied political science at UMKC and served two terms as a volunteer coordinator and program manager with AmeriCorps.
Tony developed keen interests in civil engagement and real estate under his mentor, the late great Senator Phillip B. Curls Sr., who introduced him to Freedom Inc., the Missouri Legislative Black Caucus, and Alliance Property Group. Through these organizations, Tony gained invaluable insights into the world of real estate development and acquisitions, as well as, how public and private partnerships can be effective in creating equitable and ethical real estate development opportunities in the urban core.
Tony is a member of the Missouri Bar Association (where he serves on various committees and sections for the state of Missouri, including the Real Property law section), the Kansas City Missouri Bar Association (KCMBA) (where he currently serves as a representative for the Young Lawyers section for Southwest Missouri), and the Jackson County Bar Association (JCBA). Currently, at Franke, Schultz, & Mullen P.C., Tony will be focusing his practice on premises liability, construction law, contract disputes, and real estate transaction cases. Ultimately, Tony’s life mission is to create quality affordable housing and equitable access to capital for families and professionals of color.
Beth Gerstenberger is the Employee Communications Manager at Seaboard Foods. In this role, Ms. Gerstenberger is responsible for internal communications, recruitment marketing, employer brand, and community enrichment for the company. Passionate about food and how its raised, Ms. Gerstenberger has spent ten years working in agribusiness in roles related to grain, manufacturing, marketing, and distributor communications.
Raised on a family farm, Ms. Gerstenberger pursued her passion to learn more about agriculture at Kansas State University. She holds a Bachelor of Science from Kansas State University in Agriculture, where she majored in agricultural communications and journalism. With a passion for people and business, Ms. Gerstenberger uses her skillset to enhance the workplace experience for Seaboard Foods’ team members and to positively impact the communities where they do business. In the food industry, she is a Food Relief and Community committee member with the North American Meat Industry committees and serves on the Agriculture Relations Council as a board member.
Ms. Gerstenberger has been a Big Sister through Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Kansas City for more than seven years and now mentors her “little” through her college experience at Iowa State University. She lives with her husband in Overland Park, Kan., where she spends time doing house DIY projects, learning pottery, and tending to her flower and vegetable garden.
Mike McEnany is Vice President and the Small Business Loan Manager for Commerce Bank with primary responsibilities of Credit and Market Expansion. He received his B.S. at Missouri State University and an MBA at UMKC’s Bloch School of Business. Mike’s previous volunteer experience includes serving on the Board of Catholic Charities, 3&2 Baseball Coach, and facilitating projects in India and Egypt on best banking practices in financing small and medium size enterprises. When Mike is not spending time with his daughter Kennedy, he likes to be outside, especially golfing or fishing.
Mark Allen is the Managing Director and CEO of WRS Solutions, LLC and Titanium Sports, LLC. WRS Solutions works as a global consulting company with second stage businesses, now in 7 countries. Titanium Sports represents numerous NBA, D-League, and FIBA (international) basketball players as a professional sports agency. Offices for both are located in Kansas City, Los Angeles, and New York City. Mark also works as a senior business consultant for UMKC and the Missouri Small Business & Technology Development Center network. He serves on the boards of four private companies and two foundations. He is active in the community as a youth mentor, has been married for 37 years and has two children and four grandchildren.
Enrique Chi was born in Panama and moved to Kansas City when he was six. He’s the leader and songwriter for Making Movies, a Kansas City-based band with an international following, and he’s making a big difference for kids in his community.
In 2011, Enrique and the band, in collaboration with Mattie Rhodes Center, created a week-long music education camp for youth from under-resourced communities. Last year, they launched a new nonprofit, Art as Mentorship, to offer a three-month music education program that focuses on songwriting as a vehicle for self-expression. Throughout the program, students learn from world-class artists, producers and engineers about writing, recording and performing original works.
Energy, mysticism, roots — it’s hard to describe the music of Making Movies, a band that Rolling Stone says is “breaking down walls in the United States,” with a mix of afro-latino rhythms and psychedelic rock’n’roll that makes the group’s sound something unique. The connection between the Chi brothers (hailing from Santiago, Panama) — together with their Mexican bandmates, the Chaurand brothers — results in an overwhelming musical presence that takes you through landscapes festive, furious, refreshing, and dark.
Whether he’s touring the globe or working with youth on smaller stages, Enrique is known for bringing people together and building community.
See who supports us.
The foundations that support us.
The foundations that support us.
- Euronet
- The Curry Foundation
- Nottberg Family
- Norris Family Foundation
- Wood Family
- OPUS Foundation
- Rieter Family
- Gray Family
- Woodall Family
- Geiger Concrete
- J.L. Mabee Foundation
- Siegel Family Foundation
- McDonnell Family
- Abernathy Foundation
- Euronet
- The Curry Foundation
- Nottberg Family
- Norris Family Foundation
- Wood Family
- OPUS Foundation
- McDonnell Family Foundation
- Siegel Family Foundation
- Gray Family
- J.L. Mabee Foundation
- Abernathy Foundation
Mentoring Kansas City's urban youth through agricultural entrepreneurship.
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