Minority-Led

KC founder’s hip hop edtech app for children, families earns earns $50K in 5G innovation competition

By Tommy Felts / September 11, 2024

A grants program focused on boosting social entrepreneurs — traditionally underfunded women and persons of color — who are using 5G wireless innovation to address pressing community challenges this week awarded a $50,000 prize to Kansas City startup Healthy Hip Hop for its work on child literacy. Catalyst — a competitive grants initiative by the Washington,…

Tough Chiefs loss propels Kansas City artist to launch winning business

By Tommy Felts / September 10, 2024

Editor’s note: The following story was originally published by AltCap, an ally to underestimated entrepreneurs that offers financing to businesses and communities that traditional lenders do not serve. The Kansas City Chiefs came up one win short of entering the Super Bowl when they lost by a field goal to the Cincinnati Bengals in January…

Candidates: Unchecked property crime against businesses driven by prosecutor’s failure to hold offenders accountable

By Tommy Felts / September 6, 2024

Melesa Johnson, Tracey Chappell share their solutions for combatting recent uptick in break-ins at Kansas City businesses Editor’s note: Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker is not seeking re-election, so it’s an open race for her countywide seat. Democrat Melesa Johnson and Republican Tracey Chappell are running in the 2024 general election with a vote…

Bingo with lingo: Black culture reshaped history (and how we talk); this board game revives a timely story of KC pride

By Tommy Felts / September 6, 2024

A board game originally conceived in the wake of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s 1969 assassination is making a revival in 2024 — thanks to the Kansas City entrepreneur who created it and remains committed to keeping Black history alive. SLANG-A-LANG!™ returned to shelves earlier this year, said Irene Carter, noting the game was born out…

Here’s how a new data dashboard could help KCMO redirect funds to small businesses

By Tommy Felts / September 5, 2024

A new data dashboard built to better understand Kansas City’s business needs — and guide the city’s response — is not only revolutionary for the metro, said Nia Richardson, it could be the first of its kind, period. Small business advocates already are calling it a win. “I don’t know of any other city or playbook…