Entrepreneurs to disrupt KC’s divisions with unifying banner

The Kansas City metro area is one rife with borders.

Geographically, it’s cut in half by a river that runs west and east. Economically, there’s a state border that runs north and south. Racially, Kansas City is divided by Troost Ave. Collegiately, the University of Missouri spars with the University of Kansas in a rivalry whose roots date back to the Civil War era, at which point the states were divided on the issue of slavery.

And although the area and its divisions are often dismissed as a “flyover,” local entrepreneur Graham Ripple thinks it’s time to put our foot down and be unabashed about our hometown. Perhaps we should even wave that pride around with our very own flag — a banner to unite Kansas City, Kan. and Kansas City, Mo.

Ripple thinks that with the rise of symbols like Baldwin’s KC hats and Charlie Hustle’s shirts that are worn out of love for our city, that it is quite possible that there may be a market for a flag.

Ripple puts significant stock in the power of vexillology, or the study of symbolism and usage of flags.

“Symbology is huge,” Ripple said. “I don’t think there’s a better time for us to have a symbol that’s ours and of the people.”

Ripple and his friend, Jason Domingues, first thought of the idea for a Kansas City flag a couple years ago. They wondered what it would be like to wave a unifying flag in Kansas City.

The idea transformed into action once Ripple and Domingues participated in the Kansas City Royals’ World Series parade in November.

“I think there are plenty of divisions, but we are seeing all of Kansas City come together with a unified voice and passion.” Ripple said. “I think that’s part of what we saw last year with the World Series and we saw a city that wanted to come together under one banner. We came together and said, ‘Look how great our city is.’”

To bring their idea to fruition, they’ve launched a Kickstarter project named One Flag that will challenge designers in the area to create a flag that will be distributed around the 14-county metro area. The team hopes to raise $35,000 by Sept. 14 to begin manufacturing the flag.

The public will be invited to vote for their favorite design, and once narrowed down to the top three, the winner will be revealed at a public celebration and awarded $1,000.

[pullquote]“Kansas City is a city alive; a city that has so much potential.”- Graham Ripple [/pullquote]

The first flags will go to metro cities, schools and Kickstarter backers, Ripple said. Depending on the amount of a contribution, Kickstarter backers will also receive small prints, phone cases or car decals. Ripple wants to provide a flag for all cities within the metro, and eventually all of its schools as well.

The team is in the process of strategically meeting with local businesses who they believe care about Kansas City. With just over $3,000 raised so far, Ripple said that he believes they are on track to meet their goal. To him, it is a matter of getting in front of the right people.

“A lot of people say, ‘I would support it if there was a photo,’” Ripple said. “It really is the creatives and the entrepreneurs who can visualize it, despite the uphill battle. The people that trust the community and the process and believe that together we can come up with an amazing flag.”

Ripple co-founded Life Equals in 2010 and later went on to co-found Paleofit in 2013, of which he is currently the CEO. Ripple believes that part of the reason Kansas City pride is growing is due to the community of which he’s apart.

“The entrepreneurial community in Kansas City is always cheerleading each other on wanting each other to succeed,” Ripple said. “Even businesses that are in the same industry and market tend to encourage one another.”

Although he said symbols have power, Ripple wants the project to result in more than a flag. Once the design has been selected and money starts flowing in from merchandise sales, he wants to offer grants to nonprofits and provide startup capital for entrepreneurs. Ripple said that it’s the nonprofits who are focused on fixing the problems and the entrepreneurs who look toward the future. We need to support both, he added.

Growing up in a military family, Ripple remembers Kansas City as the welcoming home base where he has visited his family every Christmas. He’s lived in the metro as an adult for a decade, and believes that the community feel of the city is unbeatable.

“Kansas City is a city alive; a city that has so much potential,” Ripple said. “We are Kansas City; we are in this together; we together want to make this city vibrant. … If you don’t get that Kansas City is awesome, that’s fine, but, we know that it is.”