IN THE COUNTY LEGISLATURE OF JACKSON COUNTY, MISSOURI
Title
A RESOLUTION recognizing MINDDRIVE for its contributions during National Mentoring Month.
Intro
RESOLUTION NO. 22156, February 2, 2026
INTRODUCED BY Donna Peyton, County Legislator
Body
WHEREAS, MINDDRIVE was established in 2010, originating as a creativity class led by Steve Rees at DeLaSalle Education Center, and soon evolved into an independent not-for-profit organization co-founded by Steve Rees and Linda Buchner, with early support from Bridgestone America; and,
WHEREAS, from its humble beginnings with 8 students, MINDDRIVE has steadily expanded to serve approximately 250 students annually across two locations, with more than 370 youth completing multi-year pathways and earning industry credentials or completing major client-connected engineering projects; and,
WHEREAS, MINDDRIVE partners with Jackson County school districts to provide students with school-day credit and market value assets through hands-on engineering and design work, while also offering after-school programming at the Ignition Lab in partnership with Operation Breakthrough; and,
WHEREAS, MINDDRIVE provides evening opportunities in welding, drone racing, automotive design, and eSports, and is launching an auto repair program that equips students with foundational skills in diagnostics, maintenance, and repair which directly benefits low-income families by improving transportation access and household stability; and,
WHEREAS, students have completed nationally recognized projects, including the award-winning electric vehicle conversion of a 1969 Chevelle SS promoted by Travis Kelce, and are currently working on Jason Kelce’s 1986 Chevy K10 diesel hybrid repower, projects that have garnered national attention and provided unparalleled real-world learning experiences; and,
WHEREAS, MINDDRIVE’s long-standing Electrathon racing program engages students in designing and building lightweight electric race cars for regional competitions, with girls participating across welding, fabrication, engineering, racing, and leadership roles, strengthening the culture of inclusion and innovation; and,
WHEREAS, MINDDRIVE advances youth mentorship and workforce readiness through a near-peer model in which approximately 88 percent of its staff are program alumni, and by offering paid internships and experiential learning opportunities to dozens of high school and college students annually, equipping participants with problem solving, critical thinking, collaboration, and communication skills essential for future success; and,
WHEREAS, the generous support of corporations, foundations, and individuals in the Kansas City community has enabled MINDDRIVE to grow into a nationally recognized model of experiential, project-based learning that expands students’ vision of what is possible for their future; now therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED, that the County Legislature of Jackson County, Missouri, hereby recognizes and commends MINDDRIVE for its outstanding contributions to youth mentoring, experiential learning, and community impact during National Mentoring Month in January, and expresses gratitude for its continued dedication to empowering students across the Kansas City Metro.
Enacted and Approved
Effective Date: This Resolution shall be effective immediately upon its passage by a majority of the Legislature.
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
______________________________
County Counselor
Certificate of Passage
I hereby certify that the attached resolution, Resolution No. 22156 of February 2, 2026, was duly passed on _____________________________, 2026 by the Jackson County Legislature. The votes thereon were as follows:
Yeas _________________ Nays _____________
Abstaining _____________ Absent ____________
______________________ _________________________________
Date Mary Jo Spino, Clerk of Legislature