Roll out the green carpet: KC activist-turned-global performer readies for his 1,000th clean energy show

By Tommy Felts | November 26, 2024

AY Young is counting down to music history, he shared. After an almost 13-year journey through 100 cities and 40 countries, the singer, songwriter, activist, and entrepreneur has 41 shows remaining until his Guinness World recording-breaking 1,000th show powered solely by clean energy. He’s planning to hit the milestone Oct. 6, 2025: Green Sports Day.…

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KC performer appointed UN Young Leader, extending Battery Tour’s energy worldwide, says AY Young

By Tommy Felts | September 18, 2020

Singer-songwriter-street performer AY Young has a new stage for his unique message, announcing Friday the Kansas City artist’s appointment as one of the United Nations’ 17 Young Leaders for Sustainable Development Goals. “I’ll be honest, I was like, ‘It’s about time,’” Young said, laughing. “I’ve powered over 800 concerts using renewable energy; I’ve been getting…

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16 winners: Micro-grant competition debuts with $30K in prizes to entrepreneurs who ‘need funds the most’

By Tommy Felts | May 11, 2020

Not all early-stage entrepreneurs and small businesses qualify for federal disaster loans, prompting an even greater need for programs like the new Dare to Venture Micro-Grant Competition, according to the Urban Business Growth Initiative. “At a critical time when small businesses need funds the most, the program offered a total of $30,000 in micro-grants to…

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AY Young pivots Battery Tour to music festival benefitting those without power

By Tommy Felts | May 17, 2018

With an ear-to-ear grin and his infectious laugh, AY Young admits he’s perhaps an unlikely rapper. Back from taking a shot at stardom in California, the Kansas City-born Eagle Scout-turned-college basketball player-turned performer is plugging into the entrepreneur community in hopes of more efficiently powering the Battery Tour. “We’re essentially using the universal language of…

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