Minority-Led Stories
Block by block: Prototype builds startup’s housing vision where everyone can afford their own castle
A mock home facade project on the grounds of Kansas City’s historic Workhouse Castle serves as a proof point for Godfrey Riddle’s rebooted Civic Saint — a social venture built on compressed earth blocks as its key to affordable, sustainable housing. “CEBs (compressed earth blocks) are great for Kansas City, because non-expansive sandy clay soil…
Meet the founder distilling greatness (and fusion flavors) into Kansas’ first Black-owned vodka brand
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. WICHITA — Greatness isn’t given; it’s earned, said Troy Brooks. But it comes one step at a time, and not without its challenges, he said. The entrepreneur behind Kansas’ first Black-owned…
One last push: Doula bootcamp founder wins PHKC’s $10K pitch after setting due date for success
James Hogue gave himself a deadline: score a big win for his fledgling nonprofit by May 1 or pursue another career. On April 30, he earned the validation he needed — winning The Porter House KC’s Pitch Night and a $10,000 cash prize. “Today’s the day right before May, and so the opportunity for us…
How SCORE helped an entrepreneur’s late-night eureka moment turn into a thriving skewer business
Editor’s note: The following story was produced through a paid partnership with MOSourceLink, which boasts a mission to help entrepreneurs and small businesses across the state of Missouri grow and succeed by providing free, easy access to the help they need — when they need it. ST. LOUIS — Shirley Washington’s middle-of-the-night inspiration — mixed…
Kauffman Foundation revises funding priorities to three key areas, sharing first public details of its new strategic focus
A refreshed vision for the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation aims to make Kansas City a national model for equitable economic mobility, dismantling systemic barriers and setting generations of historically under-resourced communities on the path to prosperity, according to just-released details from the influential organization. Updates to the Kauffman Foundation’s strategy come after the summer 2023…
