News Stories

Paradise EDU at Paradise Garden Club

Just another day in Paradise (EDU): Urban nursery turns soil to nurture STEAM students

When learners dig into the Paradise Garden Club STEAM program, they unearth non-traditional learning opportunities in a classroom cased in chlorophyll.  “It starts on a very base level — using your hands to work with raw soil,” said Jessica Teliczan, owner and operator of Crossroads-planted Paradise Garden Club, teasing the newly launched effort — formally branded…

Jason Taylor, Matchless Cabinet

Tech meets Amish craftsmanship for a ‘matchless’ DIY home experience dealt by this KC engineer

From Kansas City-coded Stackify to his dream job at Microsoft, working in tech is a labor of love for Jason Taylor. But it couldn’t keep him from hanging a side hustle.  “I’ve always been a do-it-yourself project type of person,” Taylor said, noting numerous remodeling projects he and his wife, Lindsay, have taken on over…

LeAna Flores, H&R Block

It’s a ‘movement, not just a moment’; H&R Block audits impact of Black excellence, businesses

Reading is among the best way to learn about Black history, said Willa Robinson, the founder and owner of Willa’s Books & Vinyl. “I’m grateful to be able to educate people about what’s going on in the Black community through books. There’s so much history on what we have experienced, what we have accomplished,” said…

New Reconciliation Services rendering; image courtesy of Reveal Strength campaign

Final capital push expected to bring $13M rebuild to Troost, replacing building held together by ‘duct tape, plaster, and prayer’ 

Decades of dreaming are coming to an end, said Father Justin Mathews, announcing the final phase of a $13 million capital campaign that’s expected to realize a long-held plan to magnify the impact of Reconciliation Services.  “We’ve been in the building since 1987 — and its been held together with duct tape, plaster, and prayer,” Mathews,…

Nick Bianco and Jay Norris, KC Custom Hardwoods

Trees might fall, but this duo’s salvaged, custom hardwood pieces are crafted to stand the test of time

Jay Norris and Nick Bianco witnessed an unexpected sight when dropping off debris from the remodel of their KCK warehouse — a discovery that would add new rings of life to their budding custom hardwoods business. “We see a bulldozer pushing trees into the dump, and we were like, ‘What the heck is going on over…