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Goodwill for Ukrainian refugees is abundant in KC, but what about other refugees?
“Where were these people when we needed help for others?” Refugee advocates urge donors to also show compassion for non-European refugees.
Here are five free ways to explore Kansas City over winter break
The Plaza lights twinkled on for the 92nd time this year, marking the start of the holiday season in Kansas City. But fun in the cold season doesn’t have to end when the lights go dark on Jan. 9. Winter is a great time for…
KCMO councilmember provides free transportation to City Hall Thursday for opponents to proposed Northland redistricting
Northland residents upset about the proposed redistricting map have been offered a free ride to a meeting of the Kansas City Council on Thursday. Kevin O’Neill, a council member for the 1st District, announced he would provide a bus to pick up people at the…
‘No replacement for live performing arts’: Kansas City arts nonprofits look ahead despite pandemic challenges
The pandemic was especially hard on Kansas City’s creative community, which operates on lean resources even in the best of times. When performances were canceled and exhibits shut down, many artists turned to arts nonprofits for guidance and even survival. Meanwhile, those nonprofits worried about…
The art of adaptation: How COVID-19 impacted Kansas City nonprofits
Editor’s note: The Beacon is a member of Nonprofit Connect, one organization mentioned in this story. Literacy KC has always relied on a personalized approach — adult students and tutors working face-to-face to build skills in reading, math and writing. The pandemic, with its shutdown…
Kansas City is redrawing its City Council districts. Here’s what that means for you.
For Kansas City, Missouri, the deadline to redraw City Council districts is fast approaching. Officials have until Dec. 31 to establish new districts, according to the city charter.
A tale of two turnouts: Johnson County sees high turnout, but Wyandotte County still struggles
Across Johnson and Wyandotte counties, more than 127,000 voters cast ballots Nov. 2 in local races ranging from mayoral seats to city councils to school boards.
Formerly incarcerated people can still vote in Missouri. This KC group shows them how.
Recently, the Kansas City Council passed a resolution recognizing the work of MORE2 to engage and register people in Kansas City with misdemeanor or felony convictions. Kansas City is the first municipality in Missouri to pass such a resolution.
Refugees are coming to Kansas City. Here’s how to help.
For years, Kansas City has been a destination for refugees and new immigrants, largely because of the work of three resettlement agencies: Jewish Vocational Service, Della Lamb Community Services and Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas. As the region prepares to receive significant numbers of refugees…
Refugee resettlement agencies ask for landlord referrals as they prepare for new arrivals
In the past, resettlement agencies usually had two or three weeks to get a family set up. But with many of the emergency evacuations from Afghanistan over the past month, this process has been shortened to just 48 to 72 hours. “It’s going to be…
These neighborhoods haven’t given input on Kansas City’s future — that’s a problem
Engagement from residents is a crucial part of the comprehensive plan — but because the pandemic prevented in-person community outreach last year, the department is seeing disparities in the residents participating in the process.
Kansas City is updating its comprehensive plan — here’s what that means for you
Putting together the comprehensive plan is a multi-year process that began in 2019. The planning department is currently in the engagement process, soliciting input from residents. The final step — city council adopting the finished plan — is set to take place in mid-2022.
When COVID shut down Kansas City, libraries sprang to action
In the months that all 10 locations were closed, staff members turned to digital initiatives like expanding Wi-Fi access to parking lots outside branch locations, increasing the library system’s capacity to loan out computers and Wi-Fi hotspots for free and starting a tech access support…
How Kansas City residents are supporting Asian-owned businesses and ‘Stop Asian Hate’
The vigil outside Vietnamese coffee shop Cafe Cà Phê was in response to the recent shooting in Atlanta, where a gunman targeted Asian-owned businesses and killed eight people, including six Asian women.
At Kansas City budget hearing, residents call for increased funding for housing services and unhoused residents
A majority of comments focused on increased funding for housing services, with specific demands to fund the Office of Tenant Advocate, a city agency borne out of the Tenant Bill of Rights that was passed by the City Council in December 2019.
How a local coalition is trying to improve internet access in Kansas City
The coalition operates with the vision that every resident in the Kansas City area should have access to an internet connection, devices to use the internet and the digital skills to take advantage of all the internet has to offer.
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