Empire Dreams

06/09/2026

Big thank you and round of applause to Jackelyn Daniels and Generating Income For Tomorrow for providing professional headshots for our entrepreneurs!

I am so grateful for the profound work G.I.F.T. is engaged in throughout our city and the significant amount of resources they provide to our east side entrepreneurs.

Further, big shout out to Jordan Alford and the passion in which she leads.
You can’t find a better program manager than her.

06/04/2026

06/03/2026

Opportunities for emerging businesses!

The AltCap Your Biz Pitch Competition provides entrepreneurs the opportunity to pitch their business ideas for a chance to win cash. This competition mobilizes entrepreneurs and social innovators to accelerate their growth.

05/15/2026

SCORE Mentors Access to Money event was a PHENOMENAL experience for our entrepreneurs!

We are so grateful for our partnership with SCORE and their support of our Rise Accelerator.
They are a blessing to KC’s entrepreneurial ecosystem!

Shout out to Steve Rich and Geoff Meiteen for the work they put into making this event a success!
Their committment to mentoring up-and-coming business owners is unparalleled.

Also, big shout out to Lauren Conaway, MBA for energizing the room as one of the event’s moderator’s and keynotes.

Talk about raw, real and relational!
She is gold. ☀️

05/13/2026

So grateful to Aryn Peters, MEd, EdS and Joan Vande Voort with NBKC Bank for facilitating this MILESTONE MOMENT!

Drum roll…

Business bank accounts are open! 🌟

The courage and confidence of our entrepreneurs grows as they take monumental steps to legitimize their business—both in the context of our entrepreneurial “family,” AND in connection to community supports/partners.

Shout out to Aryn and Joan for taking time to join us last night!

Also, if you don’t know Aryn Peters, MEd, EdS, definitely connect with her.

She is a MUST get to know and one of the most passionately committed affordable housing advocates in our city.

05/06/2026

We did something last night…

Our entrepreneurs filed for their business licenses!

Not only that, but another triad of brilliance blessed our Dreamers with their wisdom, expertise and presence.

Thank you to Mason Bake with the City of Kansas City, MO for hands-on walking our entrepreneurs through the filing process!

Further, big shout out to Travis Mayberry with Thrivent
and David Schieffer, PMP, MBA, CPHIMS with StrongSage for tag teaming EVERYTHING finance!

Travis has a deep passion to see people flourish and thrive, and is committed to walking with individuals and businesses towards financially vitality.

David has a strategic eye for scaling, sustaining and supporting business infrastructure and development, with an in-depth understanding of the “story of the numbers.”

Both of these gentlemen are your go-to for financial services!

04/29/2026

Reformation begins as a seed; as the substance of things unseen
Thank you to Christopher Goode for stewarding the seed of Ruby Jeans, bringing health and healing to many in our community and beyond.

Success and greatness is not defined by numbers and accolades, but by faithfulness, consistency, and the courage to confront mountains of opposition with resilience.

Shout out to Chris for mirroring to our entrepreneurs an image of inspiration, giving them eyes to see and believe that ANY of their dreams, borne through deep grief, can one day be a healing tree of blessing for many.

04/23/2026

We paint the story of our lives.

No matter how dark.
No matter how hard.
No matter how ruined.

We can create something new.

The brush is in our hands…and the canvas of tomorrow is ours to illustrate.

A beautiful mixture of tears, laughs and really good food defined our Women’s Empowerment group this week.

We were never meant to be alone and friendship can heal some of the deepest wounds of the soul.

What story are you painting today and who is with you on the journey?

04/22/2026

Meet Achantiki Dunn, Founder of Key Notes Apparel!

She is one of our Rise entrepreneurs, neighborhood leaders and one of the most determined and sweet ladies I know.

Her creative apparel brand is genius!

(The way she gets kiddos to sit, listen and engage with empowerment lessons is miraculous as well)

Please connect with her, welcome her to KC’s entrepreneurial landscape and get to know her new business!

04/15/2026

A triad of brilliance engaged our entrepreneurs last night at Port KC!

Big thank you to Regan Smith, Lexie Penichet and Jordan Marcotte for POURING out strategic branding insight and inspirational story upon the hearts and minds of our dreamers.

There is nothing like being able to SEE that anything is possible by looking at the testimony of those who have gone before you.

Also, can’t forget to mention thanks to Marc Jackson-the man who makes our accelerator all that it is through mindset coaching!

Our entrepreneurs are ready to define their unique market position, craft their messaging and soar into their dreams.