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Central to our mission is our commitment to equip and mobilize the community.  Our goal is to facilitate the journey from hand-outs (emergency relief) in crisis, to hand-ups (individual betterment) for those ready to rise above their circumstances, to hand-offs (community development) to indigenous leaders of a transformed community.

KCMO 
Business Training Center Program 

The Business Training Center Program provides economic and community development for at-risk families in the urban core of Kansas City, MO. We provide job training, career-development, discipleship, job-fairs, apprenticeships, internships, recycling jobs, mentoring, neighborhood beautification, and economic development. The Business Training Center employs 12 full-time individuals who recycle 1578 tons annually, which includes 50,000 mattresses. This program has been featured in The Kansas City Star, Greenability, Midtown KC Post, and has received the 2015 Missouri Outstanding Achievement Award in Environmental Excellence and named the 2015 MARC Sustainable Success Story Honoree.
5117 E 31st Street, Kansas City, MO 64128

Mattress Recycling

At the Business Training Center, Avenue of Life is using recycling to create jobs for individuals with barriers to employment. Our first initiative is Mattress Recycling. Employees and interns deconstruct recycled mattresses, diverting waste from the landfills, and then sell the commodities to be used in the manufacturing of new products!

The Small Hinge

Following a tour of the Business Training Center, Melody Tener noticed a variety of resources available that could be used to upcycle the old into new. From that, the idea of The Small Hinge was born. 

Working together with Avenue of Life and the local community, The Small Hinge sells a variety of products, both created and upcycled by Avenue of Life clients

AVE Wood Shop

At the Business Training Center, Avenue of Life has designed a series of products that can be manufactured from the wood we process from recycling mattresses, box springs, and pallets. Dog beds and wall art are among the first products available, and can currently be acquired at The Small Hinge.

Recycling Creates Sustainable Jobs!
Call Kim Bryan at (816) 787-6101 with any questions!
For other recycling needs, visit recyclespot.org!