News Stories
How Urban TEC used eye-opening VR tech to bring teen mental health into the real world
Students at two Kansas City, Kansas, high schools are tackling teen mental health issues with the help of virtual reality, shared youth and tech advocate Ina P. Montgomery. From February through April, 28 students from Wyandotte and JC Harmon high schools learned Unity programming software, identified and researched a health concern for youth ages 13…
‘Mr. K’ finalists tease what it’s like to work for the next Small Business of the Year
Editor’s note: The Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce is a non-financial partner of Startland News, which serves as the media partner for the Small Business Superstars program. Finalists for the KC Chamber’s Small Business of the Year award highlighted their companies’ commitments to strong workplace culture, DEI initiatives, and community relations during a panel…
KCMO forms small biz task force for entrepreneurs; underinvested businesses a key focus
Editor’s note: KC BizCare, the small business office of Kansas City, Missouri, is a partner of Startland News. A new task force committed to giving space for Kansas City small business owners to share their voices — on issues ranging from major events like the NFL Draft to everyday concerns on permits and zoning —…
Rescue florists give new life to leftover flowers; nonprofit just needs 6-inch stems and someone to surprise
Impact is growing again for an initiative that sends recycled floral arrangements — flowers otherwise headed for the trash after events — to homebound Kansas City seniors. Volunteer-run Unexpected Blooms recently celebrated its sixth birthday, after being forced to take a pause when the pandemic stalled many large gatherings from which they sourced flowers, shared…
Poio’s chef-owner lets go of his popular KCK restaurant: ‘I’m still learning how to relax’
Carlos Mortera struggled with the idea of not working all hours of the waking day, he shared, explaining that this subconscious guilt is sometimes known as “immigrant shame.” “Being a first-generation [American], you see all the sacrifices your parents made to get you to this country. Because of their sacrifices, you feel like you should…
