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Rightfully Sewn acquisition stitches new path toward re-establishing KC as garment capital, Lapka says
Rightfully Sewn’s acquisition by a 109-year-old nonprofit with national reach means more contracts, more employees and more impact for the mission-focused fashion company, said Jennifer Lapka. “No shakeups, no drama. The brand, programs, and team will stay intact,” said Lapka, founder of Rightfully Sewn, which this week announced a merger with Kansas City-based Alphapointe. “We…
Guadalupe Centers gala, ofrenda pass from physical to virtual world; pandemic could reshape cultural traditions
It’s not a normal year, Alyx Bartrom said, acknowledging the obvious and embracing opportunities to innovate a more-than-30-year-old community tradition. “You have to either adapt or you get left behind,” Bartrom, director of fund development and marketing for Guadalupe Centers, said of the century-old non-profit and social service agency’s upcoming Blanco y Negro Awards Gala…
Vine Online artist preview: A look inside Vine Street Studio’s first-ever virtual art show
Kay Hansley is a doula, seamstress, art teacher, dietary manager and artist. She pulls inspiration from all aspects of her life, she said, and isn’t scared to take risks. “We should never feel afraid to express ourselves and let people see the real us. This was my first time really being able to explain how…
Liquid barrier (plus fresh breath): Lenexa startup tests all-natural mouth rinse as COVID-killing solution
A couple’s curiosity in nutrition and health inspired TRI-OLOGY — a versatile liquid solution intended to combat oral diseases. Lab tests now are showing that same liquid solution to be capable of eradicating SAR-CoV-2, known as COVID-19, Janice King and Dale Winetroub said. “We’re not doing rocket science; we’re taking whole plants and when they…
Sky’s the limit — and answer — for Genesis Systems’ atmospheric water generators
Pulling water out of thin air — a concept too good to be true or too obvious to ignore? “The No. 1 problem we are going to face as a planet will be water,” said Erick Went, who serves as chief technology officer for Kansas City-based Genesis Systems. “I think we take that for granted…
Spark MHK hopes to ignite innovation in an ecosystem often dominated by students, soldiers
MANHATTAN — An entrepreneur’s potential is anything but bite size in the Little Apple, Sarah Siders said. “I’m really excited to be able to do this,” Siders, executive director of Spark MHK, said in announcement of the recent launch of the Manhattan-based entrepreneurial support organization — which aims to ignite activity within the regional entrepreneurial ecosystem…
Dead Beet Eats: Life is hard enough — feed your soul with a big, beautiful chili dog
COVID hasn’t handed Katherine Willis many lemons, she said, but the vegan chef behind Dead Beet Eats has been given plenty of tomatoes in 2020 — and an opportunity to turn salsa into ketchup. “It’s been a really hard year and I like to think that what we’re doing is really lighthearted and it’s really…
8 TED Talks to help build the ideal team at your startup
Editor’s note: The opinions expressed in this commentary are the author’s alone. Stacy Rose is chief operating officer and partner at AdamsGabbert, a staffing, IT services, and business consulting firm. This article was sponsored and produced by AdamsGabbert. As the country’s unemployment rate continues to improve, entrepreneurs are beginning to fill their rosters. Yet, in…
KC Can Compost: Let’s make a natural process natural again — prioritizing people, the soil
It might be cool now, but Kansas Citians should expect warmer days ahead, said Kristin Chamberlain, highlighting ways the environment is changing rapidly and offering a simple solution that could help curb its effects — while also transforming lives. “There’s ample opportunity to compost,” said Chamberlain, executive director of KC Can Compost — the social enterprise…
GotDevKC helps small businesses break into tech talent silo, matching developers to needs
Larissa Uredi and Jenny Miller are playing matchmaker. Teaming up with KCSourceLink, UMKC Innovation Center, No-Where Consultants and the City of Kansas City Missouri, the duo worked with their teams to create a Kansas City business directory that pairs KC tech talent with startups and businesses in tech-need. They call it: GotDevKC. “We had identified…
