Urban Connections

Dr. Wagner teaches Urban Planning and Design at UMKC. He is the faculty founder of the UMKC Center for Neighborhoods - a research and outreach unit dedicated to building the capacity of neighborhood leaders and advocates in Western Missouri. He is a member of the advisory board of the international Journal of Urban Design.  Jacob A. Wagner, Ph.D., has been recognized for his work with UNESCO Cities of Music and the UNESCO Creative Cities Network of the United Nations by both local and international bodies. Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas and the City Council recognized Wagner and his colleague, Anita J. Dixon, in 2020 with a proclamation citing the city’s appreciation for their work “to raise awareness, present programs and create economic strategies that support Kansas City’s musicians and membership in the UNESCO Creative Cities Network.” Wagner has also been nominated for a “Public Service Award for a Leading Music Cities Professional” by the Music Cities Awards, a global competition designed to acknowledge and reward the most outstanding applications of music for economic, social and cultural development. The awards seek to promote best practices for music cities and to demonstrate the value of music to cities around the world. ​ Until recently, Kansas City was the only UNESCO City of Music in the United States. New Orleans has recently been recognized as a UNESCO City of Music. Other U.S. cities in the UNESCO Creative City Network include Austin (Media Arts), Detroit (Design), Iowa City (Literature), Paducah, Kentucky (Crafts and Folk Art), Tucson (Gastronomy), San Antonio (Gastronomy), Santa Fe (Crafts and Folk Art) and Seattle (Literature). Each UNESCO Creative City Network member city must maintain active participation in the network through annual meetings, cooperative projects with other cities and by providing leadership on the use of creativity as a driver of sustainable urban development. Correction: host mentions iconic Kansas City music venue Hootie's Roost, located on 27th and Indiana. Hootie's Roost was actually located at the corner of 31st and Indiana, in Kansas City, MO. The structure is no longer there. Kansas City initiative UNESCO Cities of Music: Voyage of the Drum Introduction featuring Bird Ellington Fleming Voyage of the Drum Fête de la Musique The Kansas City Public Library: The Past, Present, and Future of Cultural Diplomacy and UNESCO, Former ambassador to UNESCO David Killion talks to Jacob Wagner, associate professor of Urban Planning + Design at UMKC International Day of Jazz, April 30th, 2026 celebrations in Kansas City: Jazz Day Relay Count Basie Band in the Music Hall host/producer/engineer:  Donna Morrow Wolfe

Wasim Kahn, Chief Executive Officer of Baraza African Cultures Center is a Certified Diversity Professional and is Yan-Koloba Certified and has vast experience working with immigrants, refugees & indigenous peoples. He has spent 30 years working cross-culturally and in international business. Andrea Smith Khan, Chief Education Officer of Baraza African Cultures Center is a Certified Diversity Professional, Certified Diversity Trainer, Certified Leadership & Team Building Trainer, Certified Safe Space Trainer, is Yan-Koloba Certified and has extensive experience working with immigrants, refugees & indigenous peoples. She has over 30 years educational experience teaching on three continents and with people of all ages. Baraza African Cultures Center's mission is to provide leadership through the context of African cultures to create, preserve and promote a deeper understanding of one's own culture and a broader appreciation of the various world cultures. Baraza African Cultures Center's  vision is to  provide cultural leadership through promoting knowledge and appreciation of the richness of humankind; forging a positive future of valuing the beauty and strength of difference while recognizing our commonalities.     BARAZA African Cultures Center Global Neighbors and Flavors KC Public Library: Refugee & Immigrant Services & Empowerment (RISE) Kansas City Ethnic Enrichment Commission:  Ethnic Enrichment Festival,  Diplomatic Ball,  Northland Ethnic Festival, Outreach Events, World Refugee Day Rock Island Bridge UNESCO Cities of Music: Kansas City Host/producer/engineer:   Donna Morrow Wolfe

Lewis W. Diuguid is a multimedia consultant, lecturer, freelance writer and editor, certified diversity facilitator. He is a former columnist, editorial board member, op-ed page editor, and letters editor at The Kansas City Star, as well as a published author. He is a St. Louis native and worked more than 39 years as a journalist with The Kansas City Star, rising to vice president of community resources responsible for the newspaper’s philanthropic and outreach efforts in the community. He wrote an award-winning column for The Kansas City Star for 30 years and served on the editorial board from 1999 to 2016. He is the recipient of many awards, including the 2000 Missouri Honor Medal for Distinguished Service in Journalism from the University of Missouri-Columbia School of Journalism and the 2017 Louis M. Lyons Award for Conscience and Integrity in Journalism from Harvard University. Diuguid is a member of the National Association Black Journalists, Kansas City Association of  Black Journalists (president 1986, secretary 1987, vice president 1993, treasurer since 1994), National Society Newspaper Columnists, Monroe Trotter Group of Black Voices in Commentary. He serves as chair of the Political Action Committee for the National Association for Multicultural Education (NAME), which honored him with the Carter G. Woodson Service Award in 2014. Books by Lewis W. Diuguid: • Exploring Cuba: Erasing Fears through Multicultural Education [with Bette Tate-Beaver] • Our Fathers: Making Black Men • Discovering the Real America: Toward a More Perfect Union • A Teacher’s Cry: Expose the Truth about Education Today Lewis’ reading list:      John Perkins: Confessions of an Economic Hitman Music for this  episode, Lo Tuyo Es Mental, is by Cuban artists Celia Cruz and Johnny Pacheco . Celia Caridad Cruz Alfonso[a] (21 October 1925 – 16 July 2003), known as Celia Cruz, was a Cuban singer and one of the most popular Latin artists of the 20th century. Cruz rose to fame in Cuba during the 1950s as a singer of guarachas, earning the nickname La Guarachera de Cuba. In the following decades, she became known internationally as the "Queen of Salsa" due to her contributions to Latin music. She had sold over 30 million records, making her one of the best selling Latin music artists.   Host/producer/engineer:  Donna Morrow Wolfe  

Dr. Paris Woods is an education leader, social entrepreneur, and advocate for financial empowerment, dedicated to driving positive change in education and economic mobility. With over two decades of experience in educational settings, Dr. Woods has established a track record of innovation, leadership, and impact. Dr. Woods’s commitment to education is reflected in her roles as a senior leader across education nonprofits. Her leadership has supported the development and leadership of diverse high-performing teams, resulting in increased access to high-wage, high-growth career pathways and postsecondary credentials. With a strong emphasis on equitable outcomes, Dr. Woods has built cohesive teams dedicated to fostering positive change. As the Co-Founder and Executive Director of College Beyond, Dr. Woods addressed the critical need for college success among low-income youth. Her innovative strategies led to unprecedented increases in first-year college retention rates. She was recognized for exceptional leadership by The Gambit’s 40 Under 40, Millennial Award in Education, and Tulane University Hometown Hero. Paris Woods, PhD, is a lifelong educator and leading voice in economic mobility and financial empowerment. Her book, The Student’s Guide to Financial Freedom: A Real-World Money Guide to Help Young People Build Wealth, Avoid Traps, and Plan for Freedom fills a critical gap in financial education. It is a peer-to-peer guide that helps high school and college students—especially first-generation, low-income, and BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) youth—plan early for lifelong financial independence. Drawing from her own journey as a first-generation Harvard graduate who grew up working class, Dr. Woods combines personal storytelling with clear and practical advice on credit, saving, investing, and education costs. Dr. Woods is also the author of The Black Girl’s Guide to Financial Freedom, which has empowered thousands and gained widespread recognition. Dr. Woods has created a movement that reshapes financial narratives. Dr. Woods currently serves at Chief Program Officer for StriveTogether, a national movement whose purpose is helping every child succeed in school and in life from cradle to career, regardless of race, ethnicity, zip code or circumstance. As CPO, she leads impact acceleration and scale to create better, faster and more equitable outcomes for youth across the StriveTogether Cradle to Career Network and beyond. Outside her professional accomplishments, Dr. Woods remains deeply engaged in her community. She serves on the boards of Believe STL Academy, 4.0 Schools, and College Beyond, further amplifying her commitment to advancing educational equity. She is also an adjunct faculty member of educational leadership at Tulane University. Dr. Woods earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Harvard University, and her doctorate in education from The University of Texas at Austin.   Host/producer/engineer:  Donna Morrow Wolfe

[caption id="attachment_181540" align="alignleft" width="199"] Dr. Angela Simms[/caption] Angela Simms is Assistant Professor of Sociology and Urban Studies at Barnard College-Columbia University. She examines the political economy of United States metropolitan areas through the lens of suburban Black middle-class jurisdictions’ capacity to garner sufficient tax revenue for maintaining high-quality public goods and services. Prior to academia, Angela served in the federal government for seven years as a Presidential Management Fellow and legislative analyst at the Office of Management and Budget during the George W. Bush and Barack Obama Administrations. She holds a PhD in sociology from the University of Pennsylvania, a master’s degree in public policy from the University of Texas-Austin, and a bachelor’s degree in government from William and Mary. Angela is from Woodbridge, Virginia, a suburb of Washington, D.C. She lives in New York City (Harlem) and is a member of Renaissance Church, where she serves on the prayer ministry. She enjoys spending time with family and friends, running and lifting weights, hiking, and museum exhibits and the performing arts. Prince George’s County, Maryland, is a suburban jurisdiction in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area and is home to the highest concentration of Black middle-class residents in the United States. As such, it is well positioned to overcome White domination and anti-Black racism and their social and economic consequences. Yet Prince George’s does not raise tax revenue sufficient to provide consistent high-quality public goods and services. In Fighting for a Foothold, sociologist Angela Simms examines the factors contributing to Prince George’s financial troubles. Simms draws on two years of observations of Prince George’s County’s budget and policy development processes, interviews with nearly 60 Prince George’s leaders and residents, and budget and policy analysis for Prince George’s County and its two Whiter, wealthier neighbors, Montgomery County, Maryland, and Fairfax County, Virginia. She argues legacy and ongoing government policies and business practices —such as federal mortgage insurance policy prior to 1968, local government reliance on property taxes, and private investment patterns—have resulted in disparities in wealth accumulation between Black and White Americans, not only for individuals and families but local jurisdictions as well. Prince George’s County has a lower cost of living than its Whiter, wealthier neighbors. As the most affordable county bordering D.C., it attracts a disproportionate share of the region’s core middle-class, lower middle-class, working class, and low-income residents, resulting in greater budget pressure. Prince George’s uses the same strategies as majority-White jurisdictions to increase revenue, such as taxing at similar rates and vying for development opportunities but does not attain the same financial returns. Ultimately, Simms contends Prince George’s endures “relative regional burden” and that the county effectively subsidizes Whiter counties’ wealth accumulation. She offers policy recommendations for removing the constraints Prince George’s County and other majority-Black jurisdictions navigate, including increased federal and state taxes on wealthy Americans and corporations, which will enhance the capacity for government to distribute and redistribute resources equitably; increased state-level funding of public goods and services, which would decrease local jurisdictions’ reliance on locally-generated tax revenue; and the creation of equity funds to remediate harms inflicted upon Black Americans. Fighting for a Foothold is an in-depth analysis of the fiscal challenges experienced by Prince George’s County and by the suburban Black middle-class and majority-Black jurisdictions, more broadly. The book reveals how race, class, and local jurisdiction boundaries in metropolitan areas interact to create different material living conditions for Americans.   Host/producer/engineer:  Donna Morrow Wolfe  

Earl Martin Phalen is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Great Jobs KC, one of the nation’s most impactful programs in supporting young adults and adults who live in low-income communities on the pathway to good careers. Great Jobs KC has two core programs, one which awards 11th graders college scholarships and supports them to and through college. The KC Scholars Program awards over one thousand (1,000) $50,000 college scholarships each year. The program's scholars are on track for 75% graduation rates — 3 times the national average for low-income and first-generation students. Great Jobs KC, with a $50 million grant from the Kauffman Foundation, also supports adults who want to secure a credential in a high-demand career. Over the next 10 years, Great Jobs KC is going to help 50,000 adults secure careers that allow them to care for themselves and their loved ones. Under his leadership, a Great Jobs KC (GJKC) program has been established to assist Kansas City organizations and their workforce achieve higher levels of performance and income. Earl Martin Phalen is also the Founder and CEO of K-12 public-school network, the George and Veronica Phalen Leadership Academies (PLA) named in honor of his parents. Under Earl’s leadership, Phalen Leadership Academies have grown from one school to a national network of 23 schools serving nearly 10,000 Scholars. Helping the most vulnerable communities achieve exceptional educational outcomes is a passion Earl discovered in himself while studying at Harvard. PLA’s oldest school is 10 years old, and scholars at that school have outperformed the state average on both the English Learning Arts (ELA) and math portions of state tests consistently for years. As an entrepreneur, Phalen is a nationally recognized leader in education with a track record of successful leadership and innovation. Phalen brings over two decades of executive experience to Great Jobs KC. Phalen began his career in education while a law student at Harvard, where he founded the organization Building Educated Leaders for Life (BELL), which operates after-school and summer education programs in several major U.S. cities. Under his leadership, the organization grew from a local community service project to a national non-profit educating 15,000 children annually. He then founded Summer Advantage USA, a summer reading program that has served 20,000 children in six states since its inception in 2009. As a result of the impact of Summer Advantage, Phalen and his team were encouraged to expand their 25-day summer program model to a year-round school model. In 1997, President Clinton awarded Phalen the President’s Service Award for his impact on the lives of children. Other honors and awards include: The Silver Anniversary Award from NCAA; Black Law Student Association Community Service Chair; Co-founder of the Charles Ogletree Scholarship Fund; Board Member of the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation; Boston Uncornered Advisory Board Member; and Advisor for Coaching for Change. Phalen is also a Mind Trust and Ashoka Fellow. He was awarded the Black Entertainment Television (BET) National Hero Award and is a three-time recipient of Fast Company’s Social Capitalist Award. Phalen holds a Bachelor of Arts in political science from Yale University and a law degree from Harvard. Books by Earl Martin Phalen: Giving My All:  An Autobiography From Vision to Impact: The Secrets to Building a Successful Social Enterprise Aim High, Dream Big: The Story of Earl Martin Phalen   Host/producer/engineer:  Donna Morrow Wolfe    

Marion Orr, PhD., is the inaugural Frederick Lippitt Professor of Public Policy and Professor of Political Science and Urban Studies at Brown University. He previously was a member of the political science faculty at Duke University. Professor Orr earned his B.A. degree in political science from Savannah State College, M.A. in political science from Atlanta University (now Clark-Atlanta University), and a Ph.D. in Government and Politics from the University of Maryland, College Park. Professor Orr's expertise is in the area of American politics. He specializes in urban politics, race and ethnic politics, and African-American politics. He is the author and editor of eight books. His book, House of Diggs: The Rise and Fall of America's Most Consequential Black Congressman, Charles C. Diggs, Jr. (University of North Carolina Press, 2025), is the first biography of Michigan's first Black member of the U.S. House of Representatives. At the height of the civil rights movement, Charles C. Diggs Jr. (1922–1998) was the consummate power broker. In a political career spanning 1951 to 1980, Diggs, Michigan's first Black member of Congress, was the only federal official to attend the trial of Emmett Till's killers, worked behind the scenes with Martin Luther King Jr., and founded the Congressional Black Caucus. He was also the chief architect of legislation that restored home rule to Washington, DC, and almost single-handedly ignited the American anti-apartheid movement in the 1960s. Drawing on extensive archival research, including Diggs's rarely seen personal papers, FBI documents, and original interviews with family members and political associates, political scientist Marion Orr reveals that Diggs practiced a politics of strategic moderation. Orr argues that this quiet approach was more effective than the militant race politics practiced by Adam Clayton Powell and more appealing than the conservative Chicago-style approach of William Dawson—two of Diggs's better-known Black contemporaries. Professor Orr argues that Congressman Charles C. Diggs Jr. is one of the most consequential Black federal legislators in US history.  Says Dr. Orr, "Congressman Diggs was a legislative lion whose unfortunate downfall punctuated his distinguished career and pushed him and his historic accomplishments out of sight. House of Diggs restores him to his much-deserved place in the history of American politics."   Host/producer/engineer:  Donna Morrow Wolfe  

Journalist and author Lewis W. Diuguid poses a chilling question: Does the treatment of immigrants in the United States echo the treatment of enslaved people in this country’s early history? Both, he argues, have lived under the constant fear of being seized and irreparably harmed. Both have been compelled to carry papers and prove their right to exist wherever they stand. And in this historical continuum, Diuguid draws a provocative parallel—ICE functions much like the slave patrols that eventually evolved into modern policing.  Lewis observes, "we are caught in the riptides of history, threatened by floodwaters of exclusion and widening economic inequality." Lewis Diuguid brings decades of experience and moral clarity to this conversation. A St. Louis native, he spent more than 39 years at The Kansas City Star, where he rose from reporter to vice president of community resources, overseeing the paper’s philanthropic and community outreach efforts. He wrote an award-winning column for 30 years, served on the editorial board for nearly two decades, and held roles including op-ed page editor and letters editor. Today, he is a multimedia consultant, lecturer, freelance writer and editor, and certified diversity facilitator. His work has earned some of journalism’s highest honors, including the Missouri Honor Medal for Distinguished Service in Journalism and Harvard University’s Louis M. Lyons Award for Conscience and Integrity in Journalism. In this episode, Diuguid challenges us to confront history—not as something safely behind us, but as a force still shaping who is protected, who is vulnerable, and who belongs. Lewis W. Diuguid is a multimedia consultant, lecturer, freelance writer and editor, certified diversity facilitator. He is a former columnist, editorial board member, op-ed page editor, and letters editor at The Kansas City Star, as well as a published author. He is a St. Louis native and worked more than 39 years as a journalist with The Kansas City Star, rising to vice president of community resources responsible for the newspaper’s philanthropic and outreach efforts in the community. He wrote an award-winning column for The Kansas City Star for 30 years and served on the editorial board from 1999 to 2016. He is the recipient of many awards, including the 2000 Missouri Honor Medal for Distinguished Service in Journalism from the University of Missouri-Columbia School of Journalism and the 2017 Louis M. Lyons Award for Conscience and Integrity in Journalism from Harvard University. Diuguid is a member of the National Association Black Journalists, Kansas City Association of  Black Journalists (president 1986, secretary 1987, vice president 1993, treasurer since 1994), National Society Newspaper Columnists, Monroe Trotter Group of Black Voices in Commentary. He serves as chair of the Political Action Committee for the National Association for Multicultural Education (NAME), which honored him with the Carter G. Woodson Service Award in 2014. Books by Lewis W. Diuguid: • Exploring Cuba: Erasing Fears through Multicultural Education [with Bette Tate-Beaver] • Our Fathers: Making Black Men • Discovering the Real America: Toward a More Perfect Union • A Teacher’s Cry: Expose the Truth about Education Today Lewis’ current reading list: Robert D. Putnam: The Upswing: How America Came Together a Century Ago and How We Can Do It Again   Host/producer/engineer:   Donna Morrow Wolfe

Journalist and author Lewis W. Diuguid makes a bold argument: the same systemic racism that once united white colonists against British rule may again serve as a catalyst — not through solidarity, but through shared suffering. In this episode, we explore how deep-rooted racial biases helped pave the way for Donald Trump’s second term, including America’s resistance to a Black woman ascending to the presidency. But more urgently, we ask: what happens when white Americans begin to feel the sting of the very injustices long endured by black and brown communities? Drawing inspiration from the 1619 Project and the tragic legacy of Dr. Charles Drew — denied proper care in a segregated system he helped improve — Diuguid proposes a shocking reversal: White Americans are now facing a form of racialized treatment once reserved for the marginalized. From overpriced, low-quality healthcare to food deserts and job scarcity, we explore whether this erosion of privilege might finally awaken a broader movement for change. Could recognizing this shared oppression be the unlikely way out of the Trump-era malaise? Lewis W. Diuguid is a multimedia consultant, lecturer, freelance writer and editor, certified diversity facilitator. He is a former columnist, editorial board member, op-ed page editor, and letters editor at The Kansas City Star, as well as a published author. He is a St. Louis native and worked more than 39 years as a journalist with The Kansas City Star, rising to vice president of community resources responsible for the newspaper’s philanthropic and outreach efforts in the community. He wrote an award-winning column for The Kansas City Star for 30 years and served on the editorial board from 1999 to 2016. He is the recipient of many awards, including the 2000 Missouri Honor Medal for Distinguished Service in Journalism from the University of Missouri-Columbia School of Journalism and the 2017 Louis M. Lyons Award for Conscience and Integrity in Journalism from Harvard University. Diuguid is a member of the National Association Black Journalists, Kansas City Association of  Black Journalists (president 1986, secretary 1987, vice president 1993, treasurer since 1994), National Society Newspaper Columnists, Monroe Trotter Group of Black Voices in Commentary. He serves as chair of the Political Action Committee for the National Association for Multicultural Education (NAME), which honored him with the Carter G. Woodson Service Award in 2014. Books by Lewis W. Diuguid: • Exploring Cuba: Erasing Fears through Multicultural Education [with Bette Tate-Beaver] • Our Fathers: Making Black Men • Discovering the Real America: Toward a More Perfect Union • A Teacher’s Cry: Expose the Truth about Education Today Lewis' current reading list: Jim Hightower   Thieves in High Places: They've Stolen Our Country and It's Time to Take It Back Malcolm Gladwell   Talking to Strangers: What We Should Know About People We Don't Know Derrick A. Bell   Faces at the Bottom of the Well:  The Permanence of Racism   Host/producer/engineer:  Donna Morrow Wolfe

Suzanne Johnson was born of Korean parents, somewhere in the Korean countryside, at sometime in 1966. Suzanne does not know her true birthdate. She explains why that is the case in this conversation. Suzanne is a "first waver" Korean adoptee, which means her adoption is directly tied to the aftermath of World War II. It is specifically tied to the Korean War since she was adopted in 1969. South Korea is the first country to allow mass adoption to other countries. At that time no laws existed to oversee the adoption process or to protect the children who were adopted. These adoptions were advocated by the Korean government and by foreign adoption agencies. American citizens Harry and Bertha Holt who adopted eight South Koreans in 1955,  facilitated Suzanne's 1969 adoption and later established Holt International Children’s Services adoption agency. Holt continues to facilitate international adoptions. Suzanne sees current political parallels with her birth country, Korea, and the United States. The current administrations threats and practices of mass deportation, the drive to end birthright citizenship and the failure of US legislation to protect adoptees retroactively, refusing to provide citizenship prior to 2001, in Suzanne's perspective, makes the South Korean diaspora relevant and compelling for all adoptees and immigrants, regardless or origin or ethnicity. Deported Adoptee's Death Heightens Calls for Citizenship Bill Phillip Clay, an adoptee from South Korea to the United States who was deported in 2012, was found dead on May 21. Adoptee deported from the US over lack of citizenship criticizes South Korea and agency Adam Crapser, an adoptee who was deported to South Korea in 2016 because his American parents never secured his citizenship Host/producer/engineer:  Donna Morrow Wolfe

Whitney Plantation is a non-profit museum dedicated to the history of slavery, situated on a historical sugar, indigo and rice plantation which operated from 1752-1975. The museum preserves over a […] The post American History preserved – slavery at the Whitney Plantation in Wallace, Louisiana appeared first on KKFI.

Wasim Kahn, CEO of Baraza African Cultures Center is a Certified Diversity Professional and is Yan-Koloba Certified and has vast experience working with immigrants, refugees & indigenous peoples. He has spent 30 years working cross-culturally and in international business. Andrea Smith, Chief Education Officer of Baraza African Cultures Center is a Certified Diversity Professional, Certified Diversity Trainer, Certified Leadership & Team Building Trainer, Certified Safe Space Trainer, is Yan-Koloba Certified and has extensive experience working with immigrants, refugees & indigenous peoples. She has over 30 years educational experience teaching on three continents and with people of all ages. Baraza African Cultures Center's mission is to provide leadership through the context of African cultures to create, preserve and promote a deeper understanding of one's own culture and a broader appreciation of the various world cultures. Baraza African Cultures Center's  vision is to  provide cultural leadership through promoting knowledge and appreciation of the richness of humankind; forging a positive future of valuing the beauty and strength of difference while recognizing our commonalities. BARAZAACC.org Host/producer/engineer:   Donna Morrow Wolfe

Adenike AmenRa is also known as Kandaki-Ma Beqsu Nuta AmenRa-Mosley. Kandaki equals  Queen-Mother, Minister, Priestess, Teacher, Artist, Environmentalist, Maker, Recycler, Wife. Adenike AmenRa graduated from the University of Kansas, (M.Ed, […] The post Adenike Amen Ra of Amen Ankh Urban Farms on growing food, NOT lawns appeared first on KKFI.

Lewis W. Diuguid is a multimedia consultant, lecturer, freelance writer and editor, certified diversity facilitator. He is a former columnist, editorial board member, op-ed page editor, and letters editor at […] The post Author, journalist Lewis W. Diuguid on truth, lies and America appeared first on KKFI.

Tracie Canada, Ph.D, is  socio-cultural anthropologist whose ethnographic research uses sport to theorize race, kinship and care, gender, and the performing body. Dr. Canada’s work focuses on the lived experiences […] The post Dr. Tracie Canada, ethnographer and anthropologist, on the intersection of race and sport: Black college athletes unpaid labor, power, profit and survival appeared first on KKFI.

Andrew LaMont Eanes was nominated twice by then President Barak Obama as Deputy Commissioner of the Social Security Administration (SSA). Eanes served at the SSA from July 2014 through December […] The post LaMont Eanes on leadership and transformation at the Social Security Administration appeared first on KKFI.

Over four decades ago, Laura moved to Kansas City to begin her career at a local Social Security Administration service center. In this episode, she shares firsthand reflections on her […] The post Inside the SSA – A Kansas City Story appeared first on KKFI.

Bird Ellington Fleming, is the Executive Director and founder of the Traditional Music Society. The Traditional Music Society (TMS) offers a dynamic global journey through music and dance from multiple […] The post Bird Fleming of Traditional Music Society on celebrating the journey of humankind appeared first on KKFI.

Lewis W. Diuguid is a multimedia consultant, lecturer, freelance writer and editor, certified diversity facilitator. He is a former columnist, editorial board member, op-ed page editor, and letters editor at […] The post Journalist Lewis W. Diuguid on working with the “Scarecrow” appeared first on KKFI.

On Tuesday, March 25th, the Kansas City Defender and the Kansas City Call hosted an urgent town hall titled Kansas City’s Crisis of Black Food, Land & Survival — And […] The post Carl A. Stafford, founder of My Region Wins! on food, land, conservation and survival appeared first on KKFI.

Marilyn McCleod, Anne Calvert and Harry Bognich discuss concerns and activities of Leagues of Women Voters. They are interviewed by Radio Active Magazine regular Spencer Graves. Marilyn is President of […] The post KC Metro Leagues of Women Voters appeared first on KKFI.

Joseph Jackson is host, producer and engineer of KKFI public affairs program, Cow Town Conversations, which airs every Thursday, 9 am to 10 am, www.kkfi.org, following Democracy Now. Joseph is […] The post Joseph Jackson, host of KKFI’s Cow Town Conversations on his bucket list trip down south -Super Bowl to Selma appeared first on KKFI.

Damron Russel Armstrong is the founder, CEO and Executive Artistic Director of The Black Repertory Theatre of Kansas City (BRTKC). The mission of BRTKC is to educate and inspire our […] The post Damron Armstrong, founder, artistic director of the Black Repertory Theater of KC on Mahalia: A Gospel Musical appeared first on KKFI.

Lewis W. Diuguid is a multimedia consultant, lecturer, freelance writer and editor, certified diversity facilitator. He is a former columnist, editorial board member, op-ed page editor, and letters editor at […] The post Journalist Lewis W. Diuguid on working with the “Scarecrow” appeared first on KKFI.

Dr. Wylin D. Wilson is Assistant Professor of Theological Ethics at Duke Divinity School, where she teaches within the Theology, Medicine and Culture Initiative. Her teaching and research are at […] The post Dr. Wylin D. Wilson on Womanist Bioethics: Social Justice, Spirituality and Black Women’s Health appeared first on KKFI.

Kansas City native Karen E. Griffin (KE) is a self-taught visual, teaching, and performing artist who creates vibrant abstract works that explore themes of identity and urban landscapes. She is […] The post Local artist Karen E. Griffin sewing seams to create stories, honor culture and celebrate ancestry appeared first on KKFI.

Dr. Terry Ann Scott is the CEO and Director of TAT Health Solutions, a nonprofit organization dedicated to chronic disease prevention and weight loss through innovative online programs. With a […] The post Dr. Terry Ann Scott on sustainable lifestyle changes that can significantly improve health outcomes appeared first on KKFI.

Racquel Rodriguez is a local entrepreneur, and owner of  El Café Cubano, a mobile Cuban Coffee Café that brings the flavors of Cuba to Kansas City. Racquel is deeply inspired […] The post Entrepreneur Racquel Rodriguez is joyfully celebrating Cuban cultural heritage and the art of coffee making appeared first on KKFI.

D. Rashaan Gilmore is the founder and CEO of BlaqOut, established in 2017 as a grassroots movement to organize and mobilize Kansas City’s Black LGBTQ+ community and develop a leadership […] The post Catching up with D. Rashaan Gilmore, founder, president and CEO of BlaqOut appeared first on KKFI.

Damron Russel Armstrong is the founder, CEO and Executive Artistic Director of The Black Repertory Theatre of Kansas City (BRTKC). The mission of BRTKC is to educate and inspire our […] The post The Black Repertory Theater of Kansas City’s founder, Damron Armstrong, talks Hip-Hop Cinderella appeared first on KKFI.

Lewis W. Diuguid is a multimedia consultant, lecturer, freelance writer and editor, certified diversity facilitator. He is a former columnist, editorial board member, op-ed page editor, and letters editor at […] The post Jounalist, author Lewis W. Diuguid observations: US election November 5, 2024 appeared first on KKFI.

Dr. Robin Bernstein tells the morally complicated story of murder, greed, race, and the true origins of prison for profit in her book Freeman’s Challenge: the Murder that Shook America’s […] The post Robin Bernstein, PhD, author, cultural historian and professor, on the entangled origins of “prisons for profit” and anti-Black racism in America and beyond appeared first on KKFI.

Lewis W. Diuguid is a multimedia consultant, lecturer, freelance writer and editor, certified diversity facilitator. He is a former columnist, editorial board member, op-ed page editor, and letters editor at […] The post Journalist, author Lewis W. Diuguid on changing times, new norms, and mixed-race relationships appeared first on KKFI.

Says Lewis Diuguid: “…the nation now is..so divided…with a huge disparity of wealth…similar to the first Gilded Age. We turned into a nation of  me vs. being a nation of […] The post Journalist, author Lewis W. Diuguid on our second “Gilded Age”, a nation of “me” appeared first on KKFI.

Mary Merola is a member of the Guns to Gardens task force of  Central Presbyterian Church. Guns to Gardens is a national movement based on the Biblical scripture Isiah 2:4, […] The post Mary Merola of the Guns to Gardens task force on the Safe Surrender of firearms appeared first on KKFI.

“Bird” Ellington Fleming, founder and Artistic Director of the Traditional Music Society,  and musicians Gerald Trimble, and Nick Amir Baker discuss the roots of Middle Eastern Music. This program was […] The post Sankofa: Traditional Music Society founder Bird Fleming, musicians Nick Amir Baker and Gerald Trimble on the roots of Middle Eastern Music appeared first on KKFI.

Says Lewis Diuguid, “Vice President Kamala Harris’ upcoming debate with former President Donald Trump” (scheduled for Tuesday, September 10, 2024) “leaves her no room for error as a Black woman.” Lewis […] The post Author, journalist Lewis W. Diuguid on the “Great Debate”, VP Kamala Harris vs former Pres Donald Trump, upcoming Sept 10th, 2024 appeared first on KKFI.

Larry Lester was co-founder of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City, Missouri, and served as its Research Director and Treasurer for five years. He developed the Museum’s business […] The post Larry Lester, sports scholar, historian and author on Major League Baseball’s embrace of the Negro Leagues appeared first on KKFI.

Lewis W. Diuguid is a multimedia consultant, lecturer, freelance writer and editor, certified diversity facilitator. He is a former columnist, editorial board member, op-ed page editor, and letters editor at […] The post Journalist, author Lewis W. Diuguid on trends in political advertising appeared first on KKFI.

Dr. Cynthia M. Sims is a leadership scholar. Dr. Sims has a Ph.D. in Organizational Leadership from University of Maryland-Eastern Shore, a MEd. in Human Development form Harvard University and […] The post Dr. Cynthia M. Sims, University of Georgia Associate Professor, on Black women, leadership and the importance of being authentic appeared first on KKFI.

Angela Bates is the organizer and founder of the Nicodemus Historical Society. She has achieved the vision of a community organization that would collect, preserve, and interpret the history of […] The post Angela Bates, Founder/Director, Nicodemus Historic Society, on the Black township founded in 1877 appeared first on KKFI.

Dr. Terry Ann Scott is the CEO and Director of TAT Health Solutions, a nonprofit organization dedicated to chronic disease prevention and weight loss through innovative online programs. With a […] The post Dr. Terry Ann Scott of TAT Health Solutions on sustainable lifestyle changes that can significantly improve health outcomes appeared first on KKFI.

Donald Trump, now former US President (#45)  was convicted of 34 felony counts in connection with a hush money scheme on May 30, and the presumptive Republican presidential nominee is […] The post Journalist/author Lewis W. Diuguid on Donald Trump’s 34 felony convictions related to a hush money scheme appeared first on KKFI.

Erik Dickinson serves as the President of the Urban Ranger Corps. Urban Ranger Corps (URC) is about building up caring and responsible young men. Its mission is to prepare at-risk […] The post Erik Dickinson, President of Urban Ranger Corps, on helping youth achieve life-long growth and development appeared first on KKFI.

    Global One Urban Farming is a 501(c) (3) non-profit charitable organization, founded by Anthony and Staroyce Nealy. It produces and distributes free organic vegetables at their a two […] The post Anthony and Staroyce Nealy, founders of Global One Urban Farming, continue producing, sharing and educating about food in KC communities appeared first on KKFI.

Bosede A. Iyewarun is the visionary force behind Heartland International Fashion Week and the Editor -in-Chief of HIFW Magazine. Originally hailing from Nigeria, Bosede’s career spans three decades. She has […] The post Bosede Iyewarun, founder and visionary of Heartland International Fashion Week on building self esteem and confidence in youth appeared first on KKFI.

This film examines the 1995 Chicago record breaking heat wave that resulted in over 700 deaths. The film focuses on the people most affected by natural disasters and the politics […] The post Carl Stafford of My Region Wins! speaks on the film “Cooked: Survival By Zip Code” appeared first on KKFI.

Dave Kingsley, PhD, is the founder and Executive Director of the Center for Healthcare Information & Policy. He retired from the faculty at KUMED where he was on the graduate […] The post Sharon Lockhart and Dave Kingsley on nursing home abuse in our society appeared first on KKFI.

Lewis W. Diuguid, author/journalist/activist shares thoughts on current events of the day – war, rumors of war, politics, disaster, mis-information, truth, activism and hope. Lewis is a multimedia consultant, lecturer, […] The post Journalist, author, activist Lewis W. Diuguid, what’s going on – current events appeared first on KKFI.

Toni Talley is a multifaceted talent in the entertainment industry. She is currently a television host and producer for a lifestyle program on FOX4 (WDAF-TV), Great Day KC, where she […] The post Toni Talley on balancing career and family in the entertainment industry appeared first on KKFI.