Critics challenge DEI as ‘immoral’; this VC has a message for those seeking equity for Black, Brown founders: We are not powerless

Pushing for equity in long-siloed industries might seem obvious to some, said Marcus Whitney, but advocates for change must remember that not everyone is on board — and some are actively working against level the playing field. “I hate to say it, but we have enemies,” Whitney told a crowd gathered Thursday at Vine Street…

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Just-launched initiative aims to capitalize on Kansas City’s promise as a global leader in health tech, renews call for KC investment

Advancing Kansas City’s digital health industry begins with attracting and nurturing talent, said Dick Flanigan. “What [Digital Health KC] seeks to do is connect ideas to talent; talent to capital; capital to companies and companies to marketplace — and we do not lack for ideas,” said Flanigan, who serves as the CEO of Digital Health…

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$2M grant expected to fuel workforce training, equity hub led by BioNexus KC, Missouri bioscience partners

The Kansas City region must level up to meet the demand of the expanding life sciences industry and support underserved job seekers, said Dennis Ridenour, announcing a $2 million in federal funds aimed at boosting readiness to fill talent shortages. The funding award will establish the “Bioscience Industry Occupational Training and Equity Collaborative Hub for…

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Now is not the time to be timid: Adapting KC’s spirit to confront COVID-19

Editor’s note: The opinions expressed in this commentary are the authors’ alone. Dennis Ridenour is president and CEO of BioNexus KC. [divide] Kansas City is a unique and extraordinary city. There is no doubt. We celebrate a successful corporate landscape highlighted by world class companies including Hallmark, H&R Block, Garmin, Sprint, Cerner and many others. The…

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