News

Marsha Willis joins Facebook accelerator to boost 30K-strong community of Black-owned businesses, supporters

By Tommy Felts / October 29, 2022

Marsha Willis’ decade-long journey of supporting Kansas City-based, Black-owned businesses is headed to the next level — thanks to a funding infusion from Facebook and Willis’ own focused commitment to providing elevated experiences to the online community she’s built. “Our focus is to create a centralized place where we can share resources and education for…

The Popper drips with KC: Why this award-winning brand won’t quit ‘until the aliens on other planets know’ his city 

By Tommy Felts / October 27, 2022

Walter Edwin is better known as the Popper, but it might as well be “KC,” he said. His love for Kansas City has inspired both his music career and award-winning apparel business. As a performer, he’s rapped about his hometown on his singles “I’m KC” and “For the City,” and as a collaborator on Tech…

10 finalists vying for ‘Fan Favorite’ in AltCap Your Biz competition; Here’s how to vote

By Tommy Felts / October 27, 2022

AltCap’s marquee GEWKC competition for emerging entrepreneurs is returning in November, but fans of the businesses can cast votes now to determine a $2,500 “fan favorite” winner at the coming pitch event. Ten finalists for the AltCap Your Biz competition were announced this week. The live pitch day is set for Nov. 17 at iWerx…

Miss KC’s Parade of Hearts? You’re in luck: Popular citywide art returning in 2023, 2024

By Tommy Felts / October 26, 2022

Kansas City’s “Parade of Hearts” is set to return in 2023 — and 2024 — after the wildly popular, city-spanning art installation, regional pride campaign and fundraiser placed more than 150 unique artist-created hearts throughout the metro. The publicly displayed art pieces quickly became destination points across the city with Kansas Citians and visitors embarking…

‘Cure-all’ for your hunger: Chefs offer tastes of what’s to come at KC’s newest food hall 

By Tommy Felts / October 26, 2022

A Kansas City-simmered food hall concept is expected to unveil its long-awaited dining experience next month in the lightwell building downtown — pairing two well-seasoned culinary minds with appetites for inventive tastes. Officially dubbed the Strang Chef Collective at lightwell, the chef-driven venture will feature a duo of restaurant concepts — Verde and Panacea —…