In September, Community Builders of Kansas City (CBKC) leadership convened to develop a framework that will shape the future of the organization. In a workshop led by prominent Washington, D.C., urban development consultant Steve Glaude, the framework examined the organization’s core values and established the priorities that will carry them forward.
“CBKC’s mission remains the same – to change the landscape by igniting and fueling equity, access, opportunity and advocacy,” said Emmet Pierson, Jr., president and CEO. “We are imagining a future that expands upon that foundation by defining our strategic pillars – to develop, invest, innovate and advocate for the audiences we serve – and establishing the objectives and strategies that will take us there.”
The organization’s priorities for the future include real estate development, community investment/lending, asset and wealth building, community health and wellness, public policy/advocacy and high-impact initiatives.
“Just in the last year, another landscape-changing project – The Rochester – was completed and now is nearly 100 percent leased,” added Pierson. “We recently got underway on another transformative development for this community – the Overlook District – which will have 180,000 square feet of Class A office space, 19,000 square feet of mixed-use space and 155 multi-family units. Now we’re setting our sights on the next projects that will alter the landscape and impact lives in a transformative way.”
The strategic framework laid out in September is just that – a framework that is fluid enough to allow for agility in changing or expanding on the organization’s purpose and geography.
“Some of our hot button topics we’re looking at go beyond real estate initiatives such as improving access to capital and resources for minority entrepreneurs; providing programs for career development, mentoring and leadership; creating a health referral system and expanding and formalizing our community outreach initiatives like the summer Starlight movie and the Thanksgiving turkey giveaway,” explained Pierson.
Beyond the brick-and-mortar and programming initiatives, the organization looks to expand its presence beyond Kansas City.