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Season of Giving at CBKC
The holiday spirit was in full swing at Community Builders of Kansas City’s Sixth Annual Turkey Drop, where more than 700 turkeys and 1,000 Thanksgiving meal kits rolled out to Kansas Citians just in time for the holiday. The celebration went beyond meals, with Truman’s Mobile Market distributing fresh produce, the Kansas City Public Library’s Bookmobile team giving away 350 books and University Health providing free flu and COVID vaccinations available on-site.
The season of giving continued with the fifth annual Soul of Santa Tree Lighting Ceremony at The Shops on Blue Parkway on Friday, Dec. 5. More than 150 community members gathered for a family-friendly night filled with joy, connection and holiday cheer. The evening’s highlights included the lighting of a stunning 50-foot Christmas tree and live performances from local favorites, including The Next Paige Youth Dancers, Royal Chief – creator of the KC Current theme song – the Kansas City Boys & Girls Choir and KC Fusion Drillteam.
Mayor Quinton Lucas, Mayor Pro Tem Rayna Parks-Shaw and 5th District At-Large Councilmember Darrell Curls joined the festivities, which were emceed by FOX4 anchor Brea Love. Major League Baseball legend Joe Carter and Savvy Salon founder Lenora Leathers had the honor of lighting the tree, while Kansas City Royals mascot Sluggerrr delighted guests throughout the night. Hot 103 Jamz! broadcast live from the event, Russell Stover sweetened the evening with treats and the Salvation Army warmed spirits with hot cocoa.
Behind the fun was an even greater purpose: supporting The Soul of Santa (TSOS) “Do Good” Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to connecting individuals with disabilities and their caregivers to vital resources and community support. Through storytelling, mentorship, wellness initiatives, education, food security and cultural programming, TSOS works to uplift the mind, body and soul – ensuring every individual has the opportunity to thrive.
The celebration continued the next morning with the Blue Parkway Community Breakfast, where families enjoyed a hot meal, free toys for children, family portraits provided by The Kansas City Star, gift cards provided by Taliaferro & Browne and holiday activities. More than 300 pieces of clothing were donated and kids enjoyed photos with The Soul of Santa, coloring stations and hands-on fun.
A heartfelt thank you to all our partners who helped make the holidays merrier and brighter.
Top-Rated Property Management Team Takes on CBKC Multi-Family
Community Builders of Kansas City has engaged Community Housing Management to provide property management services on several assets.
Based in St. Joseph, Missouri, the property management / housing organization has an excellent reputation in the affordable housing market and is very well regarded by the Missouri Housing Development Commission (MHDC), the state’s housing finance agency.
“CHM handles all of the day-to-day operations of CBKC’s affordable multi-family housing portfolio,” said Shannon Hesterberg, CBKC’s chief operations and real estate officer. “That amounts to nearly 600 doors that are in the good hands of this organization.”
Founded in 1981, CHM has an expertise in serving low-income, elderly and handicapped individuals and families living in multi-family housing developments. A full-service property management firm, the organization provides end-to-end operations with a strong emphasis on Fair Housing and regulatory integrity as well as preserving asset value while delivering a positive resident experience.
CHM is known for its attention to the resident experience, from their communications emphasizing, “responsive service requests, clean and safe common areas, respectful onsite interactions and community-building initiatives that foster pride of place and help connect residents with resources that support housing stability and neighborhood vitality.”
Community Housing Ministry, Inc. (the nonprofit entity associated with CHM) holds a four-out-of-four-star rating with Charity Navigator, which has created comprehensive ratings of more than 200,000 charitable organizations.
Welcome to the Neighborhood, Behavioral Health Allies!
Behavioral Health Allies (BHA), has taken over the former H&R Block call center building at 4400 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd. The organization more than doubled its office space to 89,282 square feet when it bought the building and started a $5 million renovation. Established locally in 1995, BHA provides a continuum of care across the lifespan, from early intervention and education to community living and transportation services.
“We extend a warm welcome to BHA and are excited to see activity again at this space that sat vacant for several years,” said Shannon Hesterberg, chief operations and real estate officer. “BHA offers services not formerly available in the area. It will undoubtedly improve the lives of local residents.”
BHA’s programs are designed to take place in everyday settings—homes, schools and neighborhood facilities—rather than large institutions. Services include:
- BHA Academy: K–12 education tailored to students with developmental or behavioral needs.
- Community Living: Residential homes (off-site) for children and adults who need ongoing support.
- Early Intervention: In-clinic Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) for children 18 months to 7 years old.
- Transportation: Rides to schools, appointments, and community activities.
The organization uses proven methods like therapy, positive support and everyday life-skills training. A team of different specialists works together, including behavior experts, speech and occupational therapists, special-education teachers and trained support staff who help with daily care and learning.
BHA says its mission as providing “a lifetime of hope and new opportunities for individuals and their families to grow, learn and live.” Its core values include compassion, collaboration, integrity, excellence and empowerment. The organization emphasizes partnerships with families, schools, physicians and community agencies.”
The facility’s overhaul started in December 2024 with a complete transformation of its interior and grounds. Spaces previously used as a reception area, training rooms and employee cafeteria were redesigned to shed the building’s corporate look and create a brighter, more welcoming environment.
Improvements extended beyond the main building. Entrances and exits were reconfigured to handle student drop-offs, and a 14,926-square-foot warehouse was turned into a gym. Architecture firm ACI Boland led the design, with construction by Forge Construction.
Twin Elms Residents Enjoy Updated Property, Social Support Services
The extensive renovations at Twin Elms are complete and now residents of this Community Builders of Kansas City senior living community can enjoy their life in comfort, supported by the many social services and enrichment programs coordinated by Horizon Housing Foundation.
Founded 25 years ago, Horizon’s mission is to support seniors, families and veterans through programs that promote economic self-sufficiency and improve their quality of life. For Twin Elms residents those programs include social gatherings, healthy meal events, fitness and balance classes, financial literacy workshops, employment support and assistance with utility and rent payment. Residents also will have access to a monthly mobile food pantry, nutrition and cooking classes as well as an annual wellness check-up.
The success of an affordable housing community is not only about the quality of the property itself or even the amenities that come with it. As important is bringing resources that help to ensure the residents are healthy and stable.
Located at 41st & Paseo, the 54-unit affordable housing development meets a huge need for affordable senior housing in the urban core. In Missouri, nearly 30 percent of senior households are low-income. Twin Elms serves residents with very low income to those with up to 60 percent of area median household income.
It takes patience, experience and expertise to navigate the financial and development hurdles involved in opening quality affordable residential communities on Kansas City’s East Side. Over the last 35 years, CBKC has provided nearly 1,000 housing units.
Among those challenges are appraisal gaps and escalating building costs.
On the East Side, rents and appraisals are frequently lower than the cost of construction or rehabilitation, which affects lender underwriting. Nationally, as in Kansas City, persistent devaluation in majority-Black neighborhoods widens the gap a financial projection must bridge. The cost and availability of materials knows no boundaries and only adds to the financing challenge.
CBKC deals with these obstacles with development savvy and experience in playing the long game with various regulatory and financing entities as well as navigating the technical requirements for tax credits and other subsidy support. For example, CBKC was awarded Missouri Housing Development Commission low-income housing tax credits (LITEC) for the $8.8 million Twin Elms retirement community renovation. It also worked with the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority as a financing and transit partner leveraging START bond proceeds as part of the redevelopment finance package.
Delivering affordable housing in the urban core requires deeper capital stacks, coordinated land strategies and strong community partners. Fortunately for our senior community members, Twin Elms had enough of that mix to complete the renovations and will continue to benefit from the work of Horizon Housing Foundation that is serving as the primary social service and program coordinator for all residents at the property.
Amazing food and beverage, with a side of pickleball
Thoughtful craft cocktails with your besties? VIP-suite pre-game / watch party / post-game happy hour-ing with your people within walking distance to the stadium? How about a refreshing coffee meet up? Da-lish lunch or dinner with co-workers or kids at budget-friendly prices? Want to be able to tell your friends, “Yes! I’ve tried the gochugang (go – choo – jang) sauce and love it!”? Looking for a full, fun day out with no-skills-required play as well as fabulous food and beverage? Have a special event needing lots of space, private lounges, full kitchen and bar?
We have all that and more in one place – SW19 at the Stadium, open seven days a week. Come see for yourself how and where all that fantastic happens.
It Starts With Our People
Nikki Mahoney is a 20-year bartending professional. She manages the bar operations though customers really want her tending them herself when they come in. Mahoney says she was mentored by the best from her stint in Austin and locally and keeps a book of bespoke beverages clients have requested. If you mentioned some random fave ingredient in passing, Mahoney is going to remember it. Introduce yourself to Aryanna and Kevin behind the bar – they’re the best! Locally renowned Darrell Loo @asiandarrell consulted on the bar menu.
Brayden Johnson is the kitchen manager and he’s all about operational excellence in the kitchen and in front of house. He brings his previous restaurant experience, both in food prep and management, to SW19 at the Stadium and is proud of the amazing food that his team gets to serve customers. “We are the premiere food and beverage place within walking distance of the stadium,” he said. “People know us for our good food. Our menu has offerings for kids and adults to enjoy.”
The much celebrated local chef Keeyoung Kim @keeyoungkim consulted on menu, seasoning the offerings – appetizers, main, pizza, lighter fare and more with signature Korean dishes like bibimbap (Korean bowl). It is all so good!
Running it from the front desk to the pickleball courts, coffee shop to the bar and restaurant, bathrooms to stockrooms, SW19 at the Stadium staff to community partners, is Taquila Huff, operations manager. Both she and Mahoney jumped at the chance to be part of launching something unique – a first-class pickleball operation with an equally classy bar, restaurant and coffee shop offering with both small and large event hosting.
Huff started her work life as a call center representative. “Customer impact and experience is my thing,” she said. “I really like interacting with people.” That starts with her team. “Not only do we work together, but we also are like a family,” Huff added. “We notice each other’s strengths. We try to emulate those but also work to build each other up in areas where we are not as strong. I love being a part of a team like this.” The team recently committed to this more formally with a dedicated cross training initiative so that, in a pinch, each can step in and help out where needed.
SW19 at the Stadium is All The Things
Start your day with a friend, family member, co-worker or client in our beautiful coffee lounge. You can enjoy a yummy, locally roasted drip coffee, custom lattes and iced bevs paired with tasty breakfast treats to kick your day off right
Planning an event? Check us out for your baby or bridal shower, birthday party, epic board/card game, charades or trivia night. We have deluxe private lounges with professional food and beverage personnel at your service.
Meeting up for happy hour? SW19 at the Stadium has you covered. Come see us for our go-to favorites as well as delicious hand-crafted specials. Our bar and restaurant is a great place for you to have a drink, dine and unwind after a long day.
It’s football season. Are you tailgating next door and watching the game outside the stadium? Come on in and have a watch party in our VIP lounge where you can enjoy dedicated bar and food service and bathrooms just steps away in comfort!
Looking for a different family outing? Schedule time on a court – pickleball is fun for all ages and abilities – and enjoy food from a menu sure to please all tastes and refreshing beverages for every member of the family.
Make SW19 at the Stadium your new go-to for friends and family as well as work things. Open seven days a week, our hours:
Coffee shop
8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Restaurant
Mon.-Thurs., 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Fri.- Sat., 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Sun., 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Bar
Mon-Thurs., 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Fri-Sat., 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Sun ., 11a.m. to 7 p.m.
Gwen Grant and the Urban League – Advocacy in Action
Gwen Grant, president and CEO at Urban League of Greater Kansas City, has been a friend to and fan of Community Builders of Kansas City for decades. As the long-time leader of the Urban League – both a civil rights and social services organization – Grant appreciates CBKC’s work.
“CBKC is the premier community development corporation serving neighborhoods and communities east of Troost and has a stellar track record for doing phenomenal work bringing affordable housing, retail and commercial projects to life,” she said. “Without CBKC, we would have very little economic development in the urban core. It’s unfortunate that there is not more support from the city to address the persistent and pervasive disinvestment in the inner city.”
Grant grew up in the civil rights era and vividly remembers, “My brave mother letting her pre-teen daughter go with church folks on a bus to Washington, D.C., to participate in Solidarity Day.” That was in 1968, not long after the Martin Luther King, Jr., assassination. The event was a positive culmination of weeks of protest on the National Mall by thousands of poor people from all over the country. The estimated 50,000 in attendance on Solidarity Day were there to protest, sing, hear speeches, and demonstrate to bring attention to poverty and spur legislative action to address its effects.
This and many other experiences prepared Grant for the way she approached carrying out the mission of the Urban League – with passion, commitment, energy and courage. Fighting against the odds, she said, has been a calling.
“It has to be a calling, or it would just be too much,” Grant said. “I am driven by wanting life to be better, easier, more equitable for Black people.”
Now in her 24th year as ULKC’s leader, she remains a strong, passionate advocate for economic empowerment and social justice. The organization’s agenda is driven by data captured in the biannual State of Black KC, a critical analysis of education, economics, health, social justice, and civic engagement in relation to race. The 2025 edition will be made public November 1 at the 18th Urban Summit Annual Conference.
What is unchanging is the Urban League’s commitment to transformative programs and services that help mitigate urban core disparities and challenges and improve quality of life. Grant mentioned ULKC’s Accelerated Learning Lab, kicked off again in September after students had a chance to settle in the new school year.
Just one of many of the organization’s education, career and business programs, the Accelerated Learning Lab is not only teaching what the student needs to know now to meet teacher expectations but also thoroughly assesses where a student is and what the work is to close any learning gaps.
“We teach not only what is assigned but we map out a plan for the student so we know with some certainty how long it will take us to get the student where he or she needs to be,” she said. “We see amazing results in short periods of time.”
Efforts to achieve a social and economic balance that stabilizes the Eastside of Kansas City, Missouri, is slower work. Founded more than 100 years ago, the Urban League of Greater Kansas City’s mission – to enable African Americans and other disadvantaged persons to secure economic self-reliance, parity, power, and civil rights – continues.