Minority-Led

Entrepreneur behind Soul of Santa aims to create Rockefeller Plaza holiday experience on KC’s east side

By Tommy Felts / October 31, 2024

Tucker Lott hopes an outdoor ice skating rink at 2000 Vine — the home of Vine Street Brewing — will help solidify a new holiday tradition in the 18th and Vine entertainment district, the veteran entrepreneur said. “We wanted to create a holiday atmosphere where families could gather and have fun,” said Lott. “The entire…

Speak easy and SprinkleSumSalt: Podcaster passes the mic to KC’s underground arts scene

By Tommy Felts / October 29, 2024

Untold stories of creative talent and entrepreneurial spirit are raging beneath the surface of Kansas City’s mainstream, said Bump Jonas, who finds vibrant inspiration in musicians, chefs, and small business owners angling to reach a broader audience. “I wanted to bring something unique to Kansas City, a space where artists and entrepreneurs can connect and…

Social studies to social venture: Missouri teen’s micro business helps students across the globe

By Tommy Felts / October 29, 2024

Editor’s note: The following story was produced through a paid partnership with MOSourceLink, which boasts a mission to help entrepreneurs and small businesses across the state of Missouri grow and succeed by providing free, easy access to the help they need — when they need it. ST. LOUIS — It wasn’t an entrepreneurship course that…

Theater’s $8.7M rehab set to bring Black Movie Hall of Fame, Black Rep to KC’s ‘cultural corridor’

By Tommy Felts / October 25, 2024

A century after the storied structure’s construction, an $8.7 million redevelopment project at the Boone Theater in Kansas City’s historic 18th & Vine Jazz District aims to recapture the space’s potential as a cultural hub for the community — and a bridge to the city’s history. The long-awaited project at 1701 E. 18th St. is…

Here’s how Kauffman’s five just-hired directors fit into the Foundation’s new impact- and research-heavy focus 

By Tommy Felts / October 23, 2024

A handful of newly announced directors at the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation are expected to help drive forward the influential philanthropic organization’s updated priorities and grantmaking strategy, said Dr. DeAngela Burns-Wallace, emphasizing an underlying theme for their work: prosperity for all. “These five new director positions welcome a combination of talent and commitment to our…