Airick Leonard West is very interested in sponsoring charitable organizations with credible purpose. The ideal organization's purpose combines youth, entrepreneurship or education with real estate, healthcare, financial services or technology. He prefers to work on projects that involve several of these areas.

Clearly, his true love is the opportunity to be of service to his community as is witness to the following (but not all) of his efforts.

Ivanhoe Neighborhood Council
www.incthrives.org
The Mission of the Ivanhoe Neighborhood Council is building clean, beautiful, safe thriving neighborhoods for healthy families and youth through trusting, cooperative relationships. The Vision of the organization is Thriving neighborhoods in harmony. To realize the Mission and Vision of the Ivanhoe Neighborhood Council, the organization is implementing a strategic plan to beautify the neighborhood, to reduce crime, to promote youth development, and to foster economic development. I currently serve as treasurer of the board of directors, as Chair of the Beautification Committee, as vice-chair of the Administration & Finance Committee and as Chair of the Redevelopment and Urban Planning Committee.

HarmonyNCCJ
www.kcharmony.org
Harmony is a resource and catalyst in and for the metropolitan Kansas City community to improve race relations, increase appreciation for cultural diversity, and eliminate intolerance. I currently serve as a volunteer facilitator, speaker and program director on issues of racism, sexism, heterosexism and classism.

Black Archives of Mid-America
www.blackarchives.org
The mission of the Black Archives has been to collect and preserve the evidence of the accomplishments of Blacks and to use our collections and related ideas to contribute to human knowledge and understanding by making our collections available for research, education, and exhibition; to collaborate with other museums, cultural and educational institutions to solve common problems and to serve our constituencies more effectively; and to take an active role in sharing the public image of museums by modernizing the stereotypes and turning individual private collections into broad public awareness and support of our mission and program. I am humbled and honored to join the newly reconstituted board of directors put in place by Missouri's attorney general. I currently serve as vice-chair of the board of directors.

Blue Hills/Ivanhoe TIF Advisory Committee
www.edckc.com
Blue Hills and Ivanhoe have been added as a benefit area to the Southtown TIF. The third amendment that extended benefits to Blue Hills and Ivanhoe draws on TIF revenue from multiple HCA projects sites. The neighborhoods will receive $500k each year between 2007 and 2017. These dollars will be used to create housing programs similar to the efforts connected with the Midtown TIF. The Advisory Committee is responsible for establishing the program design and grant guidelines. I currently serve as chair.

ReDiscover
www.rediscovermh.org
For almost 35 years, ReDiscover has been providing community mental health and substance abuse services -- first as Southeast Jackson County Mental Health Center, then as Community Mental Health Center-South, most recently as Research Mental Health Services (as a part of the Health Midwest system), and now as ReDiscover. We serve more than 6000 people a year through our direct services, and thousands more through our community education services -- working with schools and other community agencies to prevent drug and alcohol abuse and childhood sexual abuse. I currently serve as a member of the board of directors.

Simply Equine Assisted Therapy
www.simplyequine.org
Simply Equine Assisted Therapy is a not-for-profit organization utilizing horses to influence people in their way of thinking and reacting. Horses -- large, unpredictable and sometimes intimidating just by their presence -- can provide a natural opportunity for people to overcome fear and self-confidence issues. Simply Equine exists to to facilitiate personal growth and learning through equestrian activities. I currently serve as vice-chair of the board of directors.

LULAC National Education Service Center
www.lnesc-kc.org
In an effort to create lifelong learners and leaders within the Hispanic community, the League of United Latino American Citizen's National Education Service Centers strive to provide the highest quality educational opportunities possible. LNESC seeks to develop America's future workforce by effectively preparing young people for the jobs of the new economy. I currently serve as a member of the local board of directors.

stephanie waterman foundation
www.watermantennis.org
The Stephanie Waterman Foundation works with disadvantaged inner city youth ages 7-14 to improve their physical, intellectual and social skills. Programming includes tennis lessons, regular tutoring and testing, and meeting with mentors. The purpose of these activities is to nurture the values of discipline, self improvement and emotional control. Youth are encouraged to enhance their tennis abilities while pursing collegiate opportunities. I currently serve as a member of the Board of Directors and as chair of the planning committee.

Urban Society of Kansas City
www.urbansocietykc.org
The Urban Society of Kansas City promotes excellence in several crucial areas for making a great city: urban design, architecture, effecient government and grassroots economic development. The organization promotes vigorous public debate on selected issues and undertakes special projects to better the city. Its members are dedicated to being informed concerning such issues and active in helping the city make strides, both large and small. I currently serve as a member of the Board of Directors and as a member of the Executive Committee.

Kansas City Young Friends of the Library
www.kclibrary.org
Intended for young professionals, the purpose of The Young Friends of the Kansas City Public Library is to offer 'ownership' of the Library to the community, provide additional and diverse activities for Library customers and supporters, work with other Young Friends organizations in Kansas City and invest in future supporters and donors of the Library. I currently serve as vice-president of the board of directors.

Morning Star Community Development Corporation
Morning Star CDC is the development arm of Morning Star Missionary Baptist Church, a faith community that has served Kansas City's urban core for nearly 80 years. Morning Star CDC is currently working to develop housing opportunities for seniors and a youth and family life center at the troubled corner of 27th & Prospect. I currently serve as a member of the board of directors.

University of Missouri Extension
www.extension.missouri.edu
MU Extension is responsible for ensuring that research and resources from the University of Missouri system (UMKC, UM Rolla, MU etc) are allocated to benefit all Missourians. Extension performs this function by working closely with many branches of the University of Missouri system as well as by sponsoring many organizations that work in the community.

Airick is an elected representative of Jackson County's 1st District and has committed himself to furthering the University of Missouri Extension's mission of bringing the full research-based knowledge and resources of the University system to within reach of our community's residents. The citizens of Jackson County voted Airick into a second two-year term on the Council. He is currently serving as chair of the board of directors.