‘Belonging is not a luxury’: KC Chamber winner links DEIB commitment to hope, dignity

Diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging aren’t just words in reStart Inc.’s strategic plan, CEO Stephanie Boyer said, noting they are the foundation of how the nonprofit’s leaders show up, serve, and lead.

Amber Betts, director of human resources at reStart Inc., speaks after being awarded the Champion of Diversity Award at the KC Chamber’s POWER of Diversity Luncheon; photo by Taylor Wilmore, Startland News

“We believe that belonging is not a luxury,” she continued. “It’s a right, and it’s a right that we’re committed to protecting and expanding every single day through our work to end homelessness in Kansas City for over 44 years. reStart has been not just providing housing and shelter, but pathways to stability, dignity and hope.”

The Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce awarded reStart its 2025 Champion of Diversity award Friday during the annual POWER of Diversity Luncheon. The event drew more than 750 people to the Sheraton Kansas City at Crown Center, bringing together the region’s diverse business community to celebrate leaders in diversity, equity and inclusion. 

The Champion of Diversity Award is given to a nonprofit organization that exemplifies inclusive leadership through its workforce practices, internal culture, and community impact, according to the Chamber.

“While this award is a meaningful milestone, our work is far from done,” Boyer noted. “We are living in a time when Kansas City ranks No. 1 per capita for chronic street homelessness. This is not a statistic that we accept. It’s a call to action, and together with continued focus on equity, inclusion and systemic change, we believe Kansas City can be a place where everyone belongs, everyone is valued, and everyone has a home.”

reStart is the only homeless shelter in downtown Kansas City, Missouri, that serves children, families, singles, and veterans, per the organization.

“For more than 40 years, restart has stood alongside our community with more than one mission,” said Amber Betts, director of human resources at the organization. “The mission overall was to empower people, ending homelessness, inspiring hope. At the heart of this work is our commitment to build a culture of belonging, where every participant, team member, and partner is valued and uplifted. We know that fostering true diversity and trauma-informed care requires courageous leadership every single day.”

Jennifer Brown, founder and CEO of Jennifer Brown Speaks, gives remarks during the KC Chamber’s POWER of Diversity Luncheon; photo by Nikki Overfelt Chifalu, Startland News

This year’s POWER of Diversity Luncheon also included keynote speaker Jennifer Brown, founder and CEO of Jennifer Brown Speaks, as well as the author of “How to Be an Inclusive Leader” and “Inclusion: Diversity, The Workplace and The Will to Change.”

Focusing on inclusive leadership, Brown said Kansas City hosting World Cup games in 2026 is an incredible opportunity to increase learning about the cultures that will be coming to the city and the cultures that are already here.

“And what will you do — both individually and as organizations — to create a welcoming environment for them?” she continued. “I’m so excited for you and it’s such an honor that this is happening. It’s such an opportunity for this city to shine, and for each of you to be an ambassador for, ‘What does it represent for your own learning and for the learning of your organizations and for the city? What is that actually going to be?’ It’s an incredible opportunity for inclusion and putting everything that we’ve talked about today into practice.”

Ace Award recipients

This award honors up-and-coming senior level managers who have demonstrated a commitment to Diversity and Inclusion.

The 2025 award winners included: Joseph Hines II, executive director of research operations-clinical office at University of Kansas Cancer Center, Goldie Owoo-Battlet, talent placement specialist at i.c.stars, and Jorge Soberón-Hernández, senior vice president community development market manager at Arvest Bank, Kansas City.

Ace Award winner: Joseph Hines II, University of Kansas Cancer Center; photo by Nikki Overfelt Chifalu, Startland News

Joseph Hines II, executive director of research operations, at University of Kansas Cancer Center

Joseph Hines II, executive director of research operations at the University of Kansas Cancer Center, is driven by a clear mission: ensuring equitable access to clinical trials and care, no matter a patient’s ZIP code.

“Healthcare is for everyone, plain and simple,” said Hines, a first-generation college graduate from a small town in South Carolina. “Everyone deserves a chance, regardless of where you are, where you sit, where you stand.”

At the Cancer Center, Hines leads efforts to expand clinical trial access for rural and medically underserved communities, while also developing pathways for diverse professionals to thrive in research careers. 

His Amplified initiative creates growth opportunities for non-physician staff, empowering the next generation of changemakers through mentorship.

“The things I do, I didn’t do for recognition,” he said. “I did it because there was a need to build something that’s going to help someone else.”

Ace Award winner: Goldie Owoo-Battlet, i.c.stars; photo by Nikki Overfelt Chifalu, Startland News

Goldie Owoo-Battlet, talent placement specialist at i.c.stars 

As talent placement specialist at i.c.stars Kansas City, Owoo-Battlet helps graduates from underserved communities launch meaningful careers in tech. 

“One reason why I’m really passionate about tech is because of the lack of exposure for minority women. Minority women only make up 3 percent in the tech industry,” she said. “Which means there’s a lot of work to be done.”

Her work is fueled by experience and empathy, having served as the program’s tech manager and guided interns firsthand through their transformation into industry professionals.

In addition to her work with i.c.stars, she’s founded two ventures, Cyber Creationz, a digital agency, and Cyber Creationz Tech, a nonprofit that has exposed 1,500 students ages 8 to 18 to tech careers through camps and internships.

Owoo-Battlet’s leadership style centers on visibility and empowerment, ensuring those she mentors recognize their worth and potential.

“The advice that I would give to people that may feel unseen or unnoticed is to keep showing up and know that your voice is powerful,” she said, “and if there isn’t a seat for you at the table, go get your own chair.”

Ace Award winner: Jorge Soberón-Hernández, Arvest Bank, Kansas City; photo by Nikki Overfelt Chifalu, Startland News

Jorge Soberón-Hernández, senior vice president community development market manager at Arvest Bank, Kansas City

Jorge Soberón-Hernández envisions community development not just as a career, but a calling rooted in purpose and inclusion. As senior vice president and Community Development Market Manager for Arvest Bank in Kansas City, he works to bridge the gap between underbanked populations and accessible financial tools.

“To see my impact with the community every single day, I have a sense of purpose,” said Soberón-Hernández. “Not many people can say that they have a sense of purpose through the work that they do.”

Originally from Mexico City, Soberón-Hernández moved to Kansas to pursue degrees in Latin American Studies at The University of Kansas. His professional journey has spanned government and the private sector, including time with the Consulate of Mexico in Kansas City and leadership roles on local nonprofit boards.

Through financial education, he sees lives transformed for the better. “It’s beautiful to see how some of them come to me after the class and say, ‘My daughter was able to purchase a car or raise her credit score because of the way you taught me how to make a budget,’” he shared. “That is amazing to watch, and the sensation is beautiful.”