Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City

Maleika Robinson, Eastside Collaborative, Blacktech Weekend 2018

Collaboration Awaits: Blacktech Weekend aims to connect black innovators with a lasting network

The most important aspect of Blacktech Weekend’s return to Kansas City Friday: connecting individuals from different segments of the entrepreneur cityscape, said Denayja Reese. “Across industries, we want them to collaborate with each other and continue to build community as well as bring in folks who are outside of the community into the fold,” said…

Photo courtesy of Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City

KC Fed: We can fix the digital divide (and solutions come without a high cost)

Editor’s note: The opinions expressed in this commentary are the author’s alone. Jeremy Hegle is senior community development advisor at Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City. Some issues affecting the digital divide are complex — expanding availability of affordable broadband, for example, requires government policy, technology, and lots of money.  It can seem daunting and…

KC Outpost at SXSW: LaunchKC sparking interest in Kansas City-fueled Next-Gen tech talk

LaunchKC has landed in Austin for SXSW and is planting a flag in the ground for Kansas City this weekend, said Drew Solomon. Set for Sunday at the popular bar Maggie Mae’s in Austin, KC Outpost returns with presentations featuring expert speakers from Virgin Hyperloop One, Garmin, FishTech Group, Mastercard and other high-profile organizations, said…

Report: Black women’s impact overlooked in KC startup community and beyond

Raise a hand if you know that black women have created more than 1 million jobs, Dell Gines challenged. A statistics-based question –– frequently answered with an expected, yet glacial silence ––  acknowledges an unprecedented phenomenon in both the small business community and within the confines of the often-exclusive startup ecosystem, said Gines, Federal Reserve…

KC Fed: Want to strengthen Kansas City’s job market? Narrow skills gap caused by digital division

Digital division in Kansas City is taking its toll on the local workforce, said Jeremy Hegle. More must be done to allow skilled workers access to technology — in turn offering them a chance to succeed in a rapidly growing electronic economy, added Hegle, Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City senior community development advisor. In…