About UpLink
UpLink is Greater Kansas City’s first-ever community hub connecting the workplace to the classroom in order to further students’ academic skills and interests in the areas of math, engineering, technology and science (METS).
UpLink inspires students to seek careers in these fields by connecting them with dynamic mentors, progressive teachers and real-world learning experiences. The pilot year focuses on three core components:
YouthFriends – connects METS professionals with mentoring opportunities in area schools
TeacherTech – connects teachers with paid, METS-related summer externships with area employers
LaunchPad – connects middle and high school students with METS-related internships and job shadowing opportunities with area employers; connects classrooms with METS-related career presentations through a volunteer speakers database
UpLink is part of the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation’s long-term, multifaceted approach to help the Kansas City area become a model for outstanding math and science education. UpLink is being implemented by YouthFriends, a nationally-recognized leader in the fields of school-based mentoring and volunteerism. YouthFriends is highly regarded for its prudent risk management procedures, including quadruple background checks and re-screening of five-year volunteers. These procedures meet or exceed national best practice standards for quality mentoring.