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| By now, you’ve likely received our Summer Newsletter in your mailbox. We send these out twice each year and historically, they’ve included information on what our kids are up to, celebrations of our community, exciting new initiatives, and calls for support. While some of that is in there, this is the second edition of our biannual newsletter that takes on tackling the issues our community has been facing for the last few years — and the undeniable fact that youth and nonprofits have been left out of critical conversations on policy development.
Our work is rooted in love and the simple fact that everyone deserves a fair chance at stability and success. Every day, our youth and families show up knowing King Street Center is here for them through it all. But the question remains: how much longer can we be asked to do more with less?
Local nonprofits are pouring hundreds of thousands of dollars into safety and security — money that should be going toward food, education, mentoring, mental health care, and enrichment opportunities. All the things our city relies on us to do. We do this work with pride. The people who work in nonprofits are community warriors. They show up, endure secondary trauma, put aside their own needs, and serve the most vulnerable. And the cost of doing so is rising — financially, emotionally, and mentally.
At the same time, threats to nonprofits and those we serve are coming from every direction. Looming federal cuts threaten not only King Street’s food and early education programs, but the health and well-being of financially unresourced families across Vermont.
We share this not to alarm, but to shine a light. To ask you — our community — to continue standing with us, speaking up, and investing in what matters most: our children, our families, and the future of a more just and equitable Burlington.
If you haven’t already, please take a moment to read our newsletter linked below: |
| Everyone has a child they love — whether it’s your own, a niece or nephew, your best friend’s, or a young person you’ve chosen to show up for because they deserve the steady presence of someone who believes in them. This is the purest form of love. It makes us brave and moves us to take risks we otherwise would never take.
There are everyday risks we’re willing to let the children we love take: climbing just a little too high at the playground or heading out with friends and promising to be back by curfew. Then there are the risks we spend our whole lives trying to prevent: getting seriously hurt or putting themselves in harm's way. One day this past December, that love was forced to shine bright for one family at King Street Center.
The afternoon winter dusk had started to set in. Our early education day was wrapping up and parents were arriving to pick up their toddlers and preschoolers. One mom, holding her child on her hip, discovered her car wouldn’t start. She called her partner for help. He arrived minutes later, pulled in behind her, left his car running, and stepped out to assist.
Three men stood near the front door of the Center with their car idling closeby, watching. |
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| Summer should be a time for joy, growth, and discovery — not a season where hard-won progress fades.
That’s why King Street Center matters so deeply.
When school doors close, more than 150 young people step into a space where they’re seen, supported, and surrounded by people who believe in them.
Here, they don’t just hold on to what they’ve learned — they build on it. They try new things, practice new skills, and grow in confidence through adventure, connection, and care.
We need your help to raise $10,000 to keep this momentum going! It costs $315 to support one student for a full week of summer programming. Your gift makes it possible. Help us keep summer shining! |
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| Our Annual Block Party was another one for the books. For a few hours on a warm July afternoon, King Street transformed into a bubbling hub of laughter, dancing, delicious food and creemees.
During the most active time of the year, it is important to take time to connect with our families, community members and friends. The day felt memoralized by a mural created by our Middle School programs — a collage of the different stories that make up King Street Center. |
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| We appreciate all those who came to spend some time with us to celerbate our community. A HUGE thank you Carrie, Gabé, Frank and all staff members & volunteers for setting up, manning stations, and cleaning up after the event.
We offer a special thank you to Jilib Jiblets for the amazing food, DJ Ron Stoppable for their excellent music curations, and Camile Josephine for drawing over 40 portraits of our community!
With love, always 💛 |
| Thank you to our Block Part Sponsors for generously supporting our Annual Block Party! |
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| | | Our Summer Book Buddy program partners community volunteers with our K-5 youth. Every morning, for about 45 minutes, youth and their Book Buddies work on skills that are CRITICAL to maintaining reading levels through the summer months.
We are pleased to announce that we have 55 Book Buddies this summer, 18 of which are brand new volunteers to King Street! This important milestone ensures that every single one of our youth can meet with an adult each day to intentionally grow their academic skills while school is not in session.
Soon, we’ll be recruiting Book Buddies for the 2025-2026 academic school year. Please stay tuned for more information on how you can get involved! |
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| The Summer months are a special slice of heat in the Green Mountain State. What better way to cool off than exploring water through play?
Our Early Ed classrooms are getting out of their classrooms and examining the properties and uses of water in their community. Our littlest ones enjoy the YMCA Splash Pad while PreSchool pose scientific questions such as “What makes things float?”
Their curiousity continues to spark activites that have expanded into watercolor murals, simulating a river ecosystem with our sensory tables, and boat races! |
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| | | Back for its 28th season, the King Street Lemonade Stand is serving its famous citrus drinks to the Burlington community now through August 15th!
📍 1 College Street outside ECHO ⏰ Tues - Fri, 11 AM - 5 PM
For the second year in a row, we’ve collaborated with Vermont Juice Co. to sell a bottled version of our lemonade. Owner and King Street Mentor, Jehan, worked with our Middle Schoolers to create lemon-y concations to sell at the store. Proceeds from each bottle goes to supporting King Street Center. |
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| ACE Adventures: Summer Career & College Exploration Highlights
Since the start of summer, our ACE students have hit the ground running with hands-on learning and eye-opening experiences across Vermont and (soon to be) beyond! From touring Rhino Foods and learning about leadership and operations, to getting finance tips straight from North Country Federal Credit Union and Chase Bank, our teens have been soaking up real-world knowledge at every stop.
They’ve practiced job interviews with the Vermont Department of Labor, sharpened networking skills with the Vermont Professionals of Color Network, and even built their own LinkedIn profiles. Our rising seniors dove into college prep with Wendy Wiseberg, while younger cohorts met entrepreneurs, explored new industries, and imagined futures they never thought possible.
And the biggest trip of all this summer? A multi-day college and career exploration journey to Boston — opening doors to even more opportunity — early next month.
Each of these trips is more than a field experience — it’s a step toward confidence, connection, and a bright future. |
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| | Our partnership with Vermont Green FC is back for its third year. During their busy season, players took time to connect with King Street youth in a variety of games and art projects. Their final meet up was the opportunity to practice with players for a morning of goals and camaraderie.
We appreciate Vermont Green FC for their continued support of our programming. We also congratulate them on an undefeated season, becoming Division Champions, and booking their spot in the Eastern Conference Final! We’re all wishing the best of luck to this incredible team this weekend. GO GREEN! |
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| Recently, some of our male-indentifying youth were filmed for the documentary, “Gone Guys”.
The documentary, presented by The Richard E. & Deborah L. Tarrant Foundation and The Vermont Community Foundation, is an exploration of the disengagement from academics, society, and sense of self men and boys are experiencing.
As we look to improve the conditions of youth, the conversations around male loneliness and isolation are paramount. The 45-minute documentary uses national data, personal stories that span generations and introduce initatives designed to re-engage men and boys with their communities. |
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| By Sophia Thomas
Published: Jun. 17, 2025 at 3:54 AM EDT Some Vermont teens are tapping into summertime learning and taking their lessons to the next level. Just over half of Vermont’s 16- to 19-year-olds have a job. Teens at the King Street Center are working toward a bright future. School’s out for summer, but Burlington High School rising junior Esta Mwibelca doesn’t see it as a break. “I’m constantly thinking about what I want to do with my life instead of actually entering summer and thinking, oh, now it’s time to relax and forget about school,” said Mwibelca. |
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