Minority-Led Stories

Too many gyms leave people with disabilities to the wolves, says Wesley Hamilton; his solution: become a wolf yourself

Wesley Hamilton’s latest project — an inclusive gym in Westport — provides community and a comfortable environment for other people with disabilities, the entrepreneur-turned-reality TV personality and advocate shared. Hamilton, founder of the Disabled But Not Really Foundation and Kansas City social entrepreneur, opened the doors to his new training hub at 3939 Washington St….

Chef behind The Prospect KC selected for accelerator focused on employment, social impact

An emerging Kansas City culinary icon will help lead the way among socially-engaged entrepreneurs creating a more inclusive economy that helps overlooked individuals move workforce barriers to the back burner. Chef Shanita McAfee-Bryant is among 18 employment social enterprise leaders from across the country chosen by leading venture philanthropy REDF (the Roberts Enterprise Development Fund)…

Early buy-in from Latinx shoppers pushes paraMi toward surprise storefront; here’s where you’ll find them soon

A physical storefront wasn’t originally part of the plan for paraMi, co-founder Veronica Alvidrez shared, until the women behind the brand listened to the needs of their community. “We knew we wanted to offer our customers a shopping experience,” Alvidrez explained. “When we did pop-up events, we realized our shoppers are tactile shoppers and they…

Is there a doctor on board? Dragon boat race puts KC professionals in the rower’s seat

Brush Creek will put teams of professionals and other competitors to the test this weekend as Kansas City’s annual Dragon Boat Festival returns to the Country Club Plaza. For at least one crew, the waterway will become a lab of sorts — with leaders evaluating their teamwork and collaboration skills. Chris Jurief, a fourth-year resident…

Scaling his superpower: How BXKC’s new app amplifies Black professionals’ connections

A new tech platform recently unveiled by Black Excellence KC is expected to provide Black entrepreneurs with resources to elevate their careers and journeys, said Craig Moore II — a move that aims to boost the group’s human capital beyond one-on-one interactions. “We’re trying to create a tool where we can create better engagement among…