Our History
Whatsoever Community Center (WCC) began in 1915 as a small soup kitchen in the basement of Erickson’s Café on Washington Park Boulevard (now Winner Road). Founded by the Whatsoever Circle, a women’s group of Independence Boulevard Christian Church. As the women fed hungry neighbors, they soon realized that families needed more than food—they needed opportunity and education. From that vision grew Whatsoever Community Circle House, a place dedicated to nurturing children, supporting families, and strengthening the community.
From those humble beginnings, WCC expanded from a café basement to a home on Independence Avenue, and eventually to its current location in the historic Old Jackson School House. Since 1941, the Center has remained a safe haven for generations of Kansas City families. Every day, the center welcomes a steady stream of children, teens, and adults eager to learn and build community. WCC empowers youth with the skills and confidence to shape their own futures. Through hands-on educational programs—including STEM learning, robotics, and amateur boxing—we engage young people in experiences that build discipline, curiosity, and leadership. These programs open doors to academic and career pathways that might otherwise feel out of reach. By meeting youth where they are and nurturing their potential, we help create stronger, more resilient individuals and a thriving community.
For more than a century, Whatsoever Community Center has upheld the vision of its founders—meeting community needs with purpose. By inspiring hope, we ensure that the legacy of those first women continues to shape brighter futures for generations to come.