The 41 Action News Investigators asked Wood if he believes there's some type of malfeasance with BEU or the city based on the open federal investigation. McCray has lived in Kansas City her whole life. 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. Kelly Eckerman. A bank today is still less likely to give a loan to somebody on Prospect because its not seen as economically viable as starting that business on Main Street, said Brandon Calloway, co-founder and CEO of GIFT. 607-a Minnesota Ave. The Black Womens Blueprint services black women affected by issues such as sexual violence, abuse and incarceration. So, Kansas City, Ive asked my question why should I stay? She believes that journalism 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. Resources for Black-Owned Businesses - U.S. Chamber The organization continues to mobilize and amplify national dialogue around state-sanctioned violence. Black students who have at least one Black teacher by the time they're in third grade are much more likely to enroll in college. As the Three Light apartments are constructed, and plans for Four, Five, and Six Light apartments are underway, I wonder if young Black people in Kansas City feel the same way as I do. The ACT Right program provides free ACT test preparation classes and support for African American high school students, both male and female, helping students become better equipped to score well on the test. A sign now on the window of the office reads, To mail carrier from BEU, please hold all mail in the post office. Jamie Jiang is a news intern for KCUR 89.3. In a Black youth panel conducted by the Kansas City Chamber of Commerce, other Black students expressed that they also have to look elsewhere in places like Chicago or New Mexico to find opportunities built for them. By providing prison bus services, offering reentry services and newsletter subscriptions for current and former offenders, the organization advocates for the rights of those affected by incarceration. Kansas City, MO 64106 Contact: Carlos Gomez While there certainly has been some change in KC during that time, its pace is usually slow and the change isnt always for the better. 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. Black Lives Matter was formed in response to the acquittal of George Zimmerman in 2013 and quickly became a national movement to end police brutality. 4 Ways White Allies Can Do Better For Kansas City's Black Community - KCUR 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. 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. They don't need a four-year college degree.. After receiving hundreds of thousands of tax dollars to fix up the Lincoln Building, including roughly $387,000 in federal stimulus money, $171,500 in federal and city money, and after securing the $400,000 loan, court records show BEU sold the Lincoln Building to Henry Service for $750,000 in 2017. By working with her landlord and sharing a waiting space with other businesses, McCray was able to keep Life's Work alive. 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. Theyre not just existing and barely making it.. In other communities, local business associations can help find resources. We can pool resources in order to better serve our community.. Soulcentricitea is a tea shop at 37th and Troost where all of the signature drinks are named after prominent Black authors. Residents can help raise capital for underserved communities trying to build a better . The 41 Action News Investigators went to current BEU board member Martinez Denmon's home to ask questions about BEU. }; a list of 28 active organizations that service a range of black communities. SO WERE TRYING TO IN THAT PIECE AND ENCOURAGE KIDS TO GO TO COLLEGE AND SEEK HIGHER EDUCATION ORGANIZERS BELIEVE WORKING TOGETHER BRINGS CHANGE YOU GIVE A LITTLE YOU GET A LITTLE YOU GIVE A LITTLE AND WE DONT WANT YOU TO DIMINISH OR DISCOUNT THE IMPACT THAT THAT COULD HAVE, YOU KNOW NECESSARILY HAVE TO BE A MILLIONAIRE TO MAKE CHANGES IN PEOPLES LIVES IS REALLY COOL. Fax: (816) 442-8682 Give Black KC would help cover her administrative costs and hire a part-time assistant. Black-Owned Businesses in Kansas City | Visit KC I had never imagined Black empowerment looking like a nonprofit urban farm but visiting Nile Valley changed the way I imagined how inner-city Black folks could attain a place in the economic cycle. Contact: Brenda Bethman Public Integrity doesnt have paywalls and doesnt accept advertising so that our investigative reporting can have the widest possible impact on addressing inequality in the U.S. Our work is possible thanks to support from people like you. Fax: (816)471-3064, 2ms2KC Bilingual Publication Programs like Awesome Ambitions, which encourage economic and social mobility, prepare young people for college and careers, and create rich networking opportunities, should be heavily funded. I produce daily conversations to uplift and inspire the people of the Kansas City area to make the world a better place. Sign in. Many students may not be interested or be able to afford to go to college. Contact: Jauqua Wilkins "We had to put about a million dollars in refurbishing this building," Thompson said. I try to ask the questions that listeners want answered about the days most pressing issues and provide a place for residents to engage directly with newsmakers. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. We seek to support the start and growth of new businesses through programs, policies, and practices that give rise to equitable access to entrepreneurship. Side hustles that dont turn into legitimate businesses are a problem caused by the education system, Smith said. I was sure there was a future for me down south. The founder explained that Nile Valleys products are sold to local restaurants, giving the community a place in Kansas Citys economic cycle. You are also agreeing to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. Thats where I come in.. With 'Resiliency And Grit,' Black Women In Kansas City Have Been - KCUR Associates of the Kauffman Foundation work in partnership with people who share a passion for entrepreneurship and education. The 41 Action News Investigators asked Wood if it's a potential red flag to hire a contractor in the same building BEU owns with no specific address in that building. 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. Here are three broad ones that come to mind. I actually haven't been in the building myself in a long time.". "I can confirm the Office of Inspector General (of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's Office of Inspector General) did sit down and talk to me and I can confirm that I've got information that the FBI is looking into that organization," Service said in an interview. This is Give Black KC Week a fundraiser for Black-led organizations in the metro. It would help tremendously, Watson said. 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. Editor: Elizabeth Lopez I first fell in love withRuby JeansJuicerywhen I heard the story behind its namesakethe grandmother of the owner and operator, Chris Goode. Many young people are working for change right now, but we need to know were not alone in the fight. The 2016 federal income tax record for BEU, called a form 990 for non-profit groups exempt from income tax, shows BEU's total net assets were more than $1.6 million at the end of that year. Phone: (816)531-5253 There are networks of young Black people, especially Black women, doing the things I want to do: writing fiction, engaging in the arts scene, working at predominantly Black nonprofits, founding organizations for Black girls, supporting a wide variety of Black-owned businesses, and attending predominantly Black colleges. I remember white tenants walking along the perimeter of the room, making their way to the rooftop pool and giving confused, annoyed looks at the sofas packed with well-clad Black women. 2023 BuzzFeed, Inc. All rights reserved. All rights reserved. The BEU is one of dozens of non-governmental agencies which receive funding through the city. Oversight of the funding is done through a combination of local and federal officials. 55th St. Additional Email: usanaccc@gmail.com, National Association of Women in Construction(NAWIC) Davis and Nix joined KCURs Up to Date to explain how theyve brought new talent to Kansas City and increased representation in classrooms, as well as some of the challenges they face. 720 Oak St. Business service providers have to create a better ecosystem for Black-owned businesses and that means connecting owners with resources, said Richardson. 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'm the 100 percent owner of the Lincoln Building and that's the way it should be," Service said. It also helps teachers with housing. 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.". 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. Kansas City, MO 64106 and who do the programs serve? Court records show BEU still has 11 active liens against it for unpaid bills dating as far back as 27 years. It provides scholarships to inner-city students based on character and motivation, not strictly test scores. I always order the oxtails and curried goat because #gobigorgohome. "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.GIFT is partnering with the United Way for this campaign. She knew it was important for students to have representation in the classroom. The farm also supplies fresh fruits and vegetables to the neighborhood, combating the food desert currently plaguing communities east of Troost. Civil rights legacy set stage for AAPI movement - The Kansas City Star Contact: info@midamericalgbt.org Fairway, KS 66205 Phone: (816) 595-4109 And, its a misconception that running a business is easier than working for someone else, Randolph added. Prior to the election, Lucas served as a council member in Kansas City's third district, which includes the 18th and Vine District. Its unjust for the burden of change to fall on Black youth when inequity is consistently maintained by those with power and privilege. If it is your nonprofit, add a problem overview. Fax: (816) 924-1803, Women Construction Owners and Executives KC Chapter (WCOEKC) We always hear a lot about, you know, taking care of ourselves, but its so important that we take care of each other. Being the only professor of color, it was a big burden of working with Black students and teaching future teachers of color.. ITS ABOUT EQUALITY. The following list provides information for contacting some minority and women business organizations and publications. If Im going to consider Kansas City my long-term home in the future, there are several changes that would have to occur first. Managing Editor: Denise Jordan Stories that matter delivered to your inbox. Kansas City, MO 64109 And the poverty rate is 36%. Still, panelists stress the importance of business owners familiarizing themselves with local banks. Calloway believes Give Black KC can do good work fighting racial inequity in the philanthropic sector. That's why a Juneteenth fundraiser is stepping in to get Kansas City organizations access to capital. Kansas City, KS 66101 A mix of clouds and sun with gusty winds. 1710 Paseo 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. Atlanta-based organization Sister Love commits itself to educating women of color about reproductive health, safe sex and HIV/AIDS. She is originally from Colorado and said housing was a huge concern for her. Missouri state records show Prosperity Electric dissolved in February 2019. Please check out AAHTKC.ORG and use our sites page to submit your sites or stories! The Greenline Initiative finds these absent homes and renovates them before putting them on the market at reasonable prices. "Where is it?". And the organization severely lacks it. KC organizations launch Give Black KC initiative - Kansas City Business The opportunities to supportKC's local Black-owned businesses are vast, from favorite area restaurants to bookstores that foster a connected community of readers. Phone: (816)472-5246 Please check your inbox in order to proceed. Not only in those buildings, but in that area, in the Power & Light District. What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, Learning through measurement and evaluation help us better support programs that improve education, boost entrepreneurship, and help Kansas City thrive. 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. Phone: (816)471-4898 There, I experienced a sense of belonging and comfort that I had struggled to create for myself in Kansas City. The 41 Action News Investigators, on multiple occasions over several months, have gone to BEUs office in the Lincoln Building seeking comment. Curls, Daniel Smith from Porter House KC, Nia Richardson from KC BizCare and Kim Randolph from the Heartland Black Chamber of Commerce talked about the impact COVID-19 has had on a community already facing disproportionate barriers from historic redlining and other forms of discrimination. Harris also opposed the sale and said Lyman and BEU Treasurer Charles Parker lied to him about the the sale's purpose. "A lot of school districts here in Kansas City, Missouri, the counselors are kind of focused on getting people to graduate things outside of school, getting kids to school. NONPROFIT GIFT IS RAISING MONEY TO SUPPORT FIVE BLACK LEAD ORGANIZATIONS. PO Box 165316 But federal investigators are questioning the money BEU did spend. If its the right bank they can advocate for you, she added. According to executive director Michael Watson, REAP began in the basement of Blue Ridge Presbyterian Church in 1982. KANSAS CITY, Mo. Where have all the candidates gone? I dont hear about those opportunities very often in Kansas City. 100 Black Men of Greater Kansas City is devoted to improving the quality of life for young African American men through several mentoring, educational, and life skills programs led by professional men from various industries and fields, serving as community volunteers: "Real Men Giving Real Time. 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.' Adrienne Haynes, the managing partner at the business law firm SEED Law, says there's more . THE COUNSELORS ARE KINOFD FOCUSED ON GETTING PEOPLE TO GRADUATE THINGS OUTSIDE OF SCHOOL GETNGTI KIDS TO SCHOOL. 107 W. 10th St. Higher wind gusts possible.. Service confirms hes in the process of hiring a property manager for the Lincoln Building. 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. Give Black KC, Morris said, is helping uplift the nonprofits that are left behind. KANSAS CITY, Mo. Additional Email: kckwcc@gmail.com, Mid-America LGBT Chamber of Commerce With funding from prominent Black organizations, Perry's operation grew to be the first hospital owned and . Phone: (816) 474-3558, American Indian Council They ignored that and moved forward with the sale and without a lawyer.". Lawrence, KS (66045) Today. I once stood inside the One Light Luxury Apartments in downtown Kansas City. and affects many Black-owned businesses in Kansas City, When we talk about what are the impacts of redlining today when you look at those communities, its like another city, Calloway said. The summer program is scheduled to launch in 2022. Click on the link in that email 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. In the city auditor's Dec. 31, 2003 report, it states "BEU paid a contractor without the contractor submitting invoices for approval. Want to explore Waldo? Barnes plans to put the money toward providing meals for the women in attendance at the event and hiring a contractor for the nonprofit. Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Contact: John OBrien The Marlo house in Kansas City was the site of a 1978 meeting between Civella crime family members and Tropicana hotel-casino executives Carl Thomas from Las Vegas. Reached by phone, Thompson said a lot of hard work was put into the building. Phone: (816) 842-3804, Kansas City Globe Newspaper (weekly) Kansas City Public Schools names 'homegrown' educator Jennifer Collier as next superintendent. 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. Harris also states in the court record other BEU leaders forged his name on fraudulent board resolutions and misrepresented his participation in other organization matters. Once the property manager is in place, the BEU expects to have a more consistent presence at its office in the Lincoln Building.". Business Process Architect, Commerce Bank, Already have a GuideStar Account? Kansas City, MO 64108 North Kansas City, MO 64116 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.. According to Harris' court statement, former BEU director Lyman took out a $400,000 loan for the building in May 2016 just months after Thompson left. BYP studies the attitudes and cultural norms of black millennials in an effort to maximize their life experiences. 615 E. 29th St. Weve got to get families to a place where theyre thriving, you know, theyre being successful. Harris claims tens of thousands of dollars of the organization's money were funneled from BEU to other organization leaders for their own personal benefit. African-American Planning Commission According to Service and former BEU Board Chairman William Harris, no elevator work was ever done. Phone: (816) 392-7611, Mountain Plains Minority Supplier Development Council (MSDC) Fundraiser this week will help Kansas City Black-led organizations - KMBC 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. 8645 College Blvd., # 110 We need a lot of different resources.. 1715 E. 18th St. 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. Investigating the systems and circumstances that contribute to inequality. Here are some of the organizations Give Black is fundraising for. It's leading up to the Juneteenth holiday . "We'll track down any money the taxpayers have put into projects, make sure it's responsibly spent," Lucas said at the time. 2918 Southwest Blvd. Thats one reason Trinity Davis started Teachers Like Me. You can reach her on Twitter @jambojiang. Website: www.buildersassociation.com, Unified Contractors of Kansas City (UCKC; unification of Hispanic Contractors Association of Greater Kansas City and Minority Contractors Association of Greater Kansas City) The biggest, most glaring issue is that theres just a missing middle in housing, Morris said. Kansas City, MO 64108 Kansas City, MO 64130 Black Girls Code is on a mission to increase the number of black women working in computer programming. The organization has award five grants since they started raising money last April . The Kansas City connection - The Mob Museum The Coalition will award $5,000 grants to more than 280 Black-owned businesses every fall between 2020 and 2023. Fax:(816)421-5247, 414 E. 12th Street Thompson said he was not happy with the sale, adding, "The Lincoln Building didn't get handled the way it should've when I left.". I've been a teacher in the classroom, started teaching in 1997 and just noticed the lack of Black teachers in the classroom but also seeing the impact of Black teachers, Trinity said. KANSAS CITY, Mo. Lenexa, KS 66215, Urban League of Greater Kansas City . Phone: (913) 220-0281, Heartland Black Chamber of Commerce Phone: (913) 432-3486, Dos Mundos Bilingual Newspaper In his 2012 YouTube video, Chester Thompson talked about BEU's debt on those housing projects when he took over the organization in 2007. In 64128, the zip code I live in, only 47.9% of my neighbors own their homes.. Ford says she's a paid intern and has served as a receptionist at BEU's Lincoln Building office in the past. Phone: (816) 235-2891, Kansas City Society of Black Architects and Engineers 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. Kansas City, MO 64105 Website:www.wcoekc.org, Mid-America Trade Adjustment Assistance Center (TAAC) Give Black KC did not take place last year because of the pandemic, but has returned with a focus on philanthropic redlining"the systemic lack of funding for Black-led nonprofits. Learn more 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 lot of people, they dont have a business, theyve created a job. We will help you if you want to be helped but you have to meet us halfway, she said. The Kansas City Anti-Violence Project provides services to crime victims within the LGBTQ. The contractor had control of the account and periodically transferred money out of the account. Ajia Morris and her husband started the Greenline Initiative as a response to the challenges they faced as a young Black professional couple looking for housing on Kansas Citys east side. 2918 E. Douglas Ave. Speaking from an upstairs window, Denmon said, "Get off my property.". SO WHAT THES CHANGE? Get started with eight dining recommendations from local foodie Kasim Hardaway. The organization works to ensure social justice and equality for black immigrants. "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. 5100 Rockhill Rd. The week-long fundraiser helps local Black organizations that may have trouble accessing capital due to racial inequity in lending practices. Fax:(816)531-5256, Kansas City Hispanic News During his campaign for Kansas City Mayor, the 41 Action News Investigators asked Quinton Lucas those same questions.