News

Fund Me, KC: It’s more than a card game; Parkville woman channels inner Philosopher to evolve humanity

By Tommy Felts / June 7, 2021

Startland News is continuing its “Fund Me, KC” series to highlight area entrepreneurs’ efforts to accelerate their businesses or lend a helping hand to others. This is an opportunity for business owners — like Parkville creator Loni Louise Bernard with her Philosopher game — to share their crowdfunding stories and potentially gain backing from new…

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Give Black campaign for Black-run businesses, orgs eyes $80K goal by Juneteenth

By Tommy Felts / June 5, 2021

Editor’s note: Give Black and Kansas City GIFT are non-financial partners of Startland, the parent organization of Startland News. This story was produced independently by Startland News’ non-profit newsroom. A newly launched campaign intended to back Black-owned businesses needs widespread community support to make the most impact, Brandon Calloway said, shedding light on why eight…

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Willa Robinson, Willa’s Books and Vinyl

KC’s only Black-owned book shop — forced to find a new home — hits crowdfunding goal in just a few days

By Tommy Felts / June 4, 2021

More than 3,000 books and records surrounded Willa Robinson as her eyes danced between decades of knowledge and culture gathered in her neighborhood shop, Willa’s Books and Vinyl — the only Black-owned brick-and-mortar book store in Kansas City.  “Opening a store hadn’t been in my plans. I’m a collector, but then collecting got out of…

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Vu Radley and Mark Launiu, MADE MOBB

Culture made First Fridays life-changing, duo says; now MADE MOBB is bringing back the block party

By Tommy Felts / June 3, 2021

MADE MOBB is reopening an era of live music and local vendors Friday — hoping to revive a Crossroads tradition silenced when its community was forced to disconnect and retreat indoors. “Come outside, baby!” Mark Launiu exclaimed ahead of Friday’s MADE MOBB Block Party. “Enjoy some free vibes [from] the people you’ll meet, the relationships…

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Christopher Cook and Nathaniel Bozarth

KC-built game simulates segregation, racism with one way to ‘win’: disrupt, destroy white supremacy

By Tommy Felts / June 3, 2021

Developing a game that sparks meaningful conversations on systematic racism requires nuance and balance, Nathaniel Bozarth explained, noting the goal is to create an emotional impact while not causing harm to the player. “It’s tough because you want to teach a topic that’s really hard — and you want to do it delicately enough that…

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