Minority-Led Stories

Feeling bad vibes at work? It actually could be your own fault (Holistic Hustle)

Kharissa Parker-Forte is a news producer, writer, certified health coach, and columnist for Startland News.  Read her “Holistic Hustle” columns for Startland News here. For more of her self-care tips on how to keep your cup full, visit kparker.co. Editor’s note: This commentary kicks off Parker-Forte’s series on the 7 Pillars of Self-Care by discussing…

Outside look from the inside: What a visiting economic fellow found in KC (rival BBQ is just a taste)

After spending his summer in Kansas City, the metro reminds Alvin Gusman a lot of his hometown, Austin, he said. The Texas A&M student is in the last two weeks of his 10-week Equity in Economic Development Fellowship with the Economic Development Corporation of Kansas City (EDCKC), reflecting on the experience. “I’ve actually really enjoyed…

55-shoe collection to online sneaker platform: How Nazr El-Scari opened a market to affordable, rare kicks

Sneakers are a distinct statement of individuality, Nazr El-Scari said, lacing up his venture’s sole purpose: to put dream shoes within reach “Growing up, I remember the excitement of opening a new pair of shoes. My older brother and his friends always had the dopest sneakers that you couldn’t find anywhere in Kansas City; it…

It starts with wool on 125-year-old looms; story of Pancho’s Blanket weaves KC into family mission

The popularity of Jonathan Garvey’s favorite wool jacket from Mexico eventually would weave a story of entrepreneurship connecting Kansas City to his family’s home and artisans in Latin America. It took the COVID-19 pandemic and a desire to help impoverished communities in Mexico to propel that plan into action. About a year and a half…

Healthtech app bridges care access gap: Recovery takes time, but patients need mobility today

As an occupational therapist for the past 15 years, Dr. Brandy Archie noticed a hole in the healthcare system, she said. “Your medical insurance covers things that accommodate your body, but doesn’t cover things that accommodate your environment,” she explained. That observation led Archie in 2017 to found AccessAble Living in Kansas City — now…