For Jae Matthews, community leadership began with a deeply personal question: How could she help other families find the support she and her mother had struggled to access?
Today, that question has grown into Blessings Under Disguise, a Kansas City nonprofit focused on youth empowerment, mental health awareness, education, and connecting families with resources. And this Saturday, October 31, Jae and her team will welcome families to their fourth annual Boos and Blessings Fall Fest, a Halloween celebration that combines fun, community connection, and opportunities for young people to discover their own leadership potential.
Jae's passion for mental health advocacy is rooted in her experience growing up with a mother who lived with schizophrenia and alcoholism. As an only child navigating her mother's challenges, she remembers feeling overwhelmed by the difficulty of finding support and resources for her family.
When her mother passed away in November 2019, Jae knew she wanted to help prevent other families from experiencing that same sense of isolation.
Her stepmother, the late Elizabeth Williams, had encouraged her to enroll in PLTI-KC. Jae entered the program with big ambitions and a desire to make a difference, but she wasn't yet sure how to turn those aspirations into action.
Blessings Under Disguise began with Jae distributing bags of essential items and providing food to people experiencing homelessness. As she connected with other parents, learned more about community resources, and developed her understanding of civic leadership, her perspective began to shift. Over time, she began to envision something larger: an organization that could address barriers facing children and families before those challenges became crises.
After graduating from PLTI-KC, Jae connected with a fellow nonprofit leader who shared her passion and complemented her skills. Together, they began building the organizational structure needed to expand the project. What started as a parent-led community initiative has since grown into a nonprofit that received its 501(c)(3) designation in 2026.
Today, Jae describes Blessings Under Disguise as a youth-focused, trauma-informed resource organization. Its work emphasizes prevention, mentorship, mental health awareness, educational opportunity, and helping families overcome barriers to stability.
Jae also brings her own professional training to this work, including mental health first aid and youth-focused training, along with a background in cybersecurity and technology. Looking ahead, she and her team hope to expand their educational support, workforce development, and computer and financial literacy initiatives.
For Jae, the growth of Blessings Under Disguise is also a story about the power of relationships. The connections she made and the confidence she developed through PLTI-KC helped her recognize that she could build something meaningful alongside others who shared her vision.
This Saturday, October 31, Blessings Under Disguise will host its fourth annual Boos and Blessings Fall Fest at Independence Hill Park from 5–9 p.m.
Families can look forward to trunk-or-treating, candy, food, music, raffles, entertainment, and a special focus on mental health awareness. The organization has also partnered with NAMI Greater Kansas City to help bring mental health resources and conversations to the celebration.
For Jae, the event is about much more than Halloween.
Young people are encouraged to participate in meaningful ways, including helping with activities and event stations, practicing communication skills, and experiencing what it means to contribute to their community. Participating youth can receive community service certificates recognizing their involvement and helping them begin documenting their leadership experiences.
Jae wants children to leave knowing that their contributions matter, regardless of their age or previous experience.
The event typically welcomes hundreds of community members, creating opportunities for families to connect with resources, celebrate together, and see young people taking an active role in their community.
Boos and Blessings Fall Fest
When: Saturday, October 31, 2026, 5–9 p.m.
Where: Independence Hill Park
Activities: Trunk-or-treating, food, music, raffles, youth engagement, and mental health awareness
This Halloween, we invite the PLTI-KC community to celebrate Jae's leadership, support Blessings Under Disguise, and experience the impact of a parent-led community project firsthand.
Interested in supporting the event? Attend Saturday's celebration and learn more about Blessings Under Disguise through its Facebook page and website.
