This month we're joined by Tanika Edmonds, Director of Prosperity Center for Financial Opportunity at Rockhurst University. 

National Nutrition Month is an annual campaign created by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. During the month of March, everyone is invited to learn about making informed
food choices and developing healthful eating and physical activity habits.  But what happens to communities that do not have access to healthy foods or safe physical activities?

LISC KC is exploring the systemic problem of food insecurity among Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) communities.  This month’s guest is Chef Shanita McAfee-Bryant, Executive Director and Founder of The Prospect KC, an organization that is working to fix the food system in the Kansas City metropolitan area.   

February is a good reminder of why our communities need to support Black Owned Businesses.

The Saturday after Thanksgiving is known as Small Business Saturday.  When you’re shopping on Small Business Saturday, you’re not just supporting your neighborhood stores-you're investing in your community.  This year for Small Business Saturday, we want to highlight a non-traditional retailer.  A retailer now more than ever is needed in our community, especially as we embark on our second pandemic holiday season-Kore Lab Solution.  Kore Lab Solutions offers several options for rapid COVID 19 testing with results 60 minutes or less.  In addition to COVID 19 testing, the company offers COVID 19 vaccinations. 

LISC KC’s Holly Long sits down with Okturia Wynde Ross, CEO and Founder of Kore Lab Solutions.  Give your family the gift of peace of mind and health this holiday season, an easy, reliable COVID 19 test or vaccination.  

Holly Long from LISC Greater Kansas City is joined by the following guests to discuss the ROAD Forward project:

•  Ed Lowndes, Housing Authority of Kansas City
• Melesa Johnson, Mayor’s Office of the City of Kansas City
• Ben Payton, LISC Greater Kansas City
• Lauren Palmer, MARC

Recognizing that much of our workforce and their families cannot afford to live near their jobs and that a family’s zip code is the greatest predictor of a child’s future health and earnings, the Regional Opportunity Area Development Finance Initiative (ROAD Forward) was developed as a regional collaboration to encourage affordable housing development near jobs and educational opportunities in the Kansas City, Missouri region. 

This month’s Community Wise podcast is a conversation with Brian Roberts, owner of the Black Pantry located in the heart of Kansas City at 325 E. 31st Street.  Have you heard of the Shop Local Movement?  How does shopping local related to community development?  It will all be discussed here in this episode.