KC GIFT launches ‘Vibe the City’ passport to showcase Black-owned arts, entertainment venues

A newly published mini-guide to Black-owned arts and entertainment venues across Kansas City is expected to push community members deeper into the metro’s rich Black business ecosystem, said Brandon Calloway, highlighting a range of cultural and nightlife destinations.

“Vibe the City” passports are available now at the G.I.F.T. Business Center at 5008 Prospect Ave., as well as at select restaurants. 

The initiative follows a successful “Savor The City” guide to Black-owned restaurants that was released in February by Kansas City G.I.F.T. (Generating Income for Tomorrow), a nonprofit, full-service business center that provides Black business owners in Kansas City’s historically redlined neighborhoods with equitable access to financial support through grants. It also provides free small business support to any small business in the Greater Kansas City area.

The earlier dining guide was launched in response to political efforts “to actively tear down support for Black and Brown communities,” Calloway said.

“We knew we couldn’t stop there,” he continued. “It is important for us to continue to identify innovative ways that we can drive support to Black owned businesses in a way that fosters economic equity, and KC G.I.F.T. remains dedicated to supporting Black-owned businesses through aggressive funding and support.”

The new passport features 15 Black-owned arts and entertainment venues, providing recommendations, QR codes to their websites, and an interactive feature that allows diners to rate each experience on a scale of 1 to 5 plates. 

Venues featured include:

• Mutual Musicians Foundation
• In Good Company KC Lounge
• Vine Street Brewing Co.
• Vye Cocktail Lounge
• The Blakk Co.
• The Black Repertory Theatre of Kansas City
• The KC Juke House Blues & Jazz Bar/Restaurant
• Culture X
• Harris Park
• Mr Bigg’s PLACE
• The Shop Cigar Lounge
• The Black Archives of Mid-America, Inc.
• Negro Leagues Baseball Museum
• American Jazz Museum
• KC Melting Pot Theatre

People interested in helping to distribute the passports can pick up bulk quantities from the G.I.F.T. Business Center, Calloway said.

“As a community, it is up to us to actively create the world we want to see,” he added. “This passport offers a fun and engaging way for people to take action on that and make a difference by supporting local Black entrepreneurs.”