News Stories

Shelia Johnson, Gangsta Goodies Kitchen

Shelia Johnson wants a daytime TV slot; Her ‘Gangsta Goodies’ brand already has the recipe

Sacred is the kitchen of Shelia Johnson, an ambitious Kansas City matriarch-turned-food scene celebrity working to bring families and communities together one meal at a time.  “It has always been the heart of the home. The root of who we are culturally,” Johnson said, recalling her childhood and time spent with her mother in the…

Designs by Lephant LLC, The Kritiq 2021

Why mental health took the runway before a single model walked The Kritiq’s largest fashion show yet

If speaking openly about mental health isn’t already part of the culture, you have to put it in the spotlight, said Mark Launiu, detailing why his recent fashion show offered the best runway to address a silent epidemic within underserved communities.  “You can’t reach a destination if you’re not mentally ready for the journey. I’m…

Miranda Schultz, Daniel Smith, Charon Thompson, and Jahna Riley, The Porter House KC

UMB Bank deposits $350K supporting The Porter House KC; $1.25M in year-end KC donations to benefit underserved communities

A hefty, end-of-year donation from UMB Bank will provide The Porter House KC an opportunity to dig deeper in assisting local entrepreneurs, said Daniel Smith, expressing appreciation for the $350,000 boost. “These resources will be used to continue our current work and implement another program that will assist small businesses with direct support, creating additional…

Maria Flynn, Techstars Kansas City

Techstars closes Kansas City accelerator as global network focuses on larger-growth markets

Techstars is discontinuing its long-running Kansas City program, the global accelerator network confirmed Tuesday, with the 2021 cohort expected to be the last group hosted in the metro. “Techstars has made a strategic decision to focus on larger-growth markets, and therefore does not plan to add companies through a Kansas City program in the immediate…

Adam Carney, Crossroads Training

Fitness center opens in former Plexpod River Market, sharing building with Coworking KC

Editor’s note: The following story was originally published by CityScene KC, an online news source focused on Greater Downtown Kansas City. Click here to read the original story or here to sign up for the weekly CityScene KC email review. A pair of fitness trainers who struck out on their own after working at commercial gyms have opened a…