. Where have all the candidates gone? In an email response to the 41 Action News Investigators, Dixon called Harris' accusations against him "false, unfair and unwarranted.". That term comes from the practice of marking racial makeup on a map and denying financial services to Black neighborhoods. A weeklong fundraiser to benefit organizations doing grassroots work in the Kansas City-area Black community already is halfway toward its goal. Cotton plans to use the grant from Give Black KC to extend her lease on the shop. I am not interested in remaining in a city that is not made for me. According to Service and former BEU Board Chairman William Harris, no elevator work was ever done. Ford says she's a paid intern and has served as a receptionist at BEU's Lincoln Building office in the past. I remember riding up the glistening elevator, and walking awkwardly around the immaculate, modern top-floor club room. Missouri state records show Prosperity Electric dissolved in February 2019. Contact: Leonard Graham Part of HuffPost Black Voices. 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. Mission. Background: The African American Heritage Trail of Kansas City, Mo. Lawrence, KS (66045) Today. The contractor generated its own invoices and paid itself from the agency's account without agency personnel involvement. Sign up to receive our freeWatchdog email newsletter, a weekly investigation in inequality from Public Integrity. The project comes from the work that founder and president Terri Barnes has been doing for 20 years. I dont hear about those opportunities very often in Kansas City. 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. Editor: Clara Reyes 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. Harris also claims in the court document that Dixon threatened to kill him if Harris revealed financial improprieties taking place within BEU. 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. It's leading up to the Juneteenth holiday . Investigating the systems and circumstances that contribute to inequality. 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. e.setAttribute("src", u + "/v" + a.v + "/js"); More by Ashley Clarke. "He wanted access to their financial records, the property records, things he has no business having access to," Ford said. It also helps teachers with housing. 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. Cortlynn Stark writes about finance and the economy for The Sum. Phone: (913) 432-3486, Dos Mundos Bilingual Newspaper To donate, go to GiveBlackKC.org or you can text GiveBlack22 to 41444. A Kansas City nonprofit with the mission of promoting economic development in the city's urban core is now under federal investigation. View City Hall hours and holidays. Learn more Overland Park, KS 66210 Editor: Elizabeth Lopez 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.' a = w.amptravel = function(a, p) { It also says, The BEU maintains an office in the Lincoln Building. Buckner also hopes this grant will help WeCode grow larger and partner with businesses in other parts of the nation. Get the mixed plate, a combination of ribs, beef and ham, but sub the fries for onion rings andalwaysget a side of beans., If you want anauthentictaste of Africa,Fannie'sis where you go to get it. KANSAS CITY, Mo. And those same city audit records show BEU had accounting issues every one of those years, including two years when BEU failed to submit a timely report for the auditor's review. All this week, the nonprofit Generating Income for Tomorrow is raising money to support five Black-led organizations. KC Chapter Information Info@WCOEKC.org We will help you if you want to be helped but you have to meet us halfway, she said. NBJCs work centers around HIV/AIDS, and makes employment and education opportunities more inclusive for black LGBT citizens. 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. 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. //-->. Fierce is New York-based organization catering to the extremely underserved LGBT youth of color. "Where is it?". Wood says HVAC duct work was done for businesses on the west side of the Lincoln Building and city receipts show carpeting work was done on the third floor of the building. Throughout my junior and senior years, I held leadership positions from designated blogger to Junior Advisory Board President and grew as a public speaker and collaborator with other girls like me. The Kauffman Foundation Conference Center is a nationally recognized convening site located adjacent to the Foundation offices in Kansas City. by Ashley Clarke, Center for Public Integrity July 27, 2021, This and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.. Kansas City, MO 64105 Cotton said that, because of the pandemic, it was impossible to get funding for her new business. The same audit report says another BEU contractor had complete and unlimited access to the agency's bank account containing Community Services Block Grant funds which is federal money. Banks that Cotton approached for startup capital would only lend to existing businesses. WeCodeKC gives Black children exposure to computer science. Communal care is very important. Getting help from the organization took some weight off her shoulders when she moved to Kansas City for a new job. 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. Asian Chamber of Commerce of Kansas City Its unjust for the burden of change to fall on Black youth when inequity is consistently maintained by those with power and privilege. Adrienne Haynes, the managing partner at the business law firm SEED Law, says there's more . Contact: info@midamericalgbt.org The Pennsylvania Prison Society is a long-standing organization dedicated to reforming the criminal justice system. The folks who are already in power have the responsibility to fight for us: folks on city councils, in foundation boardrooms, in voting booths, on school boards, in recruiting offices. 105 Haag Hall 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. Phone: (913)948-7680 The organization focuses on teachers who are in the first three years of their careers, because thats when teachers need the most support. With funding from prominent Black organizations, Perry's operation grew to be the first hospital owned and . 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. Fax: (816)471-3064, 2ms2KC Bilingual Publication Thats one reason Trinity Davis started Teachers Like Me. We know that there is a stigma around mental health in urban communities, and of course I want to be able to reduce that stigma while providing treatment and education, said founder Shantai McCray. Please check your inbox in order to proceed. are joining forces to host Give Black KC, a fundraiser to support the Black community and entrepreneurs. I was attending a reception with Sisters Circle of Greater Kansas City, an organization which had awarded a large grant to Awesome Ambitions. Organizers are hoping to raise a half-million dollars in just five days. Contact: Kelvin Perry The accusations come in a now-dismissed eviction case current Lincoln Building owner Henry Service filed against BEU in March, 2018. 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. The summer program is scheduled to launch in 2022. Incite works to end violence against women of color through organizing events, conferences, circulating newsletters and strategic political initiatives. Kansas City, MO 64110 According to Harris' testimony, former BEU Director Marvin Lyman and long-time BEU advisor Vewiser Dixon - Dixon's wife Cathy Brodhurst is currently BEU's interim director - siphoned BEU money to Dixon's private business. Despite these red flags, the city continued to fund BEU. 2918 Southwest Blvd. These efforts require funding and, in some cases, volunteer support. Each of our organizations represents a different yet important aspect of our Black community, and by supporting and uplifting each of those components of the entire community, we uplift it as well, Morris said. I remember walking into that building with front-desk security who closely scrutinized and sharply questioned me and the two Black women who walked in with me. 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. 11249 Strang Line Rd. Republish our articles for free, online or in print, under a Creative Commons license. For additional information on Black-owned businesses, vendors and resources in Kansas City, consult our partners at KC Black Owned orBlack Privilege. Theyre not just existing and barely making it.. Fax: (816) 471-8543, American Indian Enterprise & Business Council UMKC Innovation Center Academic, professional, and personal development programs are vital to the success of Kansas Citys Black youth. 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. For more information contact the DWMBE program at (816) 513-1836 or hrdgeneral_inquiries@kcmo.org. and who do the programs serve? That same tax record shows salaries and other employee benefits rose from $7,540 in 2015 to $79,361 in 2016. Dacia Martins started UrbnHub during the pandemic to connect families with organizations that serve the urban core. Utilize them on projects, support them, mentor them.. If youre looking to organize against the current, unstable political atmosphere, heres a list of 28 active organizations that service a range of black communities. 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. (Don't see an email in your inbox? 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. AAPC is New York-based organization focused on resolving issues of domestic violence, substance abuse, unemployment and HIV/AIDS in black communities. Naomi Nix, who teaches English at Lincoln College Preparatory Academy, was part of the first cohort to join Teachers Like Me. Phone: (816) 595-4109 Eligible businesses must employ between three and 20 people, be located in an "economically vulnerable community," and have been financially hurt by COVID-19 disruptions. Many small minority- owned businesses dont have access to an adequate amount of credit, so a large part of their capital comes from consumers. Black Americans comprise more than 12% of the population but account for less than 6% of doctors in the United States. With over a million members, Color of Change works to end racial injustice manifested in the media, economy and criminal justice system. 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. Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? In honor of. Rapper Common founded this organization in the 1990s to provide greater opportunities for under-serviced children through mentorship, community service and the arts. The school system is different, the policing system is different.. Contact: Michelle Shelly Cunningham, Director 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. Its been harder to get funding during the pandemic, however, because of the number of people in the community who lost their jobs. Cut50 is a project by The DreamCorps that aims to reduce the number of people incarcerated through awareness campaigns like #DayofEmpathy and #ClemencyNOW. I always order the oxtails and curried goat because #gobigorgohome. 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. Lora McDonald, director of the Kansas City-based social justice organization More2, . Morris said there may be an unintentional bias in philanthropic funding that favors other organizations over Black organizations. Now, REAP offers food pantry assistance to 150 families a week and other assistance to 25 families a week. By working with her landlord and sharing a waiting space with other businesses, McCray was able to keep Life's Work alive. KCUR serves the Kansas City region with breaking news and powerful storytelling. Randolph added that people have to understand the difference between creating a job and starting a business. 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. The 41 Action News Investigators went to current BEU board member Martinez Denmon's home to ask questions about BEU. I felt like Atlanta was already my city. Organizers believe working together brings change. ITS PARTNERING WITH THE UNITED WAYOR F THIS CAMPAIGN. ", Also in the same report it states, "BEU's former executive director's name remained on an account for the agency's Community Service Block Grant until December, 2004. Phone: (816)471-4898 "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. 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. }; 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) Economic development in the city often equates to gentrification and uprooting the low-income and Black inner-city populations. 8500 W. 71st St. Several Kansas City-area school districts cancel elections. KCUR serves the Kansas City region with breaking news and powerful storytelling. Sponsored by the National Council on Crime and Delinquency, NBWJI centers its mission on empowering black women and girls in the criminal justice system. This is Give Black KC Week a fundraiser for Black-led organizations in the metro. A verification email has been sent to you. One of the best ways to become educated is to get involved in black-led organizations across the city, she . 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The first extension, in February 2015, gave BEU an additional $71,500 for that purpose. q = []; Know of other businesses that belong on this list? Contact: Christine Campbell The death of Trayvon Martin spurred the inspiration for Million Hoodies, a coalition of young people organizing to put an end to mass incarceration and the criminalization of young black men. That's why a Juneteenth fundraiser is stepping in to get Kansas City organizations access to capital. 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. 100 Black Men of Greater Kansas City, Inc. 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. It's about equality but also equity. Founded by Reverend Al Sharpton, the National Action Network operates on the platforms of voter protection, corporate responsibility, anti-violence and criminal justice. Contact: Karla Martinez If its the right bank they can advocate for you, she added. Phone: (816) 472-6767, Kansas City Womens Chamber of Commerce The Greenline Initiative finds these absent homes and renovates them before putting them on the market at reasonable prices. (function(u, w, d, a, q, e) { Generating Income for Tomorrow is raising money to support five Black-led organizations. I'm the 100 percent owner of the Lincoln Building and that's the way it should be," Service said. Phone: (816)472-5246 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. HEDFC operates as a bank with federal money used to fund low-income housing projects. Its definitely my mission to balance kind of self care with communal care, Cotton said. By hosting after school programs and workshops, the org plans to train one million young black women in the field by the year 2040. Once the property manager is in place, the BEU expects to have a more consistent presence at its office in the Lincoln Building.". Contact: Teshauna Dawkins Phone: (816) 924-4441 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. 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. 720 Oak St. In order to be helped, business owners have to be patient and willing to accept constructive criticism, she said. Phone: (913) 492-5922 After jobs in several different sectors, McCray decided to start her business while working as a full-time therapist. Phone: (913) 338-0774, Black Chamber of Commerce of Greater Kansas City 4200 Little Blue Parkway, Suite 590 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. I watched my brother chase chickens with the other young kids and tried to grapple with the fact that I was standing in the middle of a nonprofit community garden and urban farm at 29th and Wabash. We can pool resources in order to better serve our community.. "We've settled the litigation. If you want to support Black businesses to help them thrive, patronize them. Richardson said. I, and other young Black people, need to feel that Kansas City is for us. 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. 1710 Paseo By the time Thompson retired as board chair in March 2016, Thompson claimed the BEU owned the Lincoln Building free and clear. Wood - in his then-capacity as assistant city manager and director of the city's Neighborhoods and Housing Services Department - signed the federal money contract with BEU. Not only in those buildings, but in that area, in the Power & Light District. In budget year 2008 for example, 44 agencies received $100,000 or more in funding from the city or pass-through dollars. This is Give Black KC Week a fundraiser for Black-led organizations in the metro. Speaking from an upstairs window, Denmon said, "Get off my property.". Of the 107,000 residents who live east of Troost, more than 75% are Black. 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. Calloway said the experience is not unique to GIFT.