Minority-Led

C3KC organizers: Want to bring real social change to Kansas City? Let’s talk about it

By Tommy Felts / March 28, 2024

The sold-out C3KC — a one-day conference that returns Tuesday, April 2 to Union Station — reflects the Junior League of Kansas City’s mission to bring together leaders for collaborative change in action, shared Ericka Duker. The Junior League — which aims to advance women’s leadership for meaningful community impact through volunteer action, collaboration and…

Passing the keys, passion: How a new wave of small biz owners plan to preserve beloved local brands

By Tommy Felts / March 28, 2024

Some have been customers; some employees. Now they’re the new owners of popular local restaurants and retail shops. As founders step aside, fresh sets of entrepreneurs step up in hopes of carrying on the goodwill and loyal following these brands have built up, some for decades. John McClelland and his brother-in-law, Johnathan Griffiths, work together…

Drug side effects could kill you; meet the KS lab team using DNA testing to save patients

By Tommy Felts / March 26, 2024

A clinical reference laboratory in Olathe is working to make DNA testing for genetically optimized medications more routine and accessible in healthcare, Dr. Ziyan Pessetto shared. Sinochips Diagnostics — founded in 2019 by Dr. Jiawu Song, along with Pessetto and Dr. Andrew Godwin — was conceived with the vision to make pharmacogenomics (PGx) an integral…

PHKC planning to open its retail incubator in mid-May; here’s a first look inside the east side space

By Tommy Felts / March 26, 2024

A new space for entrepreneurs to test-run their retail businesses is envisioned as a 12- to 16-month stepping stone to their own permanent storefronts or locations, said Dan Smith, and the resource could be open as soon as this spring. “We’re preparing entrepreneurs to open their own brick and mortars on the east side,” said…

Chingu founders, Mean Mule partner for KC’s first soju — a Korean nod to vodka, distilled with culture

By Tommy Felts / March 26, 2024

Serial foodpreneurs Keeyoung Kim and David Son are launching the Midwest’s first locally distilled premium soju — a pays homage to the traditions of soju, but embraces a new era of cocktail culture. Through a partnership with Mean Mule Distilling Co., the first release of Chingu Soju will be just 15-20 cases of the product. …