Woman-led

Kharissa Forte, Holistic Hustle, Grace & Grind

Urgent culture: Let your brain breathe by setting, enforcing work boundaries (Holistic Hustle)

By Tommy Felts / June 7, 2022

Kharissa Forte is a writer, certified health coach, and columnist for Startland News. Read her “Holistic Hustle” columns for Startland News here. For more of her self-care tips on how to keep your cup full, visit graceandgrind.co. Truth be told, urgent culture isn’t anything new, but it’s a problem that seems to be impacting more…

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The Next Paige Agency

Alchemy Sandbox awards 5 more grants: Lean into failure to make your business ‘worthy to win’

By Tommy Felts / June 4, 2022

Success isn’t always immediate, Elaina Paige Thomas said, grateful for lessons learned through trial and error, as well as a firm belief that persistence pays off.  “What I originally thought my business needed was not seen as a necessity to my panel of judges,” said Thomas, founder of The Next Paige Agency, recalling an experience…

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Benay Shannon, Restless Spirits Distilling Company

‘HERstory’ roundtable distills women entrepreneur’s restless spirits into June 4 celebration

By Tommy Felts / June 2, 2022

When women are at the helm, there’s herstory to be made. A new Kansas City-based conference hopes to showcase it.  “The Sewing Labs proudly presents, Make’n HERstory, a celebration of women who use their creative muse to make a living and a life,” the nonprofit organization said, teasing its Saturday, June 4 conference experience.  The…

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Niki Baker

She was prepared for a ‘no’ but Niki Baker’s blind outreach scored her exclusive licensing with her alma mater

By Tommy Felts / June 2, 2022

Faithful to her colors, Niki Baker’s fondness for Kansas State University is unwavering long after she left its campus behind to pursue an art career and a family, she said. Pouring her maker’s mission out on canvas and painting possibility, Baker is now one of the rare few to hold a piece of her alma…

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Derecka Purnell

Two Black, women-owned bookstores open conversation on police abolition; Why this UMKC alumna says it could reduce gun violence in KC

By Tommy Felts / June 2, 2022

Two of Kansas City’s newest Black-, woman-owned bookshops are teaming up to host Derecka Purnell — human rights lawyer, author and University of Missouri-Kansas City alumna — for a community discussion on police abolition and eliminating harm.  Aya Coffee + Books and BLK + BRWN are presenting “Community Book Chat with Derecka Purnell” 6:30 p.m.…

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