Today we’d like to introduce you to Athaviah Shane.
Hi Athaviah, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I’ve been working in social work for a while, and I’ve always felt that every social worker has a population they’re especially drawn to. For me, that has always been refugee youth – individuals who have been forced to flee their home due to war, violence, or persecution and whose parents are often English Language Learners and new to navigating life in the United States. I started my practicum – a Social Work field assignment/internship – around the time Afghanistan fell in 2021, and that experience really stayed with me. Throughout my work in my practicum and now as a Youth Therapist with Jewish Vocational Service of Kansas City, I’ve seen so much potential in the young people in our community – so many skills, ideas, and capabilities that weren’t always being recognized or given an opportunity to grow.
A lot of youth fall through the cracks because they may not know what resources are available to them, or they may not feel comfortable seeking them out. Culture and language can also create barriers. I became really interested in finding ways to connect young people to opportunities where they could see themselves, their culture, and their abilities reflected.
That’s really how the Microenterprise Program at JVS came about. We had kids who were already doing things like nails, hair, and other small businesses. They had all these ideas and entrepreneurial interests, but they didn’t necessarily have the support or resources to take those ideas further. Through therapy and our work together, we started talking about having something to look forward to and something they could build.
The kids were incredibly excited about it. They were telling me they wanted to start businesses, and eventually several of them wanted to be involved. We started with six kids last year and now we have 12, along with an Afghan girls group who have started a sewing business.
One of my favorite parts has been connecting these young entrepreneurs with other refugee entrepreneurs in Kansas City. It gives them an opportunity to meet people who look like them, learn from people with similar experiences, and realize that these possibilities exist for them too.
Honestly, these kids are hustlers – they make my job easy. They are excited, they keep showing up, and they have really taken ownership of the program. My role has been to help provide the structure, curriculum, guidance, and encouragement, while they bring the energy and ideas.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Overall, it’s been a pretty smooth experience, but anytime you start something from scratch, there are going to be bumps along the way. A lot of the challenge has been figuring out the logistics – understanding the rules, figuring out how to implement the program effectively, and thinking about how we can expand while still being intentional about what we’re teaching.
One of the biggest learning experiences has been developing the curriculum and figuring out how to make the program both practical and meaningful for the kids. We’re not just talking about having a business idea; we’re teaching them about things like profit, decision-making, leadership, and what it actually takes to make an idea work.
The exciting part is watching how much the kids already know. Some of them have a really strong understanding of business because of what they’ve experienced in their own families and neighborhoods. They bring expertise that I could never teach them from a textbook.
I’ve also loved watching them lead each other. They’re able to take their own lived experiences and share that knowledge with one another. There’s a lot of peer learning happening, and that has been one of the most rewarding parts of the program.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
JVS’ Youth Social Work Program started in 2016, operates in the Historic Northeast neighborhood of Kansas City, Missouri, and serves refugee and immigrant youth in Kansas City and other communities across the state. Around half of all individuals served by JVS are under the age of 18. Our team works collaboratively with community partners and local school districts to provide community-based services to youth ages 6-24 which address mental health, financial stability and crisis resolution. Services include, advocacy, school enrollment, case management, group activities & individual therapy.
We have a dedicated team of licensed therapists on staff – myself included – who work with teens as they navigate their mental health and work through crises. We also have a therapist who works with children in early education through play therapy in the schools. We also have a Youth Development program that supports youth ages 15-24 to support civic engagement, leadership development, and the pursuit of higher education.
A big part of my work is centered around youth development, empowerment, and helping young people recognize their own potential. Through the Microenterprise Program, we use entrepreneurship as a tool to build leadership skills, motivation, confidence, and independence.
What I’m most proud of is the kids themselves. This program is truly led by them. If the kids weren’t committed, the program wouldn’t happen. I can provide the curriculum, structure, resources, and guidance, but they are the ones who make it come to life.
That’s also what I think sets the program apart. We’re not simply teaching kids how to start a small business. We’re creating a space where they can take ownership, learn from one another, build confidence, and see themselves as leaders.
I want them to understand that their ideas and experiences have value. They already have so much capability – we’re just creating opportunities for them to recognize it and build on it.
Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
My goal is to keep this program going and continue expanding it. I’d especially like to incorporate more leadership training and create stronger connections between young people and the broader entrepreneurial community in Kansas City.
Kansas City has such a strong entrepreneurial spirit, and I want our youth to be able to experience that firsthand. That could mean connecting them with local entrepreneurs, taking them on field trips, giving them opportunities to see businesses in action, and creating spaces where they can ask questions and learn from people who have already built something.
Ultimately, I don’t want this to be viewed as just a Microenterprise Program. Entrepreneurship is the vehicle, but the bigger goal is helping young people see, learn, grow, and develop as individuals and leaders.
I want them to leave the program with more than a business idea. I want them to leave knowing who they are, what they’re capable of, and what possibilities are available to them.
Pricing:
- Learn more about JVS at www.jvskc.org
- Follow JVS on Instagram: @jvskansascity
- Find JVS on Facebook & LinkedIn: Jewish Vocational Service of Kansas City
Contact Info:
- Website: https://jvskc.org/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jvskansascity
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jvskc/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/jewish-vocational-services-of-kansas-city
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@jvsdevelopment8898
- Other: https://online.flippingbook.com/view/531163789/
