Nikki Overfelt Chifalu
Reporter, Startland News
Nikki brings to Startland News both community journalism and entrepreneurship experience and she loves being able to tell the inspiring stories of fellow creatives and risk-takers.
Before joining Startland News, she worked for over 10 years writing and editing for daily newspapers in Lawrence, Topeka, Duluth, Minnesota, and Park Hills, Missouri. She took a short hiatus from journalism to pursue her dream of becoming a pastry chef and starting her own baking business.
Recent Articles by Nikki Overfelt Chifalu
‘When puppets talk people listen’: It’s not just storytelling anymore for one of KC’s most beloved children’s theaters
A Kansas City arts institution known for years as the Mesner Puppet Theater is animated with new life, said Meghann Henry, detailing a mission pivot for the freshly sewn and rebranded What If Puppets. Evolution at the nonprofit has taken a turn toward early childhood education since the retirement of Paul Mesner in 2016 —…
Fresh start: Selfie studio goes mobile, reimagining its FOMO factory as a custom experience
Fresh Factory KC is evolving, founder India Wells-Carter shared, embracing change as she re-evaluates where and how her camera-ready venture can help shine the brightest light on Kansas City. After a year and a half in its brick-and-mortar location at the Zona Rosa shopping center, Fresh Factory KC has uprooted and gone mobile, bringing the…
They’re not trying to die(t); how this mother-daughter influencer duo teaches spice of life after weight loss surgery
A support system after weight loss surgery is essential, shared Kiley Williams-Bowls and Linda Donaldson. After both underwent bariatric surgery, the Kansas City mother-daughter duo behind BariGirls have set out to help others who’ve experienced the procedure maintain healthy habits. “We discovered that there are hundreds of thousands of people that have had weight loss…
WeCode KC founder earns women’s achievement honor; adds national STEM figure to her org’s leadership
Only a few days into March, 2023 is already proving to be a big year for WeCode KC, noted co-founder and CEO Tammy Buckner. The organization — which operates with a mission is to give youth, especially those in the urban core, the opportunity to learn technology concepts and leadership skills and create a pipeline…
Designed by women, for athletes: How the woman-led team behind KC Current’s new stadium is ‘equalizing the playing field’ for women’s sports
It’s uncommon to design a first-of-its-kind structure in the world of architecture, said Jill Monaghan, but the new KC Current soccer stadium — the first such facility being built specifically for a professional women’s team — scored her just the opportunity. In her nearly 11 years with Kansas City-based Generator Studio, Monaghan — who serves as senior…
They started their own businesses; now these young founders are widening the pipeline to entrepreneurship for their peers
Aidan Hall felt the support of Kansas City’s entrepreneurial ecosystem when he launched what would become KC Handmade Goods as an eighth grader, he said; years later, the young business owner is working to pay that feeling forward. An Iowa State freshman and Shawnee Mission West graduate, Hall got his start selling duct tape wallets…
Only one side of the tracks: Omni Circle opens entrepreneurs ‘space to become or build their personal freedom’
Startland News’ Startup Road Trip series explores innovative and uncommon ideas finding success in rural America and Midwestern startup hubs outside the Kansas City metro. This series is possible thanks to Go Topeka, which seeks economic success for all companies and citizens across Shawnee County through implementation of an aggressive economic development strategy that capitalizes…
Cafe finds kinship with KCK entrepreneur, sourcing coffee expertise amid celebration of Black excellence
The evolution of a 107-year-old eastern Jackson County service organization is still brewing in Independence as BlendWell Community Cafe pours coffee and deeper connections through a celebration of diversity — and partnership with an entrepreneur across the state line who shares its mission, said Doug Cowan. “In 2015, we bought this building and we started…
Tamba Hali traded cleats for beats; former Chiefs linebacker’s latest music release runs from the field to the fine arts
Tamba Hali spent his entire 12-year NFL career with Kansas City. Now — as an Afrobeat recording artist — the home of the Chiefs still factors heavily into his career. On Valentine’s Day (and two days after the Chiefs Super Bowl victory), the former Pro Bowl linebacker released his latest music video — “Fine O”…
From exclusive to expansive: What Pipeline’s first hire in three years (and a $3M grant) mean for its efforts to close region’s resource gap
Kansas City — and the world — miss out when the potential contributions of promising entrepreneurs goes untapped, said Don Carter, pointing to Pipeline Pathfinder’s impact on minority, women, and rural-based entrepreneurs. “There are so many people doing so many dope things, so many cool things in the world, but they just aren’t connected to…