High Aspirations, Inc.

Henry W. Wash, is the originator and Chief Executive Officer of High Aspirations, inc (HA) founded in 2003. Henry served as a mentor and board member from 2003 to 2012. Henry has over 21 years of expertise in designing, implementing and evaluating programming for at-risk populations. He gathered peer reviewed research to develop the organization while serving as a graduate teaching and research assistant at UMKC’s Henry W. Bloch School of Business.

Henry’s educational accomplishments include an Associate degree in Applied Science, Associate degree in Arts, Bachelor’s in Sociology, Minor in Black Studies, and Masters of Public Administration in Urban Affairs. Henry is a National Member of Alpha Kappa Delta, the International Sociology Honors Society, a Harvard Annie E. Casey Innovations in American Government award winner, an Alumnus of the Kansas City Tomorrow’s program, Americorps Alumnus over 3,000 service hours and a Rising Star Alum award winner chosen by The Independent Insider.

Henry came from a background very similar to that of many of the young men that participate in HA. He overcame his circumstances in large part due to the mentoring he received from two prominent Kansas Citians—Henry W. Bloch and the late Thurman N. Mitchell, KCTV5. Henry's vision to return the favor is by changing the direction of the young men from the Kansas City urban core, resulting in a stronger community. Henry Wash will give a presentation about High Aspirations and discuss the successes and work that continues to reach this particular group in Kansas City. Furthermore, plans to expand in other communities.