Minority-Led Stories
Brothers bringing Jerusalem Cafe, Chick-In Waffle, sober bar mashup to Power & Light
The Kansas City Power & Light District is getting a new flagship venue that will combine two popular local restaurant brands and a new mocktail bar/coffee shop concept. Brothers and second-generation restaurateurs, Dennis and Adam Alazzeh, are taking a 6,300-square-foot space at 131 E. 14th St. and — after a major renovation — plan to…
UMKC pitch challenge awards $95K+ for ‘entrepreneur state of mind’ in and outside the classroom
Winning $15,000 in Friday’s pitch competition at UMKC’s Regnier Venture Creation Challenge felt like the culmination of years of hard work and development, said Iyshia Sims. “Oh my gosh, I’m just so proud of myself,” said Sims, founder of ‘Amir’acle Body Butters and More. “I felt really good after the pitch, I have pitched a…
Family’s Japanese-inspired fabric gift wrap hits a home run with new fans (and an iconic American baseball team)
At the intersection of heritage and innovation, a Kansas City family business is pitching a new way to gift, through vibrant fabric package wraps that carry both meaning and intention — even catching the attention of an unexpected collaborator: Major League Baseball. Keiko Furoshiki — a Kansas City brand crafted at the creative fingertips of Japanese-American…
Community honors ‘relentless storm’ of Chicano culture (starting with its unsung women)
An emotional celebration of Chicana women leaders, artists, and advocates earlier this month centered on honoring resilience and reclaiming identity — something Deanna Muñoz once felt pressured to hide. “I used to shrink myself,” said Muñoz, founder of the Chicano Center for the Arts and the first-ever ¡Viva La Chicana! Awards. “To fit in, to…
This (still) ain’t luck: How a decade of grit proved these urban heroes are ‘more than just clothes’
MADE MOBB’s ‘collaboration is community’ mindset takes the stage as streetwear brand named an Urban Hero Earning the title “Urban Hero” allows the owners of MADE MOBB an opportunity to publicly give themselves flowers, they said, sharing a twist on the slogan from one of their most popular tees. MADE MOBB — a Crossroads-based streetwear…
