About Us
Why We Do What We Do
In Kansas City, like many cities across the country, Hidden Homelessness and housing insecurity are pressing issues that affect thousands of individuals and families every day.
We believe that everyone deserves a safe place to call home, and we are committed to addressing this fundamental need in our Community.
By providing stable housing solutions, we not only offer immediate relief but also pave the way for long-term stability and opportunity.
Our Approach
Embrace Your Shine takes a holistic approach to addressing homelessness, recognizing that safe housing is just one piece of the puzzle. In addition to building houses, we provide support services and resources to help our beneficiaries rebuild their lives. From job training and educational opportunities to access to healthcare and mental health services, we strive to empower individuals to overcome barriers and achieve their goals.
Our Impact
We remove the trade-off between survival and success.
Participants gain not only Economic Stability but also the cognitive & emotional benefits of setting and achieving goals - improving mental health, reducing chronic stress, and increasing long-term decision making capacity.
A generation of young people empowered to rewrite their story and grow stronger than their circumstances.
About Us
At Embrace Your Shine, we are dedicated to making a tangible difference in the lives of the underrepresented young people in Kansas City.
As an incorporated 501(c)3 non-profit organization, we focus on providing supportive housing solutions to those facing hidden homelessness and inadequate living conditions in our community.
We are driven by a shared belief in the inherent dignity and worth of every individual. We recognize that safe and stable housing is not just a basic necessity, but a fundamental human right.
We aim to Enrich Local Ecosystem Developments with our unique approach..-combining transitional housing with comprehensive support - Will empower these UpComing Leaders to Lead, Innovate & Redefine their Future for the Better.
Developing a Grateful Mindset does not experience fear or anger.
Agency History
Embrace Your Shine ✨ was founded out of lived experience. After leaving a hostile workplace and facing housing insecurity firsthand, our CoFounder, Rosana Polanco, made the decision to work for herself and create the kind of opportunity and support system she didn’t have. Within two years, she led the acquisition of donated land for what is now the Embrace Life Campus and secured the funding necessary for early-stage development, including architectural planning. What began as a personal vision for transformation has become a growing movement to reimagine how Kansas City supports youth and young adults who are capable but overlooked.
CoFounder, Gary Henke, desires to provide his experience, expertise and insight to the nonprofit and its participants to see success and growth in its and their goals. His experience consists of years of corporate experience, successful small business development and commercial property management and construction. During the latter he learned the art of mentoring those who have struggled and or starting their careers and have seen both progress and failure. Learning from all situations was a valuable tool that can be used in this new endeavor.
