It's about equality but also equity. Owner Nika Cotton said her shop provides comfort and self-care for the Black community. KCUR serves the Kansas City region with breaking news and powerful storytelling. According to executive director Michael Watson, REAP began in the basement of Blue Ridge Presbyterian Church in 1982. In order to be helped, business owners have to be patient and willing to accept constructive criticism, she said. Officers, directors, trustees, and key employees, Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics, Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools, Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations, Revenue and expense data for the current fiscal year, CEO, Board Chair, and Board of Directors information. 3200 Wayne Ave., Suite 204 This is Give Black KC Week a fundraiser for Black-led organizations in the metro.Residents can help raise capital for underserved communities trying to build a better Kansas City. Barnes plans to put the money toward providing meals for the women in attendance at the event and hiring a contractor for the nonprofit. All this week, the nonprofit Generating Income for Tomorrow is raising money to support five Black-led organizations. Time and time again, black Americans have often come together in vulnerable times through mobilization. Please check your inbox in order to proceed. 1715 E. 18th St. When I spoke with Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas in January about my plans to move, he told me we could build an Atlanta here. I smiled at his enthusiasm to convince me to stay but found I couldnt match his confidence. And the tax record shows mortgages and loans BEU owed rose from $42,648 in 2015 to $492,244 in 2016, which may reflect the $400,000 new loan. North Kansas City, MO 64116 The auditor notes in that report, When agencies do not report recent information on their financial condition and accounting and internal control structures, its not available to elected officials, the city manager or monitoring departments. In honor of. The group played a significant role in Justice For Flint, a charity event which was held on the same night as the 2016 Oscars. Click here to resend it.). Now, REAP offers food pantry assistance to 150 families a week and other assistance to 25 families a week. Marvin used the term "development costs," not for a BEU development, but for Vewiser Dixon's development.". Contact: Karla Martinez The NAACP is a long standing civil rights organization that works on a broad scale to achieve racial justice for citizens in urban communities. e = d.createElement("script"); 2023 BuzzFeed, Inc. All rights reserved. A Kansas City non-profit with the mission of promoting economic development in the city's urban core is under federal investigation. In 2003, former BEU Director Sylvester Holmes pleaded guilty in federal court to embezzling $33,000 of the organization's money. Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Religious activists are trying to weaken new protections for LGBTQ workers, Public Integrity acquires tool to make data more accessible to journalists, Public Integrity staff share expertise in using data to cover inequality, Funding decisions often shortchange homeless students, Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License, Proudly powered by Newspack by Automattic. Know of other businesses that belong on this list? Thus, one area doctor is hoping to improve physician . I, and other young Black people, need to feel that Kansas City is for us. Contact: Michelle Shelly Cunningham, Director My Brothers Keeper, an initiative of the Obama administration, aims to unite and amplify the voices of black men through mentorship. "You give a little you get a little bit, you give a little, and we don't want you to diminish or discount the impact that can have," Gorman said. The invoice shows Prosperity Electric had the same Lincoln Building address as BEU, which owned the building at the time, but no suite number; Only a listing of "second floor" was included. Sign up to receive our freeWatchdog email newsletter, a weekly investigation in inequality from Public Integrity. The BEU understands Mr. Service is in the process of hiring a property manager for the building. a = w.amptravel = function(a, p) { Despite Harris' claim that BEU gave $69,000 to an unqualified contractor to the fix the elevator, Wood says the remaining funds were not given to BEU and re-purposed. A Kansas City non-profit with the mission of promoting economic development in the city's urban core is under federal investigation. The farm also supplies fresh fruits and vegetables to the neighborhood, combating the food desert currently plaguing communities east of Troost. Our team is made up of connectors and doers who dream big, solve problems together with the communities we serve and take calculated risks to drive results. High near 65F. This is a skill set that they could get a certification in and work and get jobs making $70,000 to 80,000 a year. A grant from Give Black KC would allow REAP to buy meat and other food items to give out every Friday, as well as help more families meet bills and rent payments. Mission. Business service providers have to create a better ecosystem for Black-owned businesses and that means connecting owners with resources, said Richardson. Kansas City needs more of these programs made by and for underrepresented and historically under-resourced youth, but it also needs to support programs that already exist. The future of us is one of the nonprofits chosen for funding. Here are three broad ones that come to mind. My email is steve@kcur.org. Browse many more Black-owned businesses and restaurants in the Kansas City area below. Kansas City, MO 64130 Do not distribute mail in the building, thank you.. Phone: (816) 471-0550 Morris said $10,000 from Give Black KC would cover about 40% of renovating an abandoned house, moving The Greenline Initiative closer to turning over another home. What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, *** We are a Black Owned Organization that focuses on spreading awareness of several 501(c)8 Not-For-Profit programs/benefits/resources that was created to support and give a helping hand to underprivileged communities, yet isn't being fully utilized simply because most don't know they exist. Most of the funding came from her own finances, and as it's grown, shes gotten a bigger space and hired more staff. Cut50 is a project by The DreamCorps that aims to reduce the number of people incarcerated through awareness campaigns like #DayofEmpathy and #ClemencyNOW. Fax: (816)444-3226 That bank had so much trouble, a federal judge took control of it away from the city for eight years before Wood was able to get it back on track. The founder explained that Nile Valleys products are sold to local restaurants, giving the community a place in Kansas Citys economic cycle. I produce daily conversations to uplift and inspire the people of the Kansas City area to make the world a better place. Uncommon Voices columns bring new perspectives and opinions on topics related to the Kauffman Foundations work. Copyright 2023 Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation. And, its a misconception that running a business is easier than working for someone else, Randolph added. Phone: (816) 283-3456, Kansas City Womens Business Center "We had to put about a million dollars in refurbishing this building," Thompson said. If Im going to consider Kansas City my long-term home in the future, there are several changes that would have to occur first. Fax: (816) 471-8543, American Indian Enterprise & Business Council This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. ITS ABOUT EQUALITY. Barnes said a grant from Give Black KC would help sponsor the Black Women Get Fit event this October. "We'll track down any money the taxpayers have put into projects, make sure it's responsibly spent," Lucas said at the time. Our hometown needs to invest in, make space for, and give its Black community resources to lead or my young, diverse generation will take our talent, leadership, and drive to create equitable, anti-racist communities elsewhere. Fundraiser this week will help Kansas City Black-led organizations, TO BUILD A BETTER, KANSAS CITY. 1710 Paseo Business Process Architect, Commerce Bank, Already have a GuideStar Account? The opportunities to supportKC's local Black-owned businesses are vast, from favorite area restaurants to bookstores that foster a connected community of readers. It also helps teachers with housing. Lora McDonald, director of the Kansas City-based social justice organization More2, . Kansas City, MO 64109 Unfortunately, urban core-focused organizations, especially Black-led organizations, don't have access to the same funding, therefore hindering their ability to market the families that need the opportunities the most, Martin said. Soulcentricitea is a tea shop at 37th and Troost where all of the signature drinks are named after prominent Black authors. Kansas City Chapter President President@WCOEKC.org Phone: (816) 631-1700 Ruby Jean's Juicery Once the property manager is in place, the BEU expects to have a more consistent presence at its office in the Lincoln Building.". Weve got to get families to a place where theyre thriving, you know, theyre being successful. ITS PARTNERING WITH THE UNITED WAYOR F THIS CAMPAIGN. Stay current with seasonal attractions, deals and more by signing up to receive our newsletter. I was really excited when they called me and talked about the opportunity to be a part of the collaborative, McCray said. Safe Passage is a curriculum based program that focuses on four primary areas: developing life skills both hard and soft promoting education including post high school opportunities like four year colleges, junior colleges, vocational and other programs and certifications leading to career fields community service and exploration of the institutions and cultures of Greater Kansas City. Kansas City needs to provide more resources directly to low-income people to create true economic mobility. Calloway said the experience is not unique to GIFT. . Phone: (913) 432-3486, Dos Mundos Bilingual Newspaper The Coalition will award $5,000 grants to more than 280 Black-owned businesses every fall between 2020 and 2023. An e-mail from Bullington to Lorek shows BEU spent less than $24,000 of the $100,000 in federal money and less than $39,000 of the $71,500 in Kansas City sales tax money fixing up the Lincoln Building. It also says, The BEU maintains an office in the Lincoln Building. ); THE FUTURE OF US IS ONE OF THE NON-PROFITS CHOSEN FOR FUNDING IT PROVIDES SCHOLARSHIPS TO INNER CITY STUDENTS BASED ON CHARACTER ANDOT MIVATION NOT STRICTLY TEST SCORES A LOT OF SCHOOL DISTRICTS HERE IN THE KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI. "I was told that the BEU only had two months before it would face foreclosure and not enough income to pay its utilities. P.O. a list of 28 active organizations that service a range of black communities. "It's not something that I would've done. One of the best ways to become educated is to get involved in black-led organizations across the city, she . Urban development in Kansas City often means creating clean, new, modern, safe living and social spaces for decidedly white, middle- to upper-income populations. Women-led businesses normally don't get funding from funders and things like that, Buckner said. Several Kansas City-area school districts cancel elections. Calloway believes Give Black KC can do good work fighting racial inequity in the philanthropic sector. Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Kansas City Public Schools names 'homegrown' educator Jennifer Collier as next superintendent. In a document dated Oct. 10, 2017, Harris claims $69,000 was given to a small roofing contractor to fix the elevator in the Lincoln Building. 107 W. 10th St. There are 16crime prevention organizations in the greater Kansas Citymetro area, including the cities of Kansas City, Lenexa, and Overland Park within the states of Kansas and Missouri. It would help tremendously, Watson said. In the city auditor's Dec. 31, 2003 report, it states "BEU paid a contractor without the contractor submitting invoices for approval. Kansas City, MO 64109 I want to live in a city that values its Black population. Please check out AAHTKC.ORG and use our sites page to submit your sites or stories! Wichita, KS 67214 (function(u, w, d, a, q, e) { By the time Thompson retired as board chair in March 2016, Thompson claimed the BEU owned the Lincoln Building free and clear. And truly, its unjust for the burden of change to fall on Black youth when inequity is consistently maintained by those with power and privilege. Black Lives Matter was formed in response to the, BAJIs efforts to unite black immigrants and African Americans is extremely crucial to overcoming the current, Blackout curates a unique way to protest the repetitive inattention to the work of black artists by tuning out from events like the Academy Awards. A weeklong fundraiser to benefit organizations doing grassroots work in the Kansas City-area Black community already is halfway toward its goal. The 100 Black Men of Greater Kansas City is an all-volunteer organization and was formed in 2006, as one of 116 chapters nationally and internationally with over 10,000 members serving 100,000 youth participants. If it is your nonprofit, add a problem overview. 8645 College Blvd., # 110 More by Ashley Clarke. Banking is a system, law is a system, education is a system and theres this myth of entrepreneurship and what that really is thats a system too.. Black Girls Code is on a mission to increase the number of black women working in computer programming. Generating Income for Tomorrow is raising money to support five Black-led organizations. Build relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Olathe superintendent spars with Kansas Republicans over why so many K-12 teachers are leaving. There, I experienced a sense of belonging and comfort that I had struggled to create for myself in Kansas City. 11249 Strang Line Rd. The group played a significant role in, Cut50 is a project by The DreamCorps that aims to reduce the number of people incarcerated through awareness campaigns like. Of the 107,000 residents who live east of Troost, more than 75% are Black. "Why doesn't the city know where all the money that's been allocated?" Follow @kcblackowned on Instagram forfresh information on a daily basis. Seems simple, say members of a Kansas City Health Equity Learning and Action Network working group. According to Policy Link and the USC Program for Environmental and Regional Equity's Profile of the Kansas City Region, "There is a looming skills and education gap for the region's African Americans and Latinos, whose rates of postsecondary education are lower than the share of future jobs that will require that level of education." The original contract included $100,000 of federal money, with $75,000 of those funds budgeted to upgrade the elevator. Curls, principal of Curls Jude Joseph, a real estate firm that does revitalization work in Kansas City, joined other leaders working to support Black business owners there for an online forum recently organized by the Center for Public Integrity and The Kansas City Call newspaper. If Kansas City prioritized programs which explicitly supported Black youth beginning with increased funding, but also publicity, visibility, and community support the battle for equity would feel a lot less defeating. Utilize them on projects, support them, mentor them.. about GuideStar Pro. The Kansas City group G.I.F.T is working to support Black-owned businesses in the pandemic. Phone: (816) 392-7611, Mountain Plains Minority Supplier Development Council (MSDC) I am not interested in remaining in a city that is not made for me. After jobs in several different sectors, McCray decided to start her business while working as a full-time therapist. The biggest, most glaring issue is that theres just a missing middle in housing, Morris said. Most recently, the 41 Action News Investigators obtained invoices showing Kansas City's Neighborhoods and Housing Services Department gave roughly $214,000 in funding to BEU from 2012 through 2016, but nothing since the contract to refurbish the Lincoln Building was canceled in 2016. A lot of people, they dont have a business, theyve created a job. 4747 Troost Ave., Suite 105 A verification email has been sent to you. I once stood inside the One Light Luxury Apartments in downtown Kansas City. "We found that BEU was in terrible trouble, just a mess," Thompson said in the video. Kansas City, MO 64116 To plan your own local tour of Black-owned restaurants in Kansas City, check out this map of participating businesses: Missouri Foodlove Cafe 2101 Broadway Blvd. The organization continues to mobilize and amplify national dialogue around state-sanctioned violence. Residents can help raise capital for underserved communities trying to build a better Kansas City. On Sept. 18, 2014, John A. During his campaign for Kansas City Mayor, the 41 Action News Investigators asked Quinton Lucas those same questions. Yes I was looking before I was old enough to pay rent. Kansas City, MO 64108 Courtesy of Larry Henry. Phone: (913)948-7680 African-American Planning Commission Many communities have business associations and chambers of commerce. We need more initiatives like this. She is originally from Colorado and said housing was a huge concern for her. })( As an assistant producer on Up To Date, my goal is to amplify voices of people who serve as pioneers in their respective fields while shedding light on issues that affect underserved communities. In his 2012 YouTube video, Chester Thompson talked about BEU's debt on those housing projects when he took over the organization in 2007. Harris also opposed the sale and said Lyman and BEU Treasurer Charles Parker lied to him about the the sale's purpose. And the poverty rate is 36%. Barnes previously mentored Black women and girls, but she said her mentees faced bigger challenges than she could address with mentoring alone. The Chicken & Donut Deluxe sandwich takes a crispy fried chicken breast, fried egg, crispy bacon and sandwiches it all between two donut halves., "I could write a 30-page dissertation aboutUrbanCafs lobster grilled cheese. 4220 Shawnee Mission Pkwy #350b 100 Black Men of Greater Kansas City, Inc. Smith rattled off a list of resources available to business owners in Kansas City: The panelists emphasized the importance of business owners knowing where to turn to for support. It's anooey-gooey mixture of aged cheddar, cognacboursincheese with lobster claw and knuckle meat, all on toasted sourdough., I live dangerously close toIsland Spiceand consider it my tropical culinary getaway when I'm cravingCaribbeanfood. My vision is to get past the safety net, Barnes said. Despite these red flags, the city continued to fund BEU. Raytown Emergency Assistance Program, or REAP, helps families in Raytown through utility assistance and rental assistance, as well as food pantry services. Blackout curates a unique way to protest the repetitive inattention to the work of black artists by tuning out from events like the Academy Awards. The Kansas City Public Library has resources to check out to learn more about Black entrepreneurs throughout Kansas City history, including this Kansas City directory of Black owned. Black Chamber of Commerce of Greater Kansas City Contact: Kelvin Perry 5737 Swope Parkway Kansas City, MO 64130 Phone: (913) 220-0281 Heartland Black Chamber of Commerce Contact: Kim Randolph 607-a Minnesota Ave. Kansas City, KS 66101 Phone: (913) 948-7680 Additional Email: info@heartlandblackchamber.org Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Winds SW at 25 to 35 mph. Organizers believe working together brings change. Kansas City's GIFT organization seeks to build Black wealth by growing small businesses in the urban core, which have faced decades of historical discrimination 'It works.' That question has always felt easy to answer. I dont hear about those opportunities very often in Kansas City. Phone: (816) 474-3558, American Indian Council You are also agreeing to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. When you're moving, especially as a young person moving to a new state, you know, one of the biggest worries you have is, where am I going to live? Nix said. GIFT is partnering with the United Way for this campaign. Fax: (816) 924-1803, Women Construction Owners and Executives KC Chapter (WCOEKC) Contact: info@midamericalgbt.org NBJCs work centers around HIV/AIDS, and makes employment and education opportunities more inclusive for black LGBT citizens. Dacia Martins started UrbnHub during the pandemic to connect families with organizations that serve the urban core. At the meeting, secretly bugged by authorities, Thomas revealed how skimming works inside Nevada casinos. With over a million members, Color of Change works to end racial injustice manifested in the media, economy and criminal justice system. Lifes Work Counseling and Consulting is a therapy business that offers culturally-competent counseling to Black communities with therapists from the same background as their clients. In the document, Harris wrote the contractor clearly is not qualified to do such technical work which requires a license and the elevator never got fixed.". Phone: (816) 472-6767, Kansas City Womens Chamber of Commerce The Nia Project plans to offer two programs: Black Women Get Fit, an annual health and wellness event, and a summer program for high school girls. Get started with eight dining recommendations from local foodie Kasim Hardaway. Phone: (816)472-5246 Reached by phone, Harris declined comment about his accusations in the court record. Contact: Teshauna Dawkins Investigating the systems and circumstances that contribute to inequality. The week-long fundraiser helps local Black organizations that may have trouble accessing capital due to racial inequity in lending practices. 727 Minnesota Ave. "Because we know Black-led organizations, just like anything else, have been left out of the philanthropic cycle," said Cornell Gorman, co-found of Generating Income for Tomorrow. Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation | Kauffman.org, Content Planning for Events Intern, Public Affairs, Black youth panel conducted by the Kansas City Chamber of Commerce, For the economy to restart, everyone must have the opportunity to participate, COVID-19 has revealed paths forward to address inequities in lending, 4 essential ways to expose the myth of meritocracy and build inclusive ecosystems for all. Ford says she's a paid intern and has served as a receptionist at BEU's Lincoln Building office in the past. The former executive director was terminated in March 2003.". Fairway, KS 66205 We seek to support the start and growth of new businesses through programs, policies, and practices that give rise to equitable access to entrepreneurship. When the 41 Action News Investigators asked Wood why the city would agree to give money to fix the elevator and five years later, still hasn't inspected it after the permit ran out, he replied, "I don't know. TWOC offers support and resources for trans women of color, a highly marginalized community. When asked for further comment, Dixon said his attorney had advised him not to comment on the matter further. Long before they were threatened by the economic shutdown associated with COVID-19, Dr. Karen Curls says that Black-owned small businesses were held back by the countrys racial pandemic.. Rather than external entities coming into Black inner-city neighborhoods and trying to tell residents what they need, or even disrupting these communities altogether, we need Kansas City to empower its low-income communities directly: listen to what developments Black folks in the city want (or are already working on) and then support and/or implement those developments. Contact: Christine Campbell The future of us is one of the nonprofits chosen for funding. A GuideStar Pro report containing the following information is available for this organization: This information is only available for subscribers and in Premium reports. 2023, Hearst Television Inc. on behalf of KMBC-TV. Bullington responds by sending a 2014 contract between BEU and the city to improve the Lincoln Building. In other communities, local business associations can help find resources. We reached out and looked for partners so that we were not trying to be the end-all be-all but if we [could] find partners that had resources that would work that we could come together and say, hey Im going to send these people over to you I need you to do this, Randolph said. UMKC Innovation Center For more information contact the DWMBE program at (816) 513-1836 or hrdgeneral_inquiries@kcmo.org. Contact: Carlos Gomez I practiced coming up with, and pitching, a business with a group of other girls, formulated a personal elevator pitch with the help of reporters at 41 Action News, and met several Kansas City-area women of color who mentored me through the college application process. //-->. WeCodeKC gives Black children exposure to computer science. Contact: John OBrien It provides scholarships to inner-city students based on character and motivation, not strictly test scores. "You don't necessarily have to be a millionaire to make changes in people's lives is really cool," Latimer said.Organizers are hoping to raise a half-million dollars in just five days. So they dont set up their books properly because all the revenue that comes in, they use it as their revenue to live off of. Leaders working to support Black business owners joined an online forum organized.