AI to World Cup (with hunger in between): Here’s how C3KC hopes to spark conversation

The sold-out C3KC conference — a one-day community meetup returning Tuesday to Union Station — is putting the spotlight on relevant, cutting-edge Kansas City concerns, with its brightest focus on social innovation, organizers said.

Ruben Alonso, CEO of AltCap, asks a question during a fintech panel conversation at C3KC in 2022; photo by Channa Steinmetz, Startland News

Panel discussions led by local and national thought leaders are set to provide attendees from the civic, corporate, and nonprofit sectors with opportunities to engage, exchange ideas, and network, according to C3KC. 

Among the high-profile sessions:

• AI at work: How local innovation is expanding opportunity, not replacing jobs — Explore how artificial intelligence is being used locally in the workforce. Understand how it supports skills-based hiring, streamlines recruitment, expands opportunity, and dispels the myth of replacing jobs.
• Beyond food: The far-reaching impact of SNAP on families and institutions — SNAP is a foundational benefit that goes beyond food assistance. It’s a gateway to healthcare, energy assistance, and support at schools. When SNAP is lost, families and public institutions both feel the impact. Find out how community organizations are coming together to address the needs.
• The next Renaissance: Culture and creativity in the Paris of the Plains — From murals to music venues and free concerts to high-caliber museums and festivals, Kansas City has been on the cutting edge of culture for decades. Looking beyond 2026, panelists will discuss where we are headed next and what the future may bring for the City of Fountains.
• Goal! What the 2026 FIFA World Cup means for the KC community — Kansas City is preparing for its biggest global moment in decades: hosting the 2026 FIFA World Cup. This session will take audience members behind the scenes of what it means for KC to be a World Cup stadium and basecamp host, how local organizations are getting ready to welcome fans from powerhouse soccer nations like Argentina and the Netherlands, and why this event represents a once-in-a-generation opportunity for Kansas City youth.

Click here for an expanded look at the program for C3KC.

Shaylyn Romney Garrett

Tuesday’s event also will feature keynote remarks from Shaylyn Romney Garrett, co-author of “The Upswing: How America came together a century ago and how we can do it again.”

An internationally recognized author, lecturer, and social entrepreneur, Romney Garrett’s work has been featured by The New York Times, TIME, NPR, BBC, and PBS. She co-founded Think Unlimited, a nonprofit driving social innovation in the Middle East, and developed an Arabic-language curriculum on creativity and critical thinking in partnership with Queen Rania of Jordan. 

C3KC annual honors portion of the day is expected to recognize Julia Irene Dennie-Kauffman as the 2026 recipient of the Branton/Hall Community Collaborator Award.

Julia Irene Dennie-Kauffman

Although Dennie-Kauffman was born and educated in Toronto, Canada; she is known for her leadership and philanthropic efforts in Kansas City. She serves as chairman, president, and CEO of the Muriel McBrien Kauffman Family Foundation, and spearheaded construction of the iconic Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts. 

She also has served on the boards of the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, Kansas City Symphony Foundation, Kansas City Ballet, Lyric Opera of Kansas City, Kansas City Royals Baseball Club, Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, and the University of Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory of Music and Dance.

Click here to learn more about Dennie-Kauffman and the Branton/Hall Community Collaborator Award.