Minority-Led Stories
We Got It Covered: LaRonda LaNear feeds her soul (and yours) in a world catered to men
LaRonda LaNear was tired of the working world’s status quo. “I’ve always hated authority and it’s always been men in power, telling me what to do — and it never made sense,” she joked, shedding light on a real problem that robbed her of joy nearly every shift at every job she held. “I took that…
Back to Baltimore: Why Brandon Love is eager to show his hometown how KC transformed him — and his scented wax brand
Six years after moving to Kansas City to build his brand, Crumble Co., Brandon Love is changing directions — both in his business model and in his physical location, he said. “I miss my family,” Love shared, noting that he is moving home to Baltimore. “I think with COVID, I’ve realized the importance of connection….
Outside routine: KCK native’s Urban Hikes reveal unseen Kansas City hidden in plain sight
Traditional paths aren’t for Lisa Peña — and her latest business venture (or adventure) is proof, aiming to show Kansas Citians on both sides of the state line an unfiltered version of two cities they might think they already know. “It really perpetuates getting to know your city more,” Peña, founder of Urban Hikes KC, said…
Kids share burden of a sudden loss, children’s author says; New book explores healing as KC grapples with COVID deaths, violence
More than two decades after 11-year-old Christle Reed’s father died, she still vividly remembers the day of his funeral; what she was wearing; falling asleep on the way to the gravesite; how the cemetery smelled; and understanding that her life had forever changed, she shared. “We overlook kids sometimes. I think a lot of adults…
Black and bookish: Founder hopes to turn pop-up page, eyeing coffee and book shop on KC’s east side
Jahna Riley loves the atmosphere of coffee shops. Connecting with others over coffee and a good book is a personal joy, she said, noting one glaring exception in most shops: inclusivity. “Kansas City has an amazing coffee scene, but it’s not necessarily one where I see my culture reflected in it,” Riley shared. “I want…
