Taylor Wilmore
Reporter, Startland News
Taylor Wilmore, hailing from Lee’s Summit, is a dedicated reporter and a recent graduate of the University of Missouri, where she earned her Bachelor’s degree in Journalism. Taylor channels her deep-seated passion for writing and storytelling to create compelling narratives that shed light on the diverse residents of Kansas City.
Prior to her role at Startland News, Taylor made valuable contributions as a reporter for the Columbia Missourian newspaper, where she covered a wide range of community news and higher education stories.
Recent Stories by Taylor Wilmore
KC Defender invests in Black-owned bookstore’s legacy, keeping its story alive as media startup’s new HQ
Missouri’s oldest-operating Black-owned bookstore is set to evolve into a public archive, programming venue, and the new headquarters for The Kansas City Defender — a bittersweet turn of the page for a space marked by resilience and community action, organizers said. Willa’s Books and Vinyl, 5547 Troost Ave., has long stood as a sanctuary of Black…
Small Biz to Watch: El Café Cubano brews rich simplicity inspired by ancestors’ appetite for the American dream
Editor’s note: Startland News is showcasing five Kansas City small businesses this week through the newsroom’s first-ever Small Biz to Watch series, presented by Bank of America. The following highlights one of the 2025 honorees, curated by editors from Kansas City’s wide array of hard-working entrepreneurs and business owners. Selection criteria is based on factors…
Small Biz to Watch: Deposit The Work builds mass with tech-enabled consistency — no excuses, all grit
Editor’s note: Startland News is showcasing five Kansas City small businesses this week through the newsroom’s first-ever Small Biz to Watch series, presented by Bank of America. The following highlights one of the 2025 honorees, curated by editors from Kansas City’s wide array of hard-working entrepreneurs and business owners. Selection criteria is based on factors…
Small Biz to Watch: Someday Sunday opens the door to me-time without guilt (or toxins)
Editor’s note: Startland News is showcasing five Kansas City small businesses this week through the newsroom’s first-ever Small Biz to Watch series, presented by Bank of America. The following highlights one of the 2025 honorees, curated by editors from Kansas City’s wide array of hard-working entrepreneurs and business owners. Selection criteria is based on factors…
Inspiration took him to a dark space; why ‘Macbeth KC’ creator wants to trap audiences in a world with no heroes
An immersive experience set in a post-apocalyptic world — the brainchild of Kansas City artist and designer Keyon Monte — transforms an iconic Shakespearean tragedy into a warped, high-fashion human drama staged within a downtown coworking space. “Macbeth KC” removes the polish and distance often seen in adaptations of William Shakespeare’s works, said Monte, describing…
Entrepreneur turns to Missouri elderberries to unlock treatment alternative, wellness brand
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 — As a mother frustrated by years of…
Big ideas for young people: How Equal Minded Café crowdfunded its coffee shop youth incubator’s next blend
Dontavious Young is betting on the next generation. As founder of Equal Minded Café and the Big Ideas Foundation, Young is creating space for high school students to build businesses, find purpose, and take ownership of their futures. “I want to be someone who kids remember their whole life,” Young said. “Almost everyone has an…
Whir to find hyper-local deals: Startup launching app to help newcomers, natives connect to small biz exclusives
A side quest for $5 burger baskets and cheap beers has matured into a tech platform built to help a wide range of users easily discover local deals, said Blake Coffee, noting his startup deepens small businesses’ engagement with their communities. “We definitely thought it would be more of a college app at first,” said…
Complex risks bring community kudos for creative entrepreneur honored by KC Chamber
Keisha Jordan didn’t know what saying “yes” to a job in Kansas City would unlock when she first relocated in 2020, she said, reflecting on a full-circle moment Tuesday after winning a top arts honor from the KC Chamber during its celebration of small business and entrepreneurs. “I trusted God, trusted the universe, and it’s…
Prayer-built coffee shop brews holistic healing with fuel from Grandview father’s faith
GRANDVIEW, Mo. — Nate Thomas saw something others didn’t in the near-windowless former Masonic lodge and one-time Christian school in southern Jackson County, he said. The Missouri father-of-two envisioned a gathering place with handcrafted coffee and holistic care under one roof. “Through prayer and patience, the Lord blessed us with this huge space,” said Thomas,…