Phone: (816) 235-2891, Kansas City Society of Black Architects and Engineers At the center of the investigation is the historic Lincoln Building, one of the crown jewels of the city's 18th and Vine District, and specifically how BEU spent - or did not spend - money on the building prior to selling it to attorney Henry Service in 2017. Learning through measurement and evaluation help us better support programs that improve education, boost entrepreneurship, and help Kansas City thrive. 4200 Little Blue Parkway, Suite 590 However, as my final years of college approach, one question looms larger and larger: Do I return to Kansas City, or head off to Atlanta? Kansas City, MO 64108 Contact: Sook Park They ignored that and moved forward with the sale and without a lawyer.". Seven social justice organizations from the Kansas City area are doubling down on demands for the Kansas City, Missouri, Police Department budget to be reduced and for Chief Rick Smith to resign. ", Email contact available with a Pro subscription. I actually haven't been in the building myself in a long time.". Still, panelists stress the importance of business owners familiarizing themselves with local banks. Build relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. She believes that journalism KCUR serves the Kansas City region with breaking news and powerful storytelling. "I think it would be irresponsible for me to talk about ongoing investigations and issues so I'll pass on that," then-candidate Lucas said. On the UrbnHub Facebook group, Martins promotes entrepreneurship resources, vaccination events, school events, food banks, employment fairs and other resources to her 477 members. I ultimately remained in Missouri for college, attending Washington University in St. Louis. In an August 2018 email, Lorek asks Bullington for an accounting of all federal money given to BEU. The 41 Action News Investigators, on multiple occasions over several months, have gone to BEUs office in the Lincoln Building seeking comment. Atlanta is a hub of Black history, culture, and opportunity a vital fact for me as a Black woman majoring in African and African-American Studies. Black-Owned Businesses in Kansas City | Visit KC Support Black-Owned KC Businesses The opportunities to support KC's local Black-owned businesses are vast, from favorite area restaurants to bookstores that foster a connected community of readers. Randolph added that people have to understand the difference between creating a job and starting a business. 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. Instead, BEU's attorney sent an email stating no one would meet with the 41 Action News Investigators. }; 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. I dont hear about those opportunities very often in Kansas City. Asian Chamber of Commerce of Kansas City 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. Fairway Corporate Center Contact: Kim Randolph Winds SW at 25 to 35 mph. When asked for further comment, Dixon said his attorney had advised him not to comment on the matter further. BUT ALSO EQUITY BECAUSE KNOW BLACK-LED ORGANIZATIONS JUST LIKE ANYTHING ELSE HAS BEEN LEFT OUT OF THE PHILANTHROPIC CYCLES GIFT STANDS FOR GENERATING INCOME FOR TOMORROW. We Are Here, founded by singer Alicia Keys, is a partnership of organizations working together to end poverty, oppression and homelessness. 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. She is originally from Colorado and said housing was a huge concern for her. Ashley is Audience engagement editor for the Center for Public Integrity. "https://g.amp.travel", "You don't necessarily have to be a millionaire to make changes in people's lives is really cool," Latimer said. The farm also supplies fresh fruits and vegetables to the neighborhood, combating the food desert currently plaguing communities east of Troost. With funding from prominent Black organizations, Perry's operation grew to be the first hospital owned and . You can reach me at. It also says, The BEU maintains an office in the Lincoln Building. TWOC offers support and resources for trans women of color, a highly marginalized community. My vision is to get past the safety net, Barnes said. In honor of. Reached by phone, Thompson said a lot of hard work was put into the building. So, we're trying to step in that piece and encourage kids to go to college and seek higher education," said Brenan Latimer, co-founder of The Future of Us.Organizers believe working together brings change. The Pennsylvania Prison Society is a long-standing organization dedicated to reforming the criminal justice system. Barnes said a grant from Give Black KC would help sponsor the Black Women Get Fit event this October. I wouldn't have stood for it," Wood said. 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. e = d.createElement("script"); 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. 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. But federal investigators are questioning the money BEU did spend. 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. I produce daily conversations to uplift and inspire the people of the Kansas City area to make the world a better place. The MWDBE directory lists certified companies verified by the City. I'm the 100 percent owner of the Lincoln Building and that's the way it should be," Service said. Kansas City Chapter President President@WCOEKC.org With over a million members, Color of Change works to end racial injustice manifested in the media, economy and criminal justice system. Fax: (913) 287-5881, Kansas City Call (weekly) 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. Kansas City, MO 64108 The last city permit currently posted for the Lincoln Building elevator expired on Aug. 1, 2014, roughly six weeks before the contract was signed to upgrade the elevator. Other panelists echoed that as a community service provider it is important to know how other organizations can help so as not to turn into a one-stop shop. Weve got to get families to a place where theyre thriving, you know, theyre being successful. 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 would allow her to market better and reach an even wider audience. My email is steve@kcur.org. A lot of people in the community are afraid of systems. So, Kansas City, Ive asked my question why should I stay? I feel at home on the campus, and my time spent in the city has been mainly enjoyable. The second annual Give Black KC event,. I once stood inside the One Light Luxury Apartments in downtown Kansas City. Both are slow-cooked until they are fall off the bone tender then served with red beans & rice and steamed cabbage., Go to theKC Daiquiri Shopand preparefor a brain freeze you will actually enjoy. Kansas City needs to create inclusive housing where Black and low-income people can feel safe and welcome. It's a week-long campaign to raise grant money supporting black-owned businesses and nonprofits. Founded by Reverend Al Sharpton, the National Action Network operates on the platforms of voter protection, corporate responsibility, anti-violence and criminal justice. In Kansas City, patrons can find Black-owned businesses on Kcblackowned.org, said Richardson. The Black Chamber of Commerce of Greater Kansas City launched a program Thursday that aims to provide vital resources to Black-owned businesses in under-resourced communities. 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. 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. Phone: (816) 666-9407, Missouri Procurement Technical Assistance Center (MOPTAC) She previously covered City Hall for The Kansas City Star and joined The Star in January 2020 as a breaking news . Background: The African American Heritage Trail of Kansas City, Mo. This is the start of Give Black KC. The 41 Action News Investigators obtained a series of emails between Special Agent Joseph Lorek from HUD and Stuart Bullington, the now former assistant director of Kansas City's Neighborhoods and Housing Services Department. Additional Email: kckwcc@gmail.com, Mid-America LGBT Chamber of Commerce . In that court document - which Harris signed under oath and is still part of the public court record - it states, "Illegal wire transfer took place. Stop the gentrification of neighborhoods near Troost and develop the neighborhood for those that already live there: keep it affordable, remodel whats there, and bring in businesses that the current residents need and want. Part of HuffPost Black Voices. 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. Contact: Sharmin Lang Urban development in Kansas City often means creating clean, new, modern, safe living and social spaces for decidedly white, middle- to upper-income populations. The contractor had control of the account and periodically transferred money out of the account. 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. 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. 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. 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. 6025 Prospect Cortlynn Stark writes about finance and the economy for The Sum. The organization has award five grants since they started raising money last April . Black Organizers For Leaders And Dignity BOLD is a national leadership training program that aims to equip black leaders with the skills needed to place themselves at the forefront of movements for social justice. If you have an idea for a column, please read the guidelines for contributors. "I was the only one who argued vehemently against the sale of the organization's greatest asset and iconic home for decades," Harris stated in the court testimony. The NAACP is a long standing civil rights organization that works on a broad scale to achieve racial justice for citizens in urban communities. For additional information on Black-owned businesses, vendors and resources in Kansas City, consult our partners at KC Black Owned orBlack Privilege. 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. 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. Dacia Martins started UrbnHub during the pandemic to connect families with organizations that serve the urban core. Contact: Carlos Gomez We need more initiatives like this. 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. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. The opportunities to supportKC's local Black-owned businesses are vast, from favorite area restaurants to bookstores that foster a connected community of readers. 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. 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. Give Black KC, Morris said, is helping uplift the nonprofits that are left behind. 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. The Kansas City Anti-Violence Project provides services to crime victims within the LGBTQ. ); The Greenline Initiative finds these absent homes and renovates them before putting them on the market at reasonable prices. A GuideStar Pro report containing the following information is available for this organization: This information is only available for subscribers and in Premium reports. Calloway said large corporations told him they were afraid to invest in GIFT in its early days. A Kansas City nonprofit with the mission of promoting economic development in the city's urban core is now under federal investigation. Contact: Karla Martinez (Don't see an email in your inbox? The future of us is one of the nonprofits chosen for funding. On Sept. 18, 2014, John A. I then documented by email enough cash resources BEU has to carry us for the next eight months. Kansas City Public Schools names 'homegrown' educator Jennifer Collier as next superintendent. Phone: (913) 492-5922 The accusations come in a now-dismissed eviction case current Lincoln Building owner Henry Service filed against BEU in March, 2018. Associates of the Kauffman Foundation work in partnership with people who share a passion for entrepreneurship and education. Phone: (913)948-7680 Fax: (816) 235-5522, National Association of Women Business Owners Greater KC Chapter (NAWBO) Phone: (816)531-5253 Please check your inbox in order to proceed. In his 2012 YouTube video, Chester Thompson talked about BEU's debt on those housing projects when he took over the organization in 2007. Phone: (816)923-5399 "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. 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.
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