Earning the spotlight Thursday as the Kauffman Foundation’s first Uncommon Leader award winner, Dr. Rachel Melson paused to enjoy a moment of hope in a year filled with urgent need, she said.
Launched to honor Kansas City community members who are creating lasting change through bold and compassionate action, the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation’s Uncommon Leader Impact honor awarded Melson $50,000 personally and $100,000 for Swope Health Services in recognition of her efforts to expand healthcare access for Kansas City’s most vulnerable residents.
Dr. Rachel Melson shares a moment of joy with Dr. DeAngela Burns-Wallace after being named the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation’s first Uncommon Leader award winner; photo by Taylor Wilmore, Startland News
“It means more than I can express because the work we are being recognized for tonight is not abstract, and it is not theoretical. It is human. It is important. And it is happening every day in our city,” said Melson, outreach clinic director for Swope Health, during a reveal event for the award Thursday at the Zhou B Art Center.
She shared plans to use the award funds to strengthen mobile medical services, expand winter outreach efforts like distributing hats and gloves, and add more shelter-based stops so patients can receive care where they already are.
Every patient encounter, Melson said, carries a story and a responsibility.
“When someone walks into our clinic or steps onto our mobile medical unit, I want them to no longer feel invisible,” she told the crowd. “I want them to know they are seen, they are heard, and they are cared for with dignity, empathy, and humanity.”
Melson was selected from a group of five finalists, narrowed down from 300 nominations.
Dr. DeAngela Burns-Wallace, president and CEO of the Kauffman Foundation, explains the intention behind the Uncommon Leader Award; photo by Taylor Wilmore, Startland News
A vision centered on people
Dr. DeAngela Burns-Wallace, president and CEO of the Kauffman Foundation, spoke about the intention behind the new award and the kind of leadership it seeks to honor.
A crowd applauds during a ceremony revealing the Kauffman Foundation’s first Uncommon Leader Award; photo by Taylor Wilmore, Startland News
“Dr. Melson’s work reminds us of what is possible when equity is not just an aspiration but a practiced commitment,” she said. “Her model of care meets people with dignity, compassion, and excellence exactly where they are.”
Burns-Wallace explained that the Uncommon Leader Impact Award grew from simple guiding questions: “‘How do we elevate voices? How do we tell more stories of the impact that is happening in the community? How do we use the platform that is the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation to use our voice to amplify the work of leaders who are transforming lives without fanfare?’”
The goal, she noted, is to recognize individuals on the ground whose work is essential, yet often unseen. She described uncommon leaders as people who walk toward problems rather than past them to create change.
“It is the individuals who are in the community, who have that proximity, who are learning about the needs of our community, and then they step into those gaps to be the solutions where they are needed,” Burns-Wallace said.
Brandon Yangmi, program director, Rebel Song Academy, Art as Mentorship; Kimberly Weaver, program director, Community Health Council of Wyandotte; outreach clinic director for Swope Health Services; Dr. DeAngela Burns-Wallace, president and CEO of the Kauffman Foundation; Anna Munguia, director of community outreach, Big Brothers Big Sisters Kansas City; and Joel Barrett, senior business development consultant, Missouri SBDC at UMKC; pictured at the Uncommon Leader Award ceremony; photo by Taylor Wilmore, Startland News
Finalists reflecting the spirit of the award
The evening also honored four finalists whose stories carried the same sense of heart and purpose.
Joel Barrett, senior business development consultant, Missouri SBDC at UMKC
Barrett was recognized for supporting early-stage entrepreneurs and building inclusive pathways to business growth across Kansas City.
“My focus is on startups in pre-concept and early-stage businesses. I also lead Joel Speaks Out and the KC Rainbow Tour,” he said, describing his broad engagement across communities and sectors.
Anna Munguia, director of community outreach, Big Brothers Big Sisters Kansas City
Munguia’s work connects young people with mentors who can change the trajectory of their lives.
“I am the product of generational mentorship as my father had a mentor that completely changed his life, and I wanted to give back in hopes I could do the same for someone else,” she said.
Her belief in mentorship as a driver of belonging and opportunity resonated throughout the program.
Kimberly Weaver, program director, Community Health Council of Wyandotte
Weaver was honored for advancing community-guided solutions that address food access, health disparities, and civic engagement. Her projects elevate resident expertise and local leadership at every stage.
“I believe lasting change starts when communities are trusted to lead their own solutions,” she said.
Brandon Yangmi, program director, Rebel Song Academy, Art as Mentorship
Yangmi’s work uses music to support youth facing trauma, anxiety, and instability.
“Having struggled with mental health and anxiety throughout high school, I experienced firsthand the power of music as a lifeline,” he said.
His programs help students build confidence, creative skills, and new paths forward.
Finalist Anna Munguia, Big Brothers Big Sisters Kansas City, shares a laugh with Dr. Rachel Melson, Swope Health Services, at the Uncommon Leader ceremony; photo by Taylor Wilmore, Startland News
A shared commitment to impact
The celebration brought together leaders whose daily work reaches into neighborhoods, shelters, classrooms, clinics, studios, and small businesses. It was a reminder that meaningful change often begins quietly, in moments of compassion and connection, speakers told the crowd.
KMBC’s Lara Moritz described the nominees as community helpers who keep Kansas City moving forward.
“They are individuals that are always helping, helping in their neighborhoods, helping in their communities, and are people who push for equity, innovation, and for economic mobility in bold and very meaningful ways,” she said.
Burns-Wallace closed the night by capturing the purpose and promise of the award’s first year.
“This is more than an award,” she said. “It is a movement to redefine leadership, to celebrate humility and impact and to build a region where everyone can rise.”
