Black Achievers Society News Issue #1 February 2022 |
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In the early 1970’s there weren’t many Black Kansas Citians working in Corporate America. Generally, those who did were individual contributors working at entry and lower-level jobs, who were often qualified but systematically overlooked for higher level supervisory positions. It was a sign of the times as the racial divide had yet to close. However, there were a few exceptional employees who had managed to achieve, who were managers of departments and processes in some of the more progressive companies. And there was a man who thought that if there were a way to recognize those employees through their corporate employers that it might spur more local corporations to promote Black employees and recognize their and the corporation’s achievements toward equal opportunity in the workplace. That man with the vision was Rev. Emanuel Cleaver II, a Methodist Pastor, and member of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. He was encouraged to contact Richard Bloch, of H&R Block, one of the more progressive employers and business community influencers, to pitch his idea to him and ask him for support. Through their efforts a Dinner recognizing Black Achievers in Business and Industry was planned and held in 1975. The first class of honorees was celebrated at an event attended by almost 500 patrons. After the Achievers nomination is celebrated, they became members of the Black Achiever Society. The mission of the Black Achiever Society has been updated over the past 40 years, but the focus hasn’t changed: To positively impact the educational, social, and economic development of black professionals and youth by leveraging our academic and corporate experiences. |
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Written by Norma McKelvy (1999 Class) |
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Scholarship/Youth Development 2021 Scholarship Winners: Brandon Blue Olathe North High School Kamri Brooks Olathe West High School Dacia Hindsman Paseo Academy High School Ja'Keya Jackson Southeast High School Anna Kasindi East High School Maleah McCluney F. L. Schlagle High School Kendra Moore Belton High School (Rev. Nelson "Fuzzy" Thompson Award) Jayla Newson F. L. Schlagle High School Elhadji Ndiaye Center Senior High School Tyler Winn Lee's Summit North High School Upcoming Opportunities: 2022 Youth Leadership Development Workshop: Postponed to April 1, 2022 Honeywell/BAS Engineering Scholarship Application Deadline: March 1, 2022 BAS Scholarship Application Deadline: March 18, 2022 Hogan Family Business Scholarship Application Deadline: March 18, 2022 |
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Black Achiever Profiles and Highlights Across the globe, educational institutions are known for providing human capital to businesses and industries. The Black Achievers Society of Greater Kansas City (BAS) supports local institutions providing quality education and training to the next generation of workers. BAS has connected with faculty and staff members from Kansas City Kansas Community College to help strengthen students’ access to scholarship opportunities, employment resources, and community services in the greater Kansas City area. Kansas City Kansas Community College (KCKCC) started the Welding Technology Program at Lansing Correctional Facility (LCF) on August 16, 2021. Through hands-on welding laboratory experiences and high-quality education, program graduates will have the skills needed to acquire employment upon reentry. The Welding Technology Program is helping to reduce rates of recidivism for returning citizens by preparing graduates to fill precision production employment gaps where skilled welders are needed in today’s workforce. This program was recently featured in Correctional News for its unique approach to reducing recidivism through education and the strength of its community partnerships. Black Achiever, David Ross, and Kiddy Hiruy, executive director of Reentry Ready, are partnering with KCKCC Technical Education Center staff to address issues fundamental to the economic mobility and social progress of justice-involved individuals. This partnership is focused on meeting the needs of individuals who are reentering the community upon graduation from the program. These areas of need include but are not limited to affordable housing, transportation, health services, and supportive services. Grant Lewis, BAS president has also connected with KCKCC’s Dean of Math, Science, and Business Technology and an instructor in the Machine Technology Program to offer scholarships to engineering students. Grant provided information about the Honeywell Black Achievers Society Engineering Education Scholarship, Honeywell Women in Engineering Scholarship, and the scholarships offered by BAS. Grant also connected St. Luke’s Health System’s senior human resources representative with KCKCC’s job placement coordinator. Together, these organizations are connecting students with career opportunities in the health care services industry. Written by Community Partner Dara Canady, Special Project Manager of KCKCC (TEC) |
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When the Black Achievers Society of Greater Kansas City (BAS) was founded in 1974, the goal was to “recognize those companies in Business and Industry that demonstrated leadership in the areas of diversity and inclusion through their commitment to a diverse workforce”. In the 47 years since, BAS has filled its ranks with exceptional individuals committed to professional excellence and service to their communities. It is through their hard work fundraising and securing corporate sponsorships that BAS is able to provide $20,000 in scholarships annually to deserving students in the greater Kansas City area. Two members we’d like to highlight are Dr. Tyjaun Lee, Ph.D. and Ms. Tammy Edwards. |
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Dr. Lee is a member of the BAS class of 2019. She joined Kansas City’s Metropolitan Community College in August 2017 as president of the Penn Valley campus in midtown Kansas City. For two years, starting in July 2018, she also led MCC-Maple Woods in Kansas City's Northland before returning full time to Penn Valley in July 2020. Dr. Lee was honored in 2020 with the Paragon Award for New Presidents from Phi Theta Kappa, the academic honor society for students at two-year colleges. She serves on the board of directors of the Urban Ranger Corps, which provides young men in Kansas City’s urban core with positive role models, tutors and life skills. She serves on the Broadway Westport Council, which oversees community development projects. She has served as president of the American Association for Women in Community Colleges. She serves on the board of directors Connections to Success, which helps people living in poverty become economically self-sufficient, and in 2019 received their Tribute to Success award. She has served as past president of the National Council on Student Development. She is a member of the Presidents’ Round Table of the National Council on Black American Affairs, which is affiliated with the American Association of Community Colleges. |
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Another exceptional member of BAS is Tammy Edwards, Senior Vice President, Community Engagement and Inclusion Division, and Director of the Office of Minority and Women Inclusion at the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City. She leads engagement initiatives for strategic stakeholders and directs programs that address challenging community and economic development issues that affect underserved individuals and communities. Ms. Edwards is very active in several civic and community organizations. She currently serves on the boards of the Kansas City Friends of Alvin Ailey, Kansas City Scholars, the Kansas City Workforce Investment Board, Kansas City Public Television, and the Jacob and Ella Loose Foundation. She is an active member of St. James United Methodist Church, the Greater Kansas City Chapter of The Links, Incorporated, the University of Missouri - Kansas City’s African American Leaders Council, the Central Exchange and United Way’s African American Leadership Initiative. She regularly presents on various leadership, community and economic development topics and coedited the 2015 book, Transforming U.S. Workforce Development Policies for the 21st Century. |
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Dr. Lee and Ms. Edwards are just two examples of our dozens of members that are committed to lessening the financial burden of higher education on Kansas City’s African-American youth and improving Kansas City as a whole. In 2021 we added 16 new Achievers to our ranks. Please take a moment to review their bios and congratulate them on their membership, which recognizes their sustained corporate leadership, community involvement and personal achievements. Risala Allen | Kansas City Kansas Community College Nakisha Bausby | JE Dunn Construction Olushola “Lusha” Bodie | Hallmark Cards Dachia Busch | Metropolitan Community College Shannon Cade | Cerner Myon Caruthers | Honeywell, Kansas City National Security Campus Daniel Ekwue | Honeywell, Kansas City National Security Campus Laron Evans | Burns & McDonnell Maurice Gay | Kansas City Area Transportation Authority Karmen Gooch | Hallmark Cards Claude Harris | College Coaching Network Jauqua Preston Wilkins | Urban League of Greater Kansas City Wayne Reed | Honeywell, Kansas City National Security Campus Michael Roberson | Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas City John Stafford II | Kansas City Kansas Community College Michele L Watley | The Griot Group Written by Calvin Mayfield (2019 Class) |
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Upcoming BAS Events Volunteers are needed for our annual Read Across America/Dr. Seuss' Day at Ingles Elementary! Due to COVID-19 our participation is looking to be fully virtual this year. If this changes to an in-person event we will alert everyone. We are asking you to record a video reading a book of your choice (grade level K-6) and upload here. Videos will be shared during class time the week of March 2nd! Please upload your video by February 17, 2022 and in your video share: - Your Name
- Title & Company
- Grade level of book
- Name and author of the book
- 2022 BAS Membership Nomination Application Deadline- 2/24/22
- Youth Leadership Development Workshop - 4/1/22
- 47th Annual Black Achievers in Industry Awards Ceremony - 6/16/22
- 9th Annual Youth Scholarship Luncheon - 7/14/22
- 21st Annual Golf Tournament - TBA
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Company Partners Over the Years: ALLIANCE DATA AMOCO OIL CO. AT&T BLUE CROSS AND BLUE SHIELD OF KANSAS CITY/BLUE KC BPU-KANSAS CITY BOARD OF PUBLIC UTILITIES BURNS & MCDONNELL CENTURYLINK CERNER CORP CHILDREN'S MERCY HOSPITAL COCA COLA, INC. COLLEGE COACHING NETWORK COMMERCE BANK DMK CONSULTS FED RESERVE BANK OF KC GM HALLMARK CARDS, INC. HCA HONEYWELL FM&T* H&R Block IBM JCPENNEY JE DUNN CONSTRUCTION COMPANY
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- KANSAS CITY AREA TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY (KCATA)
- KANSAS CITY KANSAS COMMUNITY COLLEGE
- KANSAS CITY KANSAS SCHOOL FOUNDATION FOR EXCELLENCE
- KC CHAMBER
- KCK POLICE DEPARTMENT
- KCP&L
- KMBC 9 NEWS/KMBC-TV
- METROPOLITAN COMMUNITY COLLEGE
- MIDAMERICA MINORITY SUPPLIER COUNCIL
- OLIN-WINCHESTER
- PROVIDENCE MEDICAL CENTER
- SPRINT
- THE GRIOT GROUP/
- SHIRLEY'S KITCHEN CABINET
- TRINITY LUTHERAN HOSPITAL
- TRUMAN MEDICAL CENTER
- UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS MEDICAL CENTER
- URBAN LEAGUE OF GREATER KANSAS CITY
- WOODLEY BUILDING MAINTENANCE
*Donor Funded Scholarship |
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“Supporting the Black Achievers Society is one way Blue KC can offer the knowledge and experiences of our leaders of color and cultivate future generations of top talent in our city. We need to continually invest in the next generations of business leaders to keep Kansas City thriving. I encourage Kansas City businesses to consider the value of investing in our community’s youth through the Black Achievers mission.” -Erin Stucky, President and CEO, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City (2021) |
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Special Thanks to Our Community Partners: Southern Christian Leadership Conference of Greater Kansas City Black Excellence KC |
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BAS Meetings Lost touch with us? Get back involved! General Meeting – March 17, 2022 11:30am General Meeting – May 19, 2022 11:30am Annual Induction Meeting – TBD 11:30am Annual Meeting – June 23, 2022 5:30pm General Meeting – September 15, 2022 11:30am General Meeting – November 17, 2022 11:30am BAS Annual Dues Please include your name and company with your remittance. Dues are $75.00 per member. Thank you for your compliance and support. Dues can also be paid via PayPal as well an invoice can be sent. Make check payable and remit to: Black Achievers Society P. O. Box 411473 Kansas City, MO. 64141-14 73 |
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Written by Veronica J. Ford (2013 Class) |
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