About us

History

The Urban Ranger Corps was founded and incorporated as a Missouri nonprofit corporatin in July 2003 by the Rev. John Wandless while he was pastor of St. Louis Church, an inner Kansas City parish (2001 – 2006). The Urban Ranger Corps (URC) is an exempt organization under Section 501(c)(3) [March, 2005] and classified as a “public charity” under section 509(a)(3) [June, 2009] of the Internal Revenue Code.

As Fr. John got to know the youth in his parish’s neighborhoods he was deeply troubled by the dangerous environment in which they lived. They were not achieving in high school and nearly 50 percent were dropping out. They seemed to have little ambition or hope in the future. Very few had part-time jobs. Eighty percent did not have a father in the home. They were in grave danger of becoming involved with gangs or in illegal activities relating to the use of or sale of “drugs.” They were also in a real and present danger of becoming victims of death by gunshot (either by intention or by accident).

The US Census Tract of the neighborhood in which the Urban Rangers would do their community service, and which many of the lived, is Census Tract 79 which is second in the rank order of 45 census tracts for juvenile delinquent referrals by police to the Jackson County Juvenile Court. This same census tract has the highest percentage of households headed by a single parent: 66 percent of the family households with children under 18 years of age are headed by females with no husband present.

As in most inner Kansas City neighborhoods, violence can strike like lighting, often resulting in the death of the innocent. These neighborhood youth are at-risk in many different ways.

The corporation began operations in June 2005, launching a nine (9) weeks summer work experience and community service program for in school at-risk inner-city youths (14-18 years of age), popularly known as the “Urban Rangers.” As a result of five years of experience and gaining a deeper understanding of the power of gangs and other negative forces impacting inner-city youth, and a 2009 evaluation of outcomes the 2008 summer cohort of Rangers, the scope of the Program was increased.

The increase in scope involved the addition of an Individual Career Planning component and working with Rangers on a year- around basis (during the regular school year). This involves creation of an Individual Career Plan (ICP) for each Ranger and year-around Case Management/Coaching to assist Rangers in implementing a wide range of action-steps included in their Individual Career Plans (ICPs).