Media

A video on the history and accomplishments of ONE, Inc.

KKFI Radio interview with ONE, Inc. Executive Director Nancy Kwilas which aired 12-22-08.

The following text is from a KCTV 5 broadcast which aired Wednesday morning, April 29, 2009.

Residents Work To Clean Up The Northeast Side

Brooms and shovels are just some of the weapons used by a growing army of blue-shirt volunteers.

"It's one little step. It's the baseline. It's crime and crime -- you've got to clean up the area. All these things contribute to people's safety. It instills pride in them," said Nancy Kwilas of Old Northeast Inc.

Kwilas runs the nonprofit organization that is sponsoring a new program to clean up northeast neighborhoods.

Kwilas took KCTV5's Eric Chaloux for a walk around the northeast side. Along East Ninth Street, they found Mark Morales. a lifelong resident of the area.

Morales said his space gets tagged by graffiti more times than he can count.

"It seems like a couple of times a week I get hit," he said. "It's just pleasing to the eye when it's off, because we take pride in this neighborhood."

So far this spring, volunteers have already cleaned up several dozen sites covered by graffiti, Kwilas said.

Within an hour after Chaloux's visit, Morales' property was tagged again. "We're pretty resilient in this neighborhood. We're not going to give up," he said.

On Saturday, May 2, the historic Northeast community will hold its annual cleanup day. Area residents can bring old tires, leaves and brush, freon-free appliances and trash to the Concourse Park near St. John and Benton boulevards from 8:30 until noon for disposal. No electronics, such as computers, monitors or TVs will be accepted. Call 816-231-3707 for more information or to volunteer.