MARC JACOBS
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON — A Hutchinson nonprofit is taking a big step forward in its mission to guide at-risk youth toward brighter futures, thanks to a major state grant.
Wisdom In Motion has received more than 140-thousand dollars from the Kansas Department of Corrections through the FY2026 Non-Matching Juvenile Crime Community Prevention Grant.
Program Manager Heather Jobe says the organization works with youth ages 10 to 17 who are either underserved or at risk of entering — or re-entering — the criminal justice system. Each participant is paired with a trained, trauma-informed mentor who helps them set personal goals and connect with programs that fit their needs.
One of those programs is launching this fall — the Career Readiness and Youth Entrepreneurship initiative. Over 12 months, fifteen teens will gain job skills, leadership training, and learn how to turn ideas into action. Those who complete the program will receive a 35-hundred-dollar stipend for vocational training.
Financial Director Esmeralda Tovar-Mora says it’s not just about finding a job — it’s about building opportunities for themselves and making an impact in their communities.
The grant will also help fund mentor training, staff salaries, workshops, and internships. In addition, Wisdom In Motion partners with the NAACP Youth to run the Urban Farming Initiative, where kids learn responsibility through growing crops and caring for animals.
For more information, or to get a child involved, visit wisdominmotionks.com or call 620-960-9092.