The CrossOver is a show using basketball as a crossover to impact communities, promote education and develop leaders.

The CrossOver is a show using basketball as a crossover to impact communities, promote education and develop leaders.

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]]>CommunityEducationSportsLaToya JohnsonSat, 04 Jul 2020 14:15:00 +0000https://www.kckeys.org/whats-new-with-the-kc-keys/2020/8/3/the-crossover-no559de349b8fd4d260efa1a871:59e2d241bce176ff8ed680b5:5f281ba09526e63b9bc54d9cHost LaToya Johnson interviews, interviews two of her former teammates, Danielle Adams and Shalisa Wings. They discuss life, successes, failures and memories as participants of the KC Keys organization.

The CrossOver is a show using basketball as a crossover to impact communities, promote education and develop leaders.

• Gracie Ekberg - Truman High School

• Albert Maliko - JC Harmon High School

• Yazmin Mera - JC Harmon High School

• Jazzmin Miller - Van Horn High School

• Leslie Ponce Diaz - Sumner Academy of Arts & Science

This past weekend the KC KEYS hosted our 25th Annual Best Basketball Invitational Tournament. The event took place at the University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC) and Winnetonka High School. For this year’s educational program, participants were able to watch the UMKC Women’s Team take on Chicago State University. Participants were able to speak and take pictures with the Roo athletes and coaches after the game. In our inaugural skills challenge, Brendan Perry (KeyLife-Perry) won the 3-point contest on a last second shot.  Teams came from far and near to compete for the covet Keys’ Trophy. Spectators were able to see some of the best talent in the region and rising stars in the country. In all, we awarded eight teams with the championship honor. 

As a former participate of this tournament and now President, I fully understand the value of the volunteers, staff and workers that are needed to make this event so successful. The theme of this year was “Celebrating 25 years of Basketball Excellence” but basketball has not been the only thing that has excelled over the years. We celebrate volunteerism excellence, programming excellence, and leadership excellence.  All these traits were on display this weekend as they have been pillars of the tournament for the last quarter of a century, which has led to our continued existence. 

I would be remiss to not take this opportunity to send a special thanks and gratitude, to the Founder of the Keys BBIT, 25-year tourney director, and former president, Harrel Johnson Jr.  Thank you for your consistency and dedication to youth sports in Kansas City and providing an avenue for others to learn from and grow. Your work, mostly unspoken, has been vital to the culture and nature of youth sports in Kansas City and neighboring cities and states. 
Moving into the spring season, here are a few happenings within the KEYS that you can look forward to:
1 .  March 10- KEYS Scholars Resume Building and Mock Interviews
2.   April 7th- KEYS Scholars Financial Freedom Seminar
3.   April 26th- 2nd Annual Danny Williams Scholarship Awards Ceremony
4.   April TBA- KEYS Basketball Tournament

If you are interested in volunteering, mentoring, or becoming a coach, please email me at kckeys2015@gmail.com or fill out a volunteer on www.kckeys.org 

Until next time, keep your head high and your crossover low,

LaToya Johnson
President
 

In May 2012, I graduated from the University of Louisville and received a scholarship to complete my master’s degree in Athletic Training at the University of Arkansas. I began school that June. As I was in the program each day, my desire to be there diminished and I had no hope to follow through in that career path. I had no focus and was lost and eventually decided to withdraw from the program in August. Before I moved back to Kansas City, I took some intentional time to re-evaluate my life and set a plan for my future. First, I prayed and read my bible (a lot). Then, I made a list of my goals (dreams) for the next five years and they were as follows: 1. Put God first daily, 2. Get back into a Master’s program and graduate, 3. Get Married, 4. Be enrolled in a PhD program, and 5. Become a President of a non-profit organization. Next, I fasted for 6 days. From there, I started my new journey. 

As we celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day, I would like to share with you my dreams for the Kansas City Keys for the next five years:
1. To continue providing high quality programming for Kansas City through education and sports,
2. Acquire and maintain an office to be able to manage the day-to-day operations more effectively, 
3. Provide $100,000 in scholarships to graduating seniors through the Danny Williams Scholarship Fund, and
4. Build a recreational center in the heart of Kansas City. 

Each day I strive to put God first in my life. In August 2013, I began a master’s program and in May 2015, I graduated with a master’s in education from Lipscomb University. In May 2014, I married my best friend, Randy Valerio. I am not enrolled in a PhD program, but as of October 2017, I became President of the Kansas City Keys Community Council. 
Dreams + dedication can equal reality. I am looking forward to what 2023 will entail. What are your dreams Keys family? Today, I encourage you to dream and to dream BIG. With focused dreams and dedication, it can become a reality. 
Until next time, keep your head high and your crossover low,
LaToya Johnson
President

As we prepare to enter a new year, it is always good to reflect and evaluate the past year. Looking back over the 2017, I am blessed and honored for this illustrious organization to still be around serving Kansas City. 2017 has been a been a year of first for the KC Keys. We have instituted the Danny Williams Scholarship Fund that assist graduating seniors with book scholarships. I was also voted to be the new president, making me the first female president in the program’s history. 2017 was an introduction to the amazing things that are to come in 2018.

Moving into the New Year, here are a few things to look forward to:

1. January 28, 2018-Danny Williams Scholarship Applications are due. Click Link for more information: https://www.kckeys.org/keys-scholars-1/
2. February 15-17, 2018- Kansas City Keys Best Basketball Invitational Tournament will be. Grades K-8 for boys and girls. This will be a tournament to remember. Register at https://www.kckeys.org/tournaments
3. February thru May-Educational Seminars/ Life Skills Trainings- Where we will be connecting local business leaders and mentors with our youth to provide educational seminars and life skills trainings. 
4. May-Danny Williams Scholarship Awards Ceremony
5. May and October- Keys Tournaments

If you would like to donate, sponsor, or volunteer for any of these events, please contact me, LaToya Valerio at kckeys2015@gmail.com or go online to www.kckeys.org

Hope you all have a blessed and prosperous 2018!

Until next time, keep your head high and your crossover low.

LaToya Johnson
President

This scholarship serves to honor the legacy of Coach Danny Williams. Danny Williams was a long-standing volunteer, coach and board member to the Kansas City Keys Community Council, who passed away in 2013. Danny was well known for his upbeat attitude, humor, love for others, and commitment to helping youth. Danny Williams embodied the ideals and attitude of excellence and sought to instill those values in the youth he served.

Scholarship award winners will receive a $250 book scholarship. Candidate(s) that win the scholarship will be invited to the Scholarship Awards Ceremony in May. Scholarship funds will be held until Fall enrollment is verified.

Visit our website to apply!

Contact KeysScholars@Gmail.com with any questions. 

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]]>CommunityEducationSportsLaToya JohnsonSun, 05 Nov 2017 23:08:21 +0000https://www.kckeys.org/whats-new-with-the-kc-keys/2017/11/5/november-15-201759de349b8fd4d260efa1a871:59e2d241bce176ff8ed680b5:59ff951b652dea4f72fa82e2The CrossOver

w/ LaToya Johnson

Using basketball as a crossover to impact communities, promote education and develop leaders.

November 5, 2017

Hey Keys Family,

This is your new president, LaToya Johnson. Since the transition, I have been receiving so much encouragement and positive feedback. I want to take this opportunity to express my sincere thanks and appreciation for it all. I am excited to carry out the mission of this great organization. If you haven’t checked out the article about the new era of KC Keys basketball, click the link here: https://kckeys.squarespace.com/whats-new-with-the-kc-keys/2017/10/14/press-release

The Crossover is the new blog I will use to stay connected, keep you all updated about the happenings inside the KC Keys organization, and to provide further insight into ways to impact communities, promote education and develop leaders for tomorrow. We are so much more than just a basketball organization. I want to share regular updates of all of the impactful work and accomplishments that our players produce both on the court and in the community.

We are revving up for our 25th Annual Best Basketball Invitational Tournament February 16-18, 2018. That’s right, we are entering 25 years of basketball excellence and want to celebrate with you! This tournament has been a highlight of the Keys organization and the City of Kansas City. As a participant, I always looked forward to this event because I was able to see greatness developing in some of the best in basketball from across the country, including players like Michael Conley, Marcus Smart, Danielle Adams, and Perry Ellis.  Being a fierce competitor, I loved the games and competing, but I equally enjoyed the positive atmosphere and meeting people from other states. I am so pumped to be celebrating 25 years of the tournament and to be able to see the making of the country’s future stars. The upcoming 25th Annual BBIT will honor former participants, hold a skills challenge, and as always, showcase top-notch competition. This will not be the tourney to miss!

For more information about the tournament, check out https://kckeys.squarespace.com/tournaments or contact the tournament director, Harrel Johnson, at 816-674-5715.

If you would like to sponsor, donate or volunteer for the 25th Annual BBIT, please contact me, LaToya Valerio at kckeys2015@gmail.com.

Stay connected with us on Facebook (KC Keys), and the website (www.kckeys.org).

Until next time, keep your head up and your crossover low,

LaToya

After 28 years as president of the Kansas City Keys, Harrel Johnson, is succeed by the board’s first female president, LaToya Johnson.

October 14, 2017

The Kansas City Keys Community Council, Inc. is proud to announce their new president LaToya Valerio. Valerio, 29, is a former basketball player for the University of Louisville, earned her Master’s degree from the Lipscomb University in Education, teacher at Gladstone Elementary in Kansas City Public Schools District, coach, wife and mother. “LaToya represents the third generation of Johnsons giving to the greater KC community”, says Harrel Johnson. “We are excited for her leadership.”

As a board member, LaToya, established and headed the Danny Williams’ Scholarship Fund that supports graduating seniors with book scholarships. The fund is to honor the Keys’ late board member Danny Williams. This past spring, the Keys selected eight scholars to receive the award.

“It is such an honor to head an organization that has so much history and prestige in Kansas City”, says LaToya.  “As President, I plan to continue the great legacy, my grandfather and father have set, while moving the program forward and reaching new heights.”   “In the words of John F. Kennedy, “It is time for a new generation of leadership, to cope with new problems and new opportunities. For there is a new world to be won.”’

LaToya became president as of October 4, 2017. New board members to the Kansas City Keys are Ashley Cato and Tekoyia Trice.

For more information about the Kansas City Keys and the Danny Williams Scholarship Fund, contact a member of the Keys at:

• Website: www.kckeys.org   Phone: 816-674-3792  Email:Kckeys2015@gmail.com   

• Facebook: KC Keys            

Kansas City Keys

P.O. BOX 270257

Kansas City, MO 64127

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