KANSAS CITY, Mo. — A Kansas City man has started a nonprofit with a focus on performing arts to help teens avoid the mistakes he made in his life.

Kyle Hollins' nonprofit is called "The Lyrik's Institution." According to Hollins, the program will be based on cognitive behavioral therapy.

It's something the Kansas City native said he was introduced to during his time in prison.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — An event called "Teen Summit" plans to examine the thinking and behavior of young people so they can stay out of trouble.

The event is organized by nonprofit Lyrik's Institution.
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Founder Kyle Hollins said the idea for the event came following numerous events in 2020 such as the unrest following the police custody death of George Floyd, the COVID-19 pandemic and the high homicide rate in the Kansas City metro.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — One Kansas City, Missouri, man is working with teenagers to help them discuss the many social and political issues that have emerged over the course of the past year.
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Kyle Hollins, CEO and founder of Lyrik’s Institution, held a summit Saturday, offering a safe space for teens to talk about those issues and learn how to handle them.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — A Kansas City teen is hoping to lead his peers in the right direction.
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Christopher Ortiz-Cruz, 13, has developed a business to help kids like himself redirect their energy into something positive amid the rise of youth violence.

“Right now some people are in bad things, doing bad things and I want them to realize that, you know, you can put it into a hobby, especially a fun and healthy hobby,” Christopher said.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — A Kansas City nonprofit is teaming up with the Kansas City Art Institute for a summer program designed to save young lives and lay a foundation for a brighter future.

Students at Northeast High School are participating in a summer program organized by Lyrik's Institution and the Kansas City Art Institute.
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The program offers teens classes in subjects such as painting and sculpting/3D design.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Your first thought is not who you are.

That’s the message the Lyriks Institution wants to send to young people.

The organization brought together dozens students Saturday at the Black Archives of Mid-America to discuss social issues ranging from city violence to police shootings for Part One of a three-part event.
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Kyle Hollins, CEO and founder of Lyriks Institution, said that in a city plagued with violence and crime, teens need tools to avoid dangerous situations. The sessions provide youth with “power moves” to help them think through certain situations.