Minority-Led Stories

Taking note: After sharing 20,000+ letters, the writing is clear; everyone’s carrying a burden   

Kasim Hardaway developed Take What You Need, a public, interactive installation of 40 different letters that he wrote — labeled with phrases like “to the one who doubts their own worth” or “to the one who needs to let go” — inviting passersby to choose the letter that speaks best to them at that moment in their lives.

Your new favorite pizza-and-cocktail spot has two house rules: Be social; don’t kill the vibe

Serial entrepreneur Brian Roberts is back in the building where he began his brick-and-mortar journey, opening an aperitivo and cocktail bar — Social House — just a few yards away from the original Black Pantry retail space in Midtown’s Tower East neighborhood.

Mi Ranchito founder opens upscale cantina; it’s the first to bear his name, an American Dream come true

Rulber De La Torre spent months remodeling the former Another Broken Egg Cafe space in Prairie Village for an upscale version of his Mi Ranchito Cocina & Cantina Mexicana with a smaller menu and more grilled items.

Vine Street Brewing co-owner taps fresh opportunities with new craft beer industry role

Vine Street Brewing is firmly rooted in Kansas City’s historic jazz district, but the woman behind this vibrant cultural hub also feels at home taking the popular brewery along with her to the national stage. Growing the brand, she said, requires her to hop beyond the counter.

Flare Tha Rebel shares a love letter to A City Called Killah: Why KC deserves more than its flyover label

When it came time for Flare Tha Rebel to write his latest album, the project became something of a love letter to Kansas City, the hip-hop artist said, noting too often his homebase is mistakenly viewed as a flyover region instead of the destination.