Equity, Health, Wealth & Education.

Mission

Our focus is to equip under-resourced Black Owned Business in Kansas City with powerful resources that include community, education, networking, mentorship, access to capital and leadership development to lean them towards the path to generational wealth and more equitable futures.

B

lack Owned Business Kansas City was founded August 1st, 2012 because Marsha felt that Kansas City was lacking something when it came to business resources for African Americans in Kansas City. She felt as if she didn’t have a friend in business; there was a lack of COMMUNITY. She created the BOBKC so that she could have other entrepreneurs who look like her, to lean on and learn from. Initially the main focus was to ensure that we were keeping black dollars within black communities by helping to foster new business opportunities, supporting one another and connecting customers with black owned businesses. 

Over the years our virtual community has grown to over 30,000 members and has served as a hub for entrepreneurs to connect, advertise their businesses, support events, and find other black businesses to support. Our members range from entrepreneurs, to public servants, to professionals to customers and everyone in between. After the pandemic hit in 2020, Black Owned Business Kansas City played a vital role in the lives of entrepreneurs across Kansas City. With a shuttered city, jobs eliminated and people worried about how they would make ends meet, many had to get creative about how to earn a living. There was also a surge of new business owners who were able to connect to customers for the first time. Black Owned Business Kansas City virtual marketplace allowed business owners the continued opportunity to promote their businesses. During this time, Marsha began getting messages from members expressing gratitude for the community and some acknowledging that the BOBKC community is the only way they were able to make money and provide for their families. 

In all of the history of BOBKC prior to the pandemic, we have never been thanked for our existence. Marsha knew that BOBKC was an asset to entrepreneurs; now she could actually feel the importance of the Facebook community. However, she felt that it was not enough. Marsha wanted to make a greater social impact within the Kansas City Black Business Ecosystem and began to shift BOBKC from being a more of a marketplace to becoming an Entrepreneur Services Organization (ESO). In 2021 she began researching, attending more city meetings, connecting with other organizations and leaders. In 2022 The Black Owned Business Kansas City Foundation Non-profit was formed. The Black Owned Business Kansas City Foundation was added to the organization. 

Moving forward we have evolved to provide business resources, meaningful connections, events and other tools that will help entrepreneurs within our community not only thrive but feel that they have friends within the community that are truly devoted to seeing them win. Helping to close the racial wealth gap while building a better, stronger, more connected community.

An ecosystem-style community. We are each other’s clients, friends, vendors, partners, mentors, funders, accountability partners and even sometimes co-founders.

We are the #1 community for Black Business in Kansas City! 

Welcome to Black Owned Business Kansas City.

Our Pillars

Increasing access to capital to Black entrepreneurs. 

Increasing access to business education, secondary and vocational training.

Closing the digital divide by providing technical assistance, computer training for senior entrepreneurs and increasing access to affordable internet access.

Increasing workforce development and providing skills training, which enables career advancement and higher wages.

Focusing on the creation and preservation of quality affordable housing.

Increasing access to affordable, quality healthcare by partnering with Federally Qualified Healthcare centers, hospital partnerships, and innovations in telehealth.

Improving financial health, including innovations in financial education.

What We Value

We honor the challenging and often lonely path faced by an entrepreneur, and our primary focus is on making sure the individual has the support and training needed to reach their true potential. 

  • Without question, our entrepreneurs always come first. All decisions that are made revolve around what is best for the entrepreneurs we serve.

  • We offer many of our programs at no charge to avoid any financial barriers of participation.
  • We utilize technology to be efficient but we also see the value in human connection and make sure there is human input through all of our processes, procedures, communication, and decision making.
  • We prioritize our entrepreneurs’ whole person health and understand that starting a business goes beyond access to business resources. We support entrepreneurs by connecting them to resources they may need to support their wellbeing such as housing, food access, transportation, mental health, etc.
  • We encourage the entrepreneurs that have participated in the Accelerator Program to take advantage of the bobkc staff and network even after the program concludes.
  • When we see the need, we will advocate for our entrepreneurs at the local, state, and federal levels. Examples include helping entrepreneurs navigate local permitting procedures, advocating for favorable policies for small businesses and for human rights including underrepresented individuals.
  • We expect our mentors to follow through with their commitment of time as well as following our code of conduct
    • We seek mentors that understand and embrace our mission and values
    • Mentors are not to enter into any formal relationships (joining a board, investing, etc) with bobkc during their one year mentorship commitment

Although BIPOC businesses are our main focus we believe we are stronger when we value the differences among us. Our staff, volunteers and program opportunities are available to everyone, regardless of race, color, national origin, age, disability, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, military service, martial status, genetic information, socio-economic status, or educational background. 

  • Community input on decision making from multiple parties to cut through any inherent bias on individuals.
  • Outreach is done broadly in communities to strive to get representation of entrepreneurs and volunteers that reflect the demographics of the community. bobkc shows up. We take a grassroots approach and physically go into all neighborhoods including community events, churches, barbershops, community centers, etc. We also partner in our communities with organizations that are trusted by residents such as re-entry programs at correctional facilities, housing authorities, cultural groups, etc.
  • We embrace diversity and inclusivity in the classroom taking the opportunity to learn from one another. We look to create teachable moments for everyone to learn and grow within the safe space of the program.
  • bobkc staff & Volunteers always strive to be sensitive and see the human side of the individuals we work with and understand that we all have unique differences.

Our Staff and volunteers are proud and active participants in the communities we service and are committed to working closely with elected officials (regardless of party affiliation), local volunteers, and community champions to help our community grow and thrive through local entrepreneurship.

  • BOBKC provides consistent quality of programs while not compromising specific needs of communities.
  • We strive to hire people connected to the communities we serve.
  • Our local Leadership Advisory Boards are composed of leaders from the community who believe in our mission and values and help us further the work that we are able to do in the community.
  • We leverage technology and internal systems so our staff can maximize their time with entrepreneurs and our communities.
  • Mentors, specialists, judges, and volunteers that help read applications and interview applicants are from the communities we serve.

Our impact is greater when we work together to support entrepreneurs in their journey. We work hard to surround entrepreneurs with an extended professional network that is dedicated to supporting these entrepreneurs throughout their journey.

  • We understand that entrepreneurship is lonely so we want to make sure entrepreneurs know they are not alone.
  • We partner with existing organizations that align with our mission and believe we are all stronger if we work together in supporting the entrepreneurs in the community.
  • We expect our staff, entrepreneurs, and volunteers to be supportive and treat each other with respect and understanding.
  • We understand and prioritize the power of in-person relationship building.
  • We begin all of our BOBKC sessions by checking in on how everyone is doing, whether that is sharing wins or working through struggles in their businesses and their lives.
  • BOBKC Staff hustles with passion. Although we work in different communities, we stay connected to share learnings, offer help, and support. We are a non-competitive, collaborative, thoughtful team of humble Rockstars. No matter what position someone holds, everyone rolls up their sleeves. Don’t be surprised to see our CEO stacking chairs at the end of an event!

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We work with entrepreneurs and many of our staff and volunteers are entrepreneurs, and so we welcome and expect change as BOBKC grows, our entrepreneurs turn into successful business owners, and our communities evolve.

  • bobkc seeks feedback from entrepreneurs, volunteers, donors, and staff regularly and uses that feedback to confirm what is working and what can be improved. We are always open and appreciative of constructive observations and solutions, assuming it’s coming from the best intentions to serve our mission.
  • We strive to make changes to our technologies, policies, and procedures to serve our mission as effectively as possible.
  • We welcome “fresh eyes” on our programs to bring in new perspectives.

We believe in the power of celebration. We recognize our team’s personal and professional growth as well as the accomplishments of our volunteers, and the generosity of our funders. We know that embracing a culture of celebration heightens morale and connects us more deeply as members of the BOBKC community.

  • BOBKC classes begin with a “check in” to work through struggles but also to applaud “wins” no matter the size.
  • We focus on strengths over weaknesses.
  • Our teams reflect and communicate about professional and personal goals often.
  • We are cheerleaders for our entrepreneurs, volunteers, donors, and coworkers. We clap and cheer a lot!
  • We champion members with awards and spotlights. 

B

lack Owned Business Kansas City was founded August 1st, 2012 because Marsha felt that Kansas City was lacking something when it came to business resources for African Americans in Kansas City. She felt as if she didn’t have a friend in business; there was a lack of COMMUNITY. She created the BOBKC so that she could have other entrepreneurs who look like her, to lean on and learn from. Initially the main focus was to ensure that we were keeping black dollars within black communities by helping to foster new business opportunities, supporting one another and connecting customers with black owned businesses. 

Over the years our virtual community has grown to over 30,000 members and has served as a hub for entrepreneurs to connect, advertise their businesses, support events, and find other black businesses to support. Our members range from entrepreneurs, to public servants, to professionals to customers and everyone in between. After the pandemic hit in 2020, Black Owned Business Kansas City played a vital role in the lives of entrepreneurs across Kansas City. With a shuttered city, jobs eliminated and people worried about how they would make ends meet, many had to get creative about how to earn a living. There was also a surge of new business owners who were able to connect to customers for the first time. Black Owned Business Kansas City virtual marketplace allowed business owners the continued opportunity to promote their businesses. During this time, Marsha began getting messages from members expressing gratitude for the community and some acknowledging that the BOBKC community is the only way they were able to make money and provide for their families. 

In all of the history of BOBKC prior to the pandemic, we have never been thanked for our existence. Marsha knew that BOBKC was an asset to entrepreneurs; now she could actually feel the importance of the Facebook community. However, she felt that it was not enough. Marsha wanted to make a greater social impact within the Kansas City Black Business Ecosystem and began to shift BOBKC from being a more of a marketplace to becoming an Entrepreneur Services Organization (ESO). In 2021 she began researching, attending more city meetings, connecting with other organizations and leaders. In January 2022 BOBKC became a business then in November 2022 a non-profit arm, The Black Owned Business Kansas City Foundation was added to the organization. 

Moving forward we have evolved to provide business resources, meaningful connections, events and other tools that will help entrepreneurs within our community not only thrive but feel that they have friends within the community that are truly devoted to seeing them win. Helping to close the racial wealth gap while building a better, stronger, more connected community.

An ecosystem-style community. We are each other’s clients, friends, vendors, partners, mentors, funders, accountability partners and even sometimes co-founders.

We are the #1 community for Black Business in Kansas City! 

Welcome to Black Owned Business Kansas City.

EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP TEAM

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

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“#1 Community for Black Business in Kansas City!”

“Our wounds are often the openings into the best and most beautiful part of us.”

We welcome your to join our online community to connect to the extortionary business owners and professionals in Kansas City.