Tag: Jahna Riley

Panel: Teachers can’t just ‘fail fast’ with students, but plugging entrepreneurship into classrooms builds agility in both

By Tommy Felts / November 18, 2022

As someone with a hand in both education and entrepreneurship, Tiffany Dixon recognizes that a gap between the two is limiting potential in Kansas City schools. “There is an ecosystem that teachers don’t realize exists around their classroom,” she explained during a “Youth: Our Future Entrepreneurs” panel discussion for Global Entrepreneurship Week – Kansas City.…

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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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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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Miranda Schultz, Daniel Smith, Charon Thompson, and Jahna Riley, The Porter House KC

UMB Bank deposits $350K supporting The Porter House KC; $1.25M in year-end KC donations to benefit underserved communities

By Tommy Felts / December 21, 2021

A hefty, end-of-year donation from UMB Bank will provide The Porter House KC an opportunity to dig deeper in assisting local entrepreneurs, said Daniel Smith, expressing appreciation for the $350,000 boost. “These resources will be used to continue our current work and implement another program that will assist small businesses with direct support, creating additional…

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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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