My vision is to get past the safety net, Barnes said. On top of the initial grants, the Coalition will also . 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. 816-513-1313 Morris said there may be an unintentional bias in philanthropic funding that favors other organizations over Black organizations. Business Process Architect, Commerce Bank, Already have a GuideStar Account? Kansas City, MO 64106 Sign up for our best content straight to your inbox, and join the conversation on our social channels. City records show in the 10 year period from 1999 through 2008, Kansas City gave more than $5 million in funding to BEU. 6025 Prospect These efforts require funding and, in some cases, volunteer support. 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. Randolph said the Heartland Business Chamber of Commerce ramped up partnerships with other organizations doing similar work during the pandemic. Blue Springs, MO 64013-1312 Collaboration is key Randolph said the Heartland Business Chamber of Commerce ramped up partnerships with other organizations doing similar work during the pandemic. The contractor had control of the account and periodically transferred money out of the account. Thats where I come in.. 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. Learning through measurement and evaluation help us better support programs that improve education, boost entrepreneurship, and help Kansas City thrive. 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. KCUR serves the Kansas City region with breaking news and powerful storytelling. 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. Lenexa, KS 66215, Urban League of Greater Kansas City 26. })( Fierce is New York-based organization catering to the extremely underserved LGBT youth of color. In 2003, former BEU Director Sylvester Holmes pleaded guilty in federal court to embezzling $33,000 of the organization's money. I then documented by email enough cash resources BEU has to carry us for the next eight months. Phone: (913) 432-3486, Dos Mundos Bilingual Newspaper When asked for further comment, Dixon said his attorney had advised him not to comment on the matter further. 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. Contact: John OBrien Generating Income for Tomorrow is raising money to support five Black-led organizations. "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. BYP studies the attitudes and cultural norms of black millennials in an effort to maximize their life experiences. Let us know. Give Black KC would help cover her administrative costs and hire a part-time assistant. Kansas City Chapter President President@WCOEKC.org Of the 107,000 residents who live east of Troost, more than 75% are Black. But federal investigators are questioning the money BEU did spend. Copyright 2023 Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation. Here are five major takeaways from the forum. 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. They dont have a real business, she said. Phone: (816) 235-1643 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. In our community, we have a lot of violence, we have a lot of poverty, we have a lot of broken infrastructure, Barnes said. In honor of. *** 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. Phone: (316) 681-1155 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. By entering your email and clicking Sign Up, you're agreeing to let us send you customized marketing messages about us and our advertising partners. From the Black Panther Party to the Civil Rights Movement, there have been a number of organizations and movements that have fought to remind the nation that we too are America. In his 2012 YouTube video, Chester Thompson talked about BEU's debt on those housing projects when he took over the organization in 2007. Sure, every city has a different fight to wage for equity, but programming for young Black people in Kansas City is so underfunded, overlooked, and unconsidered that it becomes an exhausting and frankly fruitless fight. Phone: (913) 492-5922 I remember the barn with a large Black power fist painted on it; wandering chickens and produce growing outside and greenery and tanks filled with tilapia inside. Additional Email: info@heartlandblackchamber.org, Hispanic Chamber of Commerce This is almost like a trade. Time and time again, black Americans have often come together in vulnerable times through mobilization. Being the only professor of color, it was a big burden of working with Black students and teaching future teachers of color.. I dont hear about those opportunities very often in Kansas City. It isnt meant for me. 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. Start with this beginner's guide to the neighborhood, Kansas City's new airport terminal carries on the legacy of a 10-year-old who fought for inclusivity, Local public health officials fear a Kansas bill would undercut work to contain diseases, A federal lawsuit against Missouri's 'dysfunctional' SNAP call center has gotten bigger, Young Black Professionals In Kansas City Feel A Responsibility To Help Next Generation Succeed, Kansas City's Black Professional Women Change Corporate Culture By Chipping Away At Stereotypes, This Kansas City Nonprofit Is Stepping In To Bolster Black-Owned Businesses, With 'Resiliency And Grit,' Black Women In Kansas City Have Been Growing Their Own Businesses. Contact: Ardith Deason "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. Phone: (913)948-7680 8500 W. 71st St. 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. It's about equality but also equity. Fax: (816)471-3064, 2ms2KC Bilingual Publication 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. "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. Service said. In the city auditor's Dec. 31, 2003 report, it states "BEU paid a contractor without the contractor submitting invoices for approval. Women-led businesses normally don't get funding from funders and things like that, Buckner said. I remember thinking, as soon as I stepped into that place: I do not belong here. She previously covered City Hall for The Kansas City Star and joined The Star in January 2020 as a breaking news . Its unjust for the burden of change to fall on Black youth when inequity is consistently maintained by those with power and privilege. Fundraiser this week will help Kansas City Black-led organizations, TO BUILD A BETTER, KANSAS CITY. They don't need a four-year college degree.. Harris also opposed the sale and said Lyman and BEU Treasurer Charles Parker lied to him about the the sale's purpose. 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 I actually haven't been in the building myself in a long time.". Phone: (816) 392-7611, Mountain Plains Minority Supplier Development Council (MSDC) 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. With the Give Black grant, WeCode would be able to offer stipends to students as well as a salary for developers. Most of the funding came from her own finances, and as it's grown, shes gotten a bigger space and hired more staff. The BEU understands Mr. Service is in the process of hiring a property manager for the building. The Kauffman Foundation focuses on ensuring the Kansas City regions education and learning opportunities are equitable, real-world relevant, and lead to economically-viable careers. Keep your current job, and work with us on the side. SO WHAT THES CHANGE? The summer program is scheduled to launch in 2022. We will help you if you want to be helped but you have to meet us halfway, she said. We continue Ewing Kauffmans legacy by supporting institutions and organizations that eliminate barriers for all people to drive cultural, social, and economic impact in Kansas City. 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. According to executive director Michael Watson, REAP began in the basement of Blue Ridge Presbyterian Church in 1982. We need a lot of different resources.. Ford says she's a paid intern and has served as a receptionist at BEU's Lincoln Building office in the past. A sign now on the window of the office reads, To mail carrier from BEU, please hold all mail in the post office. Many communities have business associations and chambers of commerce. Buckner also hopes this grant will help WeCode grow larger and partner with businesses in other parts of the nation. Owner Nika Cotton said her shop provides comfort and self-care for the Black community. Combined, these Kansas City metro crime prevention programsemploy 31 people, earn more than $965,783 in revenue each year, and have assets of $445,118. African-American Community in Kansas City From art and music to food and sports, the contributions of Kansas City's African-American community are vital to the city's culture. There are no source documents, contracts, orders or other to show where that money went.". The biggest, most glaring issue is that theres just a missing middle in housing, Morris said. In 64128, the zip code I live in, only 47.9% of my neighbors own their homes.. "We determined that the project wasn't going to be completed in a timely fashion and so we basically terminated the contract," Wood, who now serves as director of the Neighborhoods and Housing Services Department, said. 100BMGKC has structured their mentoring programs to work to close the educational gap for African American students in Kansas City and to equip, enrich and empower young men so they can make the choices necessary to lead healthy, successful and satisfying lives. 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. 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. 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. 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. 3200 Wayne Ave., Suite 204 Kansas City, MO 64109 "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. Banks that Cotton approached for startup capital would only lend to existing businesses. e.setAttribute("src", u + "/v" + a.v + "/js"); "https://g.amp.travel", Its definitely my mission to balance kind of self care with communal care, Cotton said. The BEU is one of dozens of non-governmental agencies which receive funding through the city. 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. The ties to family, health and holistic wellness struck a chord within meI've been a fan ever since., Blue Nile Cafis one of Kansas City's oldestEthiopian restaurants and the first I dined at after moving to the city. Let us know on Instagram or via email. "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. Many young people are working for change right now, but we need to know were not alone in the fight. Kansas City, MO 64105 When I host Up To Date each morning at 9 a.m., my aim is to engage the community in conversations about the Kansas City areas challenges, hopes and opportunities. 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.". That they dont belong. City records also show BEU submitted an invoice, as part of the Lincoln Building renovations contract, for $833 paid to Prosperity Electric for wiring charges. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. So far, Teachers Like Me has helped 15 Black teachers. It also says, The BEU maintains an office in the Lincoln Building. In order to be helped, business owners have to be patient and willing to accept constructive criticism, she said. BEU was one of only two agencies not to submit its financial reports and internal control analysis for the city auditors review on time. That question has always felt easy to answer. Academic, professional, and personal development programs are vital to the success of Kansas Citys Black youth. 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. 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? I first fell in love withRuby JeansJuicerywhen I heard the story behind its namesakethe grandmother of the owner and operator, Chris Goode. are joining forces to host Give Black KC, a fundraiser to support the Black community and entrepreneurs. Phone: (913)371-3070 Fax: (913) 287-5881, Kansas City Call (weekly) Oversight of the funding is done through a combination of local and federal officials. More by Ashley Clarke. Preview what's available here: I once stood inside the One Light Luxury Apartments in downtown Kansas City. If it is your nonprofit, add geographic service areas to create a map on your profile. 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. Phone: (816) 474-3558, American Indian Council The original contract included $100,000 of federal money, with $75,000 of those funds budgeted to upgrade the elevator. Stories that matter delivered to your inbox. KC's Official Visitors Guide is the place to find insider tips, local favorites and info on whats happening during your next visit. Morris said the rest of the homes in her community have absent owners who maintain the homes poorly. Kansas City, MO 64105 I wouldn't have stood for it," Wood said. I feel at home on the campus, and my time spent in the city has been mainly enjoyable. "Where is it?". 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 hosting after school programs and workshops, the org plans to train one million young black women in the field by the year 2040. According to Service and former BEU Board Chairman William Harris, no elevator work was ever done. This is the start of Give Black KC. Kansas City, MO 64110 Mission. The 41 Action News Investigators, on multiple occasions over several months, have gone to BEUs office in the Lincoln Building seeking comment. 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. The founder explained that Nile Valleys products are sold to local restaurants, giving the community a place in Kansas Citys economic cycle. The contractor generated its own invoices and paid itself from the agency's account without agency personnel involvement. 55th St. That term comes from the practice of marking racial makeup on a map and denying financial services to Black neighborhoods. According to Ford, BEU has that office in the Lincoln Building rent free for five years as part of the undisclosed settlement of the organizations lawsuit with Service. "We found that BEU was in terrible trouble, just a mess," Thompson said in the video. Membership in Awesome Ambitions and most of the experiences it provides from college campus visits to introductions to Black businesses owners like Chris Goode, founder of Ruby Jeans Juicery are free or offered at significantly reduced costs for all girls involved. NBJCs work centers around HIV/AIDS, and makes employment and education opportunities more inclusive for black LGBT citizens. Thats one reason Trinity Davis started Teachers Like Me. A grant from Give Black would allow her to market better and reach an even wider audience. 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. KANSAS CITY, Mo. And, its a misconception that running a business is easier than working for someone else, Randolph added. I, and other young Black people, need to feel that Kansas City is for us. Click on the link in that email 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. 816-800-5025 Peachtree. Editor: Elizabeth Lopez Many students may not be interested or be able to afford to go to college. Barnes plans to put the money toward providing meals for the women in attendance at the event and hiring a contractor for the nonprofit. Jamie Jiang is a news intern for KCUR 89.3. She knew it was important for students to have representation in the classroom.

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