These ‘Urban Heroes’ are helping evolve downtown KC; here’s why they’re on the right path
April 12, 2024 | Tommy Felts
In a prelude to today’s celebration of downtown Kansas City’s evolution and momentum, four “urban heroes” were honored Thursday for their passionate work to make downtown a more vibrant place to live, work, and play, organizers said.
Winners of the “Urban Hero Awards” ranged from honorees on the east side to the Crossroads and the downtown core — encompassing the wide swath of Kansas City represented by the Downtown Council of KC, which organized the awards along with today’s annual luncheon.
Jennifer Wampler, KC Ballet; Teresa Bolton, KC Public Library; and Bill Dietrich, Downtown Council of Kansas City; photo courtesy of Downtown Council of Kansas City
Among the latest round of urban heroes:
- HITIDES Coffee (Michele and Johnny Dawbarn)
- Vine Street Brewing (Kemet Coleman, Woodie Bonds, Jr., Elliott Ivory, Annie McGinnis)
- Allan Gray (The Zhou B Arts Center)
- Teresa Bolton (KC Public Library – Central Branch)
Vine Street Brewing previously was named one of Startland News’ Kansas City Startups to Watch in 2024, as well as earning numerous brewing competitions and industry awards in recent months. The business — Kansas City’s first Black-owned brewery — was founded in 2023 in the city’s historic jazz district.
“At Vine Street Brewing, we’re not just crafting beer — we’re fermenting the ‘Kansas City spirit’ and blending the flavors of 18th & Vine to help foster Kansas City’s cultural identity on the world stage,” said Coleman, co-founder of the business. “We are deeply grateful to receive the Downtown Council’s Urban Hero Award and will continue to play our part in strengthening the heartbeat of our city.”
Jennifer Wampler, KC Ballet; Kemet Coleman, Elliott Ivory, Annie McGinnis, and Woodie Bonds, Jr., Vine Street Brewing; and Bill Dietrich, Downtown Council of Kansas City; photo courtesy of Downtown Council of Kansas City
Jennifer Wampler, KC Ballet; Johnny and Michele Dawbarn; and Bill Dietrich, Downtown Council of Kansas City; photo courtesy of Downtown Council of Kansas City
Down the street in Kansas City’s East Crossroads, HITIDES Coffee is among a growing handful of ventures for serial entrepreneurs Michele and Johnny Dawbarn, whose headquarters and tiki-themed space anchors the corner of 18th and Cherry streets.
“Being a community based business that provides a connecting space (HITDES) as well as fabrication services (Collective EX/sewKC), we’ve been able to continue to grow as we work together with others locally,” said Johnny Dawbarn. “Every project, event and partnership allows us to expand as Kansas City continues to evolve.”
“Being recognized like this just validates that what we are providing and the quality of work is relevant and meaningful,” he continued. “It’s what you really hope your original ideas will become in the beginning. This kind of recognition suggests you’re on the right path.”
Click here to check out past winners of the Urban Hero Awards.
Featured Business
2024 Startups to Watch
stats here
Related Posts on Startland News
Five inspiration points in Westport’s new Freedom design showroom (Photos)
Carol Espinosa bears a striking grin as she bounds up the steps to the rejuvenation area at Freedom Interiors. Palpable excitement beams through her voice. “This is possibly my favorite part of the showroom,” she says, pointing out the lush green carpeting, comfy seating and 360-degree view of the renovated space at 4000 Washington St.…
Brazil to KC: Carol Espinosa showcases path to creativity, opportunity
She arrived in the United States with just two suitcases and her own creativity, but today Carol Espinosa fills a 7,000-square-foot Westport storefront with enough modern workplace designs to unpack for weeks, she said. “This company was built from nothing,” said Espinosa, founder of Freedom Interiors. “It started with no customers, no product offerings —…
American buying habits push Swappa to $70M in 2017 hand-me-down tech sales
Grown from a one-person, side-hustle project to a team of more than 30 people, Kansas City-based Swappa is swelling. The user-to-user marketplace for buying and selling used technology enjoyed its best year to date in 2017. The platform sold more than $70 million in hand-me-down electronics in 2017 — up about 17 percent from 2016, said…
BKS Artisan Ales takes measured approach with nano-brewery concept
It takes only about an hour for BKS Artisan Ales to sell out of its packaged bottles and cans each Saturday afternoon, Brian Rooney said. “We thought it would be great if maybe 40 people came in and maybe each of those 40 took a beer home,” said Rooney, a craft brewer who owns and…