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As we celebrate Black History Month, it’s essential to recognize the importance of sharing current voices that highlight the ongoing triumphs of Kansas City’s Black communities and people — while not glossing over the systemic barriers built into our society. At Health Forward Foundation, we believe that amplifying these voices is crucial to achieving our purpose and fulfilling our mission. Because the stories we lift up have the power to shape our reality and, ultimately, our health outcomes.
Sharing current perspectives allows us to celebrate the resilience and strength of the Black leaders and Black-led nonprofits we work with every month of the year. Despite facing intentional exclusion built into our systems, these leaders and their teams continue to have a significant impact on Kansas City and its surrounding communities.
We hope that sharing our microphone during Black History Month supports a more inclusive narrative about who is shaping the future of our Kansas City region.
Gwendolyn Grant, President and CEO of Urban League of Greater Kansas City
“Last year, thousands of Black people came to the Urban League of Greater Kansas City for solace, solidarity, and justice. We have provided a safe space for Black residents for over 100 years. As the only civil rights and human services organization in the metro, we have a multi-pronged approach that addresses health care, employment, education, entrepreneurial initiatives, and social justice. Whether it’s providing COVID-19 vaccines to several thousand, or tutoring over 40 students each Wednesday, the Urban League is here to fight for the underserved. We are grateful for partners like Health Forward Foundation. This Black History Month, I am reminded that as we celebrate our accomplishments, we also grapple with racism so there is still much work to be done, particularly when it comes to restorative justice. But as our ancestors demonstrated time and again, we are a resilient people and we will prevail.”
– Gwendolyn Grant, President and CEO of Urban League of Greater Kansas City, an organization enabling African Americans and other disadvantaged persons to secure economic self-reliance, parity, power, and civil rights.
Tonia Wright, President and CEO of Grace Advertising & Consulting and Altruism Media.
“My advocacy of rural maternal and infant health is a part of my family’s legacy. My grandfather owned a farm in what once was a very rural area in Kansas. My generation is the first generation removed from the farm. So for me, a Black woman, living and working in rural Lafayette County has always felt normal. BlackHistoryMonth holds specific significance for me as I am acutely aware that to some degree, the work we are doing at Altruism Media to address maternal and infant health is making history in an area where few people of color reside — and where no other organization like this exists. Even with the challenges of doing this work in a rural setting, my family’s legacy and the strength I derive from my heritage as a Black woman propels me forward, every day. I proudly celebrate Black History Month.”
– Tonia Wright, President and CEO of Grace Advertising & Consulting and Altruism Media. Tonia and her team are committed to health, racial equity, and social justice as it relates to women and people of color. She works to improve maternal and infant health, normalize mental health care to the extent that it becomes an expectant rung in the overall health care continuum, address access barriers to quality care, and so much more.
Brandon Calloway, CEO and Co-Founder of Kansas City G.I.F.T.
“The history of the African American people persevering, and even finding ways to thrive in a country not built for us, is a continual motivator for the work we do at G.I.F.T. just like it is for so many other Black-led organizations. Because we’ve seen how far we’ve come, we know how much further we can go.”
– Brandon Calloway, CEO and Co-Founder of Kansas City G.I.F.T., an organization that provides grants to Black-owned businesses in Kansas City, with a specific interest in businesses that operate in low-income areas.
Rev. Eric Williams, Founder and CEO of Calvary Community Outreach Network
“Multiple data sources confirm and illuminate the inequities that African Americans have silently suffered with. Beyond the data, we see the faces of real people who have faced premature death due to the consequences of racism. We witness the tears and hear the cries from people who have been disregarded. These are the realities that Calvary Community Outreach Network, along with our strategic partners seek to influence. Our work with community health, COVID-19 testing, and vaccinations, HIV prevention education, food insecurity and youth development are examples of our direct response to this pain. As we observe Black History Month, I am grateful for our longstanding relationship with Health Forward Foundation. It is my prayer that we continue to learn the lessons provided by history and strengthen our collaborative efforts to overcome the challenges that we face.”
– Rev. Eric Williams, Founder and CEO of Calvary Community Outreach Network, an organization working to enrich the health of our community through high-quality, innovative programs that empower participants and are responsive to changing community needs.
