Race Project KC Remains on Hiatus Through the 2024-25 School Year
Race Project KC is growing. Growth takes time. A Community Advisory Board is currently creating the foundation on which a larger RPKC will be built, with an expanded range of involvement from our community, able to serve greater student populations.
While you wait for our reemergence, we encourage you to . . .
explore the reading recommendations, community partners, and educational materials listed in our Resources.
Where We Have Been
Established and coordinated by Johnson County Library, Race Project KC is an annual immersive social justice initiative focused on the role of racism in the history of the United States and, more specifically, the Kansas City area. It is designed for students in grades 9 through 12 in the KC metro area, and builds from the principle text Some of My Best Friends Are Black: The Strange Story of Integration in America by author Tanner Colby. The Project consists of a series of opportunities for students to learn Kansas City and Johnson County's story of structural racism and how it continues to impact us today; to undergo unique experiences related to that story; to encounter experts on the topics; to learn vocabulary for talking about racism; to build relationships with peers they might not otherwise meet; and to share their own stories as they relate to the issues. This occurs through monthly events for student groups throughout the school year and an annual event with author Tanner Colby (and others) each spring.
Where We Are Now
The RPKC Advisory Board members began meeting in summer 2023. Our goal is to provide the Kauffman Foundation with a recommendation on RPKC's future trajectory, addressing the fundamental questions of "What is RPKC?" and "Whose is it?" (or “Who does RPKC serve?”). To achieve this, we will utilize research and data collection methods. The board has moved from getting acquainted and formal training to forming subgroups and diving into active work. The committee has divided into the following subcommittees:
Student Council & Education- Fosters student and educational engagement and builds partnerships that create programming and curriculum., including reconnecting with past supportive teachers and partners. Marlee Bunch, Katie Gehrt, David Muhammad, Imani Jefferson, Lucy Perez-Sewell, Michaela Ross
Marketing & Communication- Facilitates communication, ensuring consistent branding, messaging, and visuals for both internal and external communication. Chris Koppenhaver, Haley Jeffrey, Nasir Anthony Montalvo, Jasmine Ross, Mary Olive Joyce
Community Outreach- Engages with the community, cultivates partnerships, and identifies potential connections. Saihaj Parmar, Warda Noor, Maliyah Williams, Brent Bellew, Marquis Hall, Glenn North
Advocacy & Wellness- Raises awareness of city histories and equity policies, integrating social-emotional learning, advocating internally and externally, and supporting committee wellness. Brent Bellew, Terri Barnes, Joy Sang, Jill Maidhof
Strategy and Planning - Leads strategic initiatives, fundraising campaigns, and grant compliance, informed by data, equity plan, meeting notes, and feedback. Melisa Jimenez, Jacob Gutierrez, Jorge Fuller, Jason Arthur, Sydnie Sykes
Listening Sessions Coming Soon! We will be hosting community listening sessions this summer. Listening sessions will inform and guide the board’s and the future of RPKC. Keep an eye out for a future email with dates and times. To learn more about future listening sessions, email us at [email protected].
The short video below was created at our culminating symposium in April 2019 and is a great introduction to what we do.
