Welcoming KC

06/10/2026

Welcoming means more than a smile at the door, it means every visitor who walks into a Kansas City business feels seen, respected, and genuinely at home.

With the World Cup bringing fans from every corner of the world, to our city, including up to 100,000 Argentine fans alone, the economic opportunity is real. But so is something bigger, the chance to create an experience so warm, so authentic, so undeniably Kansas City that visitors carry it home with them long after the final whistle blows.

That's why the KC Chamber and our partners at Jewish Vocational Service (JVS), Kansas City are proud to share the free, on-demand Welcoming the World Training, designed to help businesses, frontline staff, volunteers, and community members feel confident and prepared to serve international guests with cultural awareness, clear communications, and genuine hospitality.

Whether you work in retail, hospitality, transportation, or customer service, this training is for you. A welcoming Kansas City isn't built in one place, It's built in every interaction, every storefront, every "hello."

Watch the free training today and help us show the world what Kansas CIty hospitality looks like.

As thousands of international visitors prepare to arrive in Kansas ...

06/09/2026

Welcoming means seeing your flag in a storefront window. Welcoming means a menu you can read. Welcoming means someone takes the time to say hello - in your language.

That's Kansas City. And we want to celebrate it.

We're launching , a community challenge to find and shine a light on the KC businesses making every visitor, from every corner of the world, feel like they belong here.

Kansas City earned its Certified Welcoming status. Now let's show the world what that means. One business, one photo, one story, one moment at a time.

See a welcoming moment in Kansas City? Snap a photo or vidoe, posit it using , and tag the Welcoming KC and KC Chamber so we can share your stories and spotlight the businesses helping Kansas CIty welcoming to the world. Here's an example: Martin City Tavern on Main is being welcoming.

06/04/2026

Welcoming means.....knowing your own story.

Before Arrowhead. Before Sporting KC. Before the World Cup came to Kansas City, there were immigrants. They brought soccer here in their hearts, played in church yards and on makeshift fields, and spent decades fighting for the space and resources to share the beautiful game with our city.

This Thursday, June 4th, the Kansas City Public Library opens Soccer City: How Kansas City Became a Soccer Town, a free exhibition celebrating the immigrant pioneers who made this World Cup moment possible.

https://kclibrary.org/events/people%E2%80%99s-history-kansas-city-soccer-live
Kansas City Public Library, Central Branch - 14 W. 10th St.
Opening Reception: Thursday, June 4, 6 -7 PM

On view through October 4. Free to all. The world is arriving in Kansas City because of people who brought their cultural, including their love for the game. Go see their story. Bring someone who needs to hear it.

06/03/2026

Kansas City’s immigrant and refugee communities have shaped our city’s culture, economy, and future. After years of collaboration with residents, partners, and organizations across the metro, we’re taking the next step.

We are deeply grateful for the work of the Mayor’s Commission on New Americans, whose leadership laid the foundation for today’s community engagement and inclusion strategies. Their efforts created the momentum and shared vision that made this next phase possible.

Ordinance No. 260506, sponsored by City Councilmember Wes Rogers, has been introduced and is being heard in the Finance Committee on Tuesday, June 9 at 10:30am. This ordinance formalizes a community‑led advisory body that strengthens transparency, improves coordination across City departments, and ensures immigrant and refugee voices remain centered in policy decisions.

This ordinance builds systems that last — beyond administrations, beyond transitions — and ensures Kansas City continues moving toward a more welcoming, equitable future.

06/02/2026

Welcoming means...when we welcome immigrants, we welcome builders. The Castagna-Herrera family drawing on their American, Mexican, Argentinian, and Mescalero Apache roots, didn't just open a coffee shop. they created Kansas City's first Latin and Indigenous coffee house, and built the furniture, painted the walls, hired a multilingual team, and grew into a three-location institution in just seven years. That's what welcoming looks like. That's what it produces. As co-owner, Dulcinea Herrera said when accepting the Mr. K Award: "Cafe Corazon was built by immigrants, by artists, by dreamers, by workers."

Immigrant's don't just contribute to our economy, they are our economy. Kansas CIty is stronger, richer, and more vibrant because of families like the Herreras chose to plant their roots here. And Kansas City is stronger for welcoming them and all immigrant entreprenuers.

05/04/2026

Welcoming means....recognizing that the strength of our community is built by those who arrive with vision, grit, and a willingness to work for something bigger than themselves.

Mark Lanuniu, Vu Nguyen and Jesse Phouangphet, founders of MADE MOBB, one of Kansas City's most recognized independent fashion brands. What started in 2013 as conversations and pop-up sales out of a truck has grown into a Crossroads Art District storefront and a creative hub where artists, musicians, and emerging entreprenuers come together. These three young men, each shaped by immigrant family backgrounds, didn't wait for a blueprint, they build one, and in doing so, built somehting for all of us. Read their full story in the Kansas City Star and then stop by and show them some love.

Three men from immigrant families built the now-popular streetwear company from the ground up. Here’s how.

04/23/2026

It's happening tomorrrow! Please register and join us if you are able.

04/08/2026

Welcoming means.....celebrating when one of our own rises to lead. Congratulations to Beto Lopez, KC Chamber board member, President & CEO of Guadalupe Centers, and newly elected Mayor of Lee's Summit! His win is a testament to what's possible when our region embraces the full range of voices at the table. As a proud member of the Welcoming Coalition, Guadalupe Centers has long been a cornerstone of inclusive community building — and Beto's leadership continues that legacy. We're proud to call him a partner in building a Kansas City that everyone can call home.

Lee’s Summit voters have elected City Councilmember Beto Lopez as the new mayor in Tuesday’s general municipal election. Here is everything you need to know about Lopez: https://fox4kc.com/politics/your-local-election-headquarters/voters-elect-beto-lopez-as-new-lees-summit-mayor-in-tuesdays-municipal-election/

04/03/2026

“Welcoming” means building a community where inclusion is a shared responsibility — led by the people who make belonging real every day. Kansas City has been recognized as a Certified Welcoming community, a milestone made possible by the nonprofits, libraries, schools, health providers, and grassroots leaders who have spent years expanding language access, strengthening community connections, and supporting immigrant families.

We’re also grateful for the partnership of KCMO government, whose collaboration helped move key systems‑level changes forward. This designation reflects what’s possible when community organizations and public institutions work side‑by‑side toward a common goal.

Certification isn’t the end — it’s a commitment to keep investing in the ecosystem of organizations and leaders who make Kansas City a place where every neighbor can belong.

Special thanks to the REACH Healthcare Foundation for their financial support to see this project advance alongside the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce and the multitude of organizations doing the work every day to have made this possible. Thank you to Welcoming America for supporting communities across the country to become places of belonging for everyone.

03/27/2026

Join us for the 2026 Welcoming Coalition Spring Luncheon, an event dedicated to fostering community and collaboration. This is an excellent opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals who are passionate about inclusivity and support for all. Don’t miss out on this chance to make a difference!

Email from Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce Please join us for special announcements and collaboration   2026 Welcoming Coalition Spring Luncheon     Download Document     Greater Kansas Ci