Kansas City boasts a diversified economy and strongly locally rooted business leadership as well as a strong influence of local philanthropy. A resilient African-American community has a deep community development tradition and the region hosts a comprehensive and effective metropolitan planning organization (MPO) that integrates many social and economic issues along with typical transportation planning. There are also elements of municipal annexation and consolidation in this metro although the story is a bit complex as the region is split over two states.
Thank you to everyone in Kansas City who generously shared their time, ideas and insights with us:
Kansas City
Damion Daniel, Community Organizer
Communities Creating Opportunity
Lara Granich, Director
St. Louis Area Jobs with Justice
Garry Kemp, Executive Vice President
Greater Kansas City Building & Construction Trades Council
Frank Lenk, Director of Research Services
Mid-America Regional Council
Pete Levi, President
Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce
Mary Lim-Lampe, Organizer
Metro Organization for Racial and Economic Equity (MORE2)
Bob Litan, Vice President for Research and Policy
Kauffman Foundation
Laura Loyacono, Regional Director
Project Lead the Way, Metropolitan Community College of Kansas City
Pat McDonald, Director of Community Investment
Greater Kansas City Community Foundation
Clyde McQueen, President and CEO
Full Employment Council
Gary Sage, Executive Director
Economic and Resource Development, Business and Technology Campus, Metropolitan Community College of Kansas City
Jewel Scott, Executive Director
Civic Council of Greater Kansas City
Bridgette Williams, President
Greater Kansas City AFL-CIO
Just Growth 