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
Photo gallery: With a Boulevard in hand, Techweek pours into KC
Hundreds of techies, innovators and entrepreneurs converged in Kansas City for the third annual Techweek KC conference, which launched Monday and runs through Friday. The Chicago-based conference series, which focuses on innovation and entrepreneurship, returned to the City of Fountains for a five-day conference, expo and festival. It is one of nine such events across…
Greitens eyes private investment dollars to fill MTC budget gap
A new, privately-managed innovation fund could replace a popular startup investment program that was dramatically slashed for 2018 amid Missouri’s budget crunch. The potential strategy change comes as a suggestion from the Hawthorn Foundation’s report to Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens, following the months-long work of an innovation task force charged with assessing the current state…
Prospect to prosperity: Blue Hills boosting neighborhood entrepreneurs (Video)
Economic development along Prospect Avenue requires a chain reaction across the community, Edgar Palacios said. “People need jobs to afford homes, so we need to create those jobs. We need to create some catalysts in this community,” said Palacios, Blue Hills Community Services executive director. “If we can have storefronts along Prospect, that attracts other…
10 BetaBlox firms to know before demo day
Kansas City-based accelerator BetaBlox announced the 10 companies pitching their companies during the program’s Sept. 23 demo day at The GRID. BetaBlox recently received a grant from the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, as part of the KC Accelerator challenge. The 2017 demo day is sponsored by the foundation, BetaBlox founder Wes Bergmann said. This year’s…