About Us

The Kansas City Keys, founded in 1976, believe the way to create responsible citizens is through the education of our youth. The Kansas City Keys take a holistic approach to the development of our youth through an intertwined combination of activities for the body (athletics), mind (education) and spirit (creating extended families and encouraging young people to seek out God).

The Kansas City Keys Community Council is a youth development organization, qualified under Section 501(c )(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. The Keys have served economically challenged youth (primarily students from single parent homes), in the urban core of Kansas City, Missouri since the mid-1970’s.

We offer constructive, extra-curricular activities to urban core youths as a vehicle to reach these children and teach them personal responsibility and life-skills. In a sports environment, children learn the value of rules, teamwork and ethics. We emphasize academics in sports, and in order to participate in our athletics, children must participate in grade card monitoring. Tutoring referrals is available to children who need it.

Programs included in the curriculum are:

• Education before sports – Tutoring, grade monitoring, counseling, computer training, seminars
• Sports – Basketball, Football, Track and Field
• Clinics – Checkups, physicals, drug prevention and awareness, health awareness, nutrition workshop

Program Goals

To provide drug awareness and prevent children from ever experimenting with drugs,assist over 500 youth who are participating in an existing youth development sports program improve academic achievement.

To conduct non-traditional, life skill activities that will reduce the likelihood of a negative lifestyle and increase positive aspects of the lives of over 500 youth while encouraging prevention of participating in drugs and drug activities.

LaToya Johnson

President

As of October 4, 2017 LaToya became the first female president of the Kansas City Keys. LaToya has been a KEYS Board member since 2016 and was also a KEYS Alumni, playing for the first KEYS Girls Basketball Team. 

education

• Lincoln College Prepatory Academy 2007

• Jefferson College 2007 - 2009

• University of Louisville 2009 - 2011

• Lipscomb University, Masters of Education 2013

• Bank Street College of Education, Masters of Educational Leadership 2025

recognition

• JUCO Basketball All American 2009

• Big East Academic All American 2010

• University of Notre Dame STEM Teacher Fellow

Work history

• Elementary/Middle School Teacher

• Instructional Coach

• Basketball Coach

Tekoyia Trice

Board Member

KC KEYS Alumni

education

• Lincoln College Prep Academy 2007

• University of Missouri- Kansas City

Work history

• Teacher- Current

• Sports Coach

Harrel Johnson, Jr

Board Member

Past President

education

• University of Missouri Kansas City, Bachelors of Science in Accounting 1984

Work history

• Retired Revenue Agent Reviewer for Tax Exempt Organization’s Division for the Internal Revenue Service