Each and every child has a voice and a unique contribution to make to their community and society as a whole, but often due to environmental and social detriments, they are not given the opportunity.  Communities Creating Opportunity, through Youth Excelling in Life and Leadership, seeks to identify those talented and unique individuals within the urban core of KCMO and equip them to fully and effectively participate in their schools and communities.  Students will be prepared to tackle personal, school, and community challenges as they develop a strong sense of personal and collective leadership.  YELL will build the intrinsic power of students to find those voices and inspire change throughout their discerned areas of interest and importance.  The leadership skills developed in YELL will also equip our youth with the necessary skills to become mentors to their younger peers as the program progresses.  Participating students will be personally and collectively enriched.  Each will be better prepared to tackle the challenges they will surely face in school and most importantly in life.