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
Digital divide initiative could help 9,000 Kansas City households
More than 9,000 Kansas City households are among the potential beneficiaries of a new national digital divide initiative. Comcast recently partnered with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s ConnectHome initiative, marking the largest expansion to Comcast’s Internet Essentials program. Now all Kansas City households within a Comcast service area that receive HUD housing…
New Startland reporter wants to immerse herself in KC’s culture of innovation
Two months ago today, I packed up the last of my belongings in my Columbia, Mo. apartment. And to be frank, I was slightly embarrassed to be moving back in with my parents in Independence, Mo. A recent graduate from the University of Missouri’s School of Journalism, it seemed that almost everybody I knew was…
Exclusive: John Fein departing Techstars to lead new $7M Midwest venture fund
After three years with the Kansas City-based Sprint Accelerator, John Fein is moving on to lead a venture fund that has ambitious Midwestern plans. Fein, who’s served as the managing director at the Techstars-led accelerator since 2014, will serve his last day with the organization on July 31. With decades of fast-paced startup experience, Fein…
Mid-America Angels set for second consecutive record-breaking year
The Mid-America Angels is poised to make 2016 a record-breaking year. The area investment group already has deployed $1.7 million via seven deals in the first six months of 2016, setting pace for its biggest year of investment in its ten-year history. In 2015, the firm set a record for its amount of capital deployed,…