Minority-Led

UMKC pitch challenge awards $95K+ for ‘entrepreneur state of mind’ in and outside the classroom

By Tommy Felts / April 26, 2025

Winning $15,000 in Friday’s pitch competition at UMKC’s Regnier Venture Creation Challenge felt like the culmination of years of hard work and development, said Iyshia Sims. “Oh my gosh, I’m just so proud of myself,” said Sims, founder of ‘Amir’acle Body Butters and More. “I felt really good after the pitch, I have pitched a…

Family’s Japanese-inspired fabric gift wrap hits a home run with new fans (and an iconic American baseball team)

By Tommy Felts / April 25, 2025

At the intersection of heritage and innovation, a Kansas City family business is pitching a new way to gift, through vibrant fabric package wraps that carry both meaning and intention — even catching the attention of an unexpected collaborator: Major League Baseball. Keiko Furoshiki — a Kansas City brand crafted at the creative fingertips of Japanese-American…

Community honors ‘relentless storm’ of Chicano culture (starting with its unsung women)

By Tommy Felts / April 22, 2025

An emotional celebration of Chicana women leaders, artists, and advocates earlier this month centered on honoring resilience and reclaiming identity — something Deanna Muñoz once felt pressured to hide. “I used to shrink myself,” said Muñoz, founder of the Chicano Center for the Arts and the first-ever ¡Viva La Chicana! Awards. “To fit in, to…

This (still) ain’t luck: How a decade of grit proved these urban heroes are ‘more than just clothes’

By Tommy Felts / April 18, 2025

MADE MOBB’s ‘collaboration is community’ mindset takes the stage as streetwear brand named an Urban Hero Earning the title “Urban Hero” allows the owners of MADE MOBB an opportunity to publicly give themselves flowers, they said, sharing a twist on the slogan from one of their most popular tees. MADE MOBB — a Crossroads-based streetwear…

Muralist Sike Style tapped to bring Buck O’Neil’s legacy to life along bridge honoring KC baseball icon

By Tommy Felts / April 16, 2025

A new mural project honoring legendary baseball player Buck O’Neil not only helps capture the spirit of a Kansas City icon, artist Phil “Sike Style” Shafer said; it bridges a cross-generational legacy for the barrier-breaking sports icon. “Meeting Buck O’Neil at the K was a moment I’ll never forget,” said Shafer, a renowned Kansas City…