REFLECTIONS ON 2021
Friends:
As we look back on 2021, I have been inspired by our community’s resilience in the face of continued emotional and physical pressures. Despite our hopes from a year ago, the pandemic has continued to impact our families, neighborhoods, and small businesses. More than one million of our fellow Americans have lost their lives to the Coronavirus and over 50 million people have been infected.
Despite these ongoing challenges, LISC Greater Kansas City and our partners have remained committed to building more equitable and inclusive communities. We spent much of the past year working to secure resources for small businesses led by people of color. The additional grants and technical assistance from providers are just a sampling of the support needed to address the systemic barriers faced by many of these businesses in accessing capital. Additionally, we continued to work with elected officials, advocates, and residents to address the dangerous lack of affordable housing in our region. While significant strides were made, there remains much work to be done to ensure everyone has access to affordable housing in our community. In the months and years ahead, we will strive to empower people and transform our neighborhoods.
I wish to express my deepest appreciation to my colleagues on our LISC team, who have worked tirelessly to support our community-based partners and residents over the past 12 months. Of course, we could not have done this necessary work without the generosity, commitment, and flexibility of so many individuals, corporations, and foundations who believe in the power of social impact. To them, we extend our heartfelt gratitude. We are constantly reminded how this community comes together even during the most difficult of times and we are honored to play our small role in building those bridges of collaboration. LISC has served this region for 40 years, but the work continues and we remain steadfast in our commitment to tackling these challenging issues.
We look forward to walking alongside our community’s residents to amplify their voices as we work together to build a more equitable, just, and resilient community in 2022 and beyond.
Warmly,
Geoff Jolley Executive Director
What a year, and what amazing partners by our side! Through contributions big and small, thought partnership, trust and hard work, we couldn't have had this impact without you.”
BY THE NUMBERS
LISC Greater Kansas City partners with residents and stakeholders to forge resilient and inclusive communities of opportunity – great places to live, work, visit, do business, and raise families. We accomplish this by fostering partnerships, leveraging investments, creating system changes, and transforming the environment.
In 2021, LISC Greater Kansas City:
Invested a total of
$8 million
Leveraged a total of
$36 million
Developed a total of
units in affordable homes and apartments
2021 HIGHLIGHTS
PROGRAM UPDATE
Affordable Housing
LISC provides grants, loans and equity for nearly every aspect of development, from planning and acquisition to construction and renovation. Learn More [+]
$6,769,500 awarded in loans and recoverable grants. 480 Units of affordable housing which were supported by LISC funding. $165,000 awarded in HUD Section 4 Grants to local Community Development Organizations for capacity building.
PROGRAM UPDATE
Economic Development
LISC is committed to connecting people, businesses and places to grow inclusive local economies and drive equitable access to opportunity. Our BDO Network provides culturally-competent local business support services, specifically tailored to entrepreneurs of color. Learn More [+]
$534,250 awarded in grants to small businesses and business development organizations Provided technical assistance to 82 small businesses in the KC metro $77,000 awarded in small grants and sponsorships
PROGRAM UPDATE
Financial Stability
LISC’s financial stability programs connect individuals and families earning low to moderate wages with the financial and labor market mainstream. Learn More [+]
$350,000 awarded in grants to 5 Financial Opportunity Centers Clients served: 1099 Clients placed in jobs: 275 Net Income increase: 299 Net worth increase: 197 FICO score increase: 248
PROGRAM UPDATE
Policy
We are grateful for our numerous partners and the elected officials and staff that helped make 2021 a momentous year for housing in KCMO. Learn More [+]
Affordable Housing Set Aside Ordinance Kansas City’s Housing Trust Fund Tenant's Right to Counsel
Thrive: The Road to 40
LISC Greater Kansas City’s annual community development celebration, Thrive, has been a tremendous success over the past four years. This year’s theme was “Thrive: The Road to 40” in tribute to LISC’s engagement in the Kansas City community for 40 years. Learn More [+]
Dianne Cleaver President and CEO of Urban Neighborhood Initiative (UNI) [+] Dianne has spent more than 30 years working to address inequities in our community. As we look forward to the many ways you will further advance our community development efforts post-retirement, know that you have built a strong foundation for those who follow.
A Black Lives Matter Project [+] A collective of local artists joined together to make a statement through their artistic expression that spoke to the racial reckoning that America faced in the summer of 2020. The end results of their artistic voyage are the Black Lives Matter Murals.
WyCo Mutual Aid [+] WyCo Mutual Aid was birthed in response to the Covid-19 global pandemic, where unfortunately government and nonprofit aid were not enough to fill the gaps within the community.
Legal Aid of Western Missouri Justice in the Halls Program [+] Legal Aid of Western Missouri has a long legacy of providing legal services for the most vulnerable individuals in our community. The Justice in the Halls Program at Legal Aid in Western Missouri was created to help remedy housing issues within Jackson County.
Thrive: The Road to 40 Spotlight - A Black Lives Matter Project
Housing Trust Fund
LISC, in partnership with Urban Neighborhood Initiative (UNI) and the UNI Promoting Equitable Neighborhoods (PEN) work group, finalized our recommendations for the structure, funding, and management of City of Kansas City, Missouri’s Housing Trust Fund (HTF) to support the preservation and production of affordable housing.
Kansas City, Missouri City Council passed the Housing Trust Fund Ordinance and directed $25 million to the fund to create and preserve safe and accessible housing for persons of low and moderate-income. Learn More [+]
Available Uses:
- Affordable Rental Preservation, at or below 60% AMFI.
- Affordable Rental Creation, at or below 60% AMFI
- Create/support Dedicated Transitional Housing and Permanent Supportive Housing for the Homeless; and
- Homeownership support programs and/or retention programs for residents at income levels below 60% AMFI.
Community Wise Podcast
The Community Wise Podcast is a conversation between LISC Greater Kansas City Development Officer Holly Long & practitioners & thought leaders from the Kansas City Metro region in the fields of community development, social enterprise & social justice.
Black History Month Concluding Thoughts, Welcoming of Women’s History Month [+] In our inaugural podcast, LISC Greater Kansas City’s Holly Long sits down with Dr. Melissa Patterson-Hazley to discuss Black History Month, Women’s History and why she gives credit to enslaved African women for the creation of our modern day educational system.
The Intersecting of Community Development and the Shop Local Movement [+] 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?
Building Upon The Past, Ready For The Future [+] LISC KC’s Holly Long sits down with Hispanic/Latinx KC metro community leaders, Diosselyn Tot-Velasquez and Pat Contreras, regarding Hispanic Heritage Month and being your authentic self in this world.
Barriers Facing The LGBT Small Business Community [+] Suzanne Wheeler Executive Director and Jeff Harris Board President of Mid-America LGBT Chamber of Commerce sit down to discuss issues facing small business owners in the LGBTQ Community.
STAFF & LOCAL ADVISORY BOARD (LAB)
LISC Greater Kansas City Staff
Geoff Jolley Executive Director gjolley@lisc.org
Abigail Hayo Assistant Program Officer ahayo@lisc.org
Kelli Hearn Program Officer khearn@lisc.org
Holly Long Development Officer hlong@lisc.org
Daniel Serda Program Officer dserda@lisc.org
Amanda Wilson Senior Program Officer awilson@lisc.org
Local Advisory Board
Cydney M. Gurgens, LAB Chair Director of Commercial Real Estate UMB Bank
Bill Dana Vice Chairman Central Bank of Kansas City
Rodney Bland General Manager Bland Consulting Group
Linda Manlove-Braxton Community Leader
Brandon Dial Vice President, District Manager U.S. Bank
Denise Dowd, M.D. Associate Medical Director Professor of Pediatrics Children’s Mercy
Mike Grube President MG Real Estate LLC
Melissa Patterson Hazley, Ph.D. Director Community Research, Training & Evaluation UMKC Institute for Human Development
Joe Hiersteiner Partner Seigfreid Bingham P.C.
Randy Lopez Vice President of Community Programs Wyandotte Health Foundation of Kansas City, Kansas
Sandra Olivas Community Development Officer First Federal Bank of Kansas City
Lauren Palmer Director of Local Government Services Mid-America Regional Council
Shelley Penn Chief Operations Officer & Senior Vice President Full Employment Council
Dr. Nicole Price CEO Lively Paradox
Rafiq Saad, MBA Vice President, Sr. Premier Banker BMO Harris Bank
Diosselyn Tot-Velasquez Associate Relationship Manager NeighborWorks America
Patrice Townsend Director Utility Services Kansas City BPU
Our Commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Justice
LISC Greater Kansas City is intentional in building and maintaining diversity and inclusion. We are committed to ensuring that equitable policies and practices are embedded throughout all our work. LISC Kansas City Staff works with a diversity, equity, inclusion and justice consultant who provides technical assistance to address diversity, equity, and inclusion in our everyday policies and within our 2020 to 2024 strategic plan. As an organization, we are committed to building and maintaining a diverse, effective, and inclusive Local Advisory Board (LAB). We are committed to ensuring that the ways in which LISC KC staff work with one another, their partners, and the communities they serve are inclusive, respectful, and that they are able to support LISC’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
DONORS
2021 Private Sector Support
Bank of America
Bank of America Charitable Foundation
Bank of Labor
BMO Harris Bank
Jacqueline Bommarito
Central Bank of Kansas City
Children's Mercy Hospitals
Evergy
First Federal Bank
Flaherty & Collins Properties
Hall Family Foundation
Health Forward Foundation
Hunt Family Foundation
Kansas City Economic Development Corporation
Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation
Lewis Rice LLC
Dora Naughton
PNC Bank
PNC Foundation
Preservation of Affordable Housing, Inc.
John & Effie Speas Memorial Trust, Bank of America, N.A. Trustee
Victor E. Speas Foundation, Bank of America, N.A., Trustee
Spencer Fane LLP
Spire Energy
Vincent Tadokoro
John Turner
U.S. Bank
U.S. Bank Foundation
United Way of Greater Kansas City
Urban Action Partners
Brenda Walsh
Westside Housing Organization
Cody Wood
Beth Zollars
2021 Public Sector Support
City of Kansas City, Missouri
Housing Authority of Kansas City
Port Authority of Kansas City, Missouri
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development