TRAILBLAZER: Author Olivia Hill

Author, Artist, Activist, and Playwright

Olivia Hill was born and raised in Kansas City. She is an author, artist, activist, and a playwright. Her memoir, Travel North Black Girl, is a story of self-discovery and empowerment. Set in the early 1980s, Olivia recounts her experiences of moving to the remote indigenous village of Tatitlek, Alaska, as a newlywed. Olivia earned a bachelor of arts degree in theater and visual arts from the University of Alaska Fairbanks. She is the author of five plays, including Mother Spense, for which she received the Lorraine Hansberry Award from The Kennedy Center. Olivia is a visual artist, and her prints and watercolors have been widely exhibited. She also conducts workshops to discuss issues relating to the arts, mental health, and nature. Olivia has owned several businesses, including Solomon’s Rose, a gourmet food and catering company. 

TRAILBLAZER: Dr. Royall B. Fleming

One of our colleagues found this portrait of Dr. Royall B. Fleming in an antique mall downtown at least a dozen years ago. It appears to have been created for a publication, but we don’t know which one. We’re guessing that it dates from the 1930s, because it doesn’t mention his military service. Royall was a captain in the Army medical corps during World War II. According to his obituary in the Kansas City Star, “he received the Silver Star for gallantry in action in Italy.” Royall’s 38-year career included stints at Queen of the World Hospital and St. Margaret Hospital. He died at the age of 67 in 1969.  

RISING STAR: Terri Barnes, Rising Star Class of 2016

Terri Barnes is the founder and president of The Nia Project Kansas City, an organization that helps build confidence, capacity, and opportunity for Black girls and women. It works to raise awareness and financial support for organizations and individuals doing impactful work and their efforts help bring the community together towards these goals. Terri stated, “Through my work at The Nia Project, I’ve had the wonderful privilege of supporting a variety of non-profit organizations. I am most proud of celebrating five years of hosting Black Women Get Fit – A Health and Wellness experience.”

Terri also sponsored a Thank A Teacher Campaign to recognize Kindergarten through 12th grade teachers in our community. Teachers were given goodie baskets, photos, money, and more. Additionally, Terri convened the first annual Black Nonprofit Leadership Symposium, where leaders in the community shared their secrets to successful and sustainable non profits. 

Terri also supports A-Flat Orchestra, National Black United Front-KC, Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Kansas City, The Village Kansas City, and BizTown through Junior Achievement of Greater Kansas City.

TRAILBLAZER: Christian dos Santos

Student, Bachelor of Music in Viola Performance,
International Center for Music at Park University

Christian dos Santos is studying for a bachelor of music degree in viola performance with Professor Peter Chun at the International Center for Music at Park University. He will be featured in this month’s Park ICM Orchestra Valentine’s Concert. Christian grew up in Brazil. Thanks to a social project for children from low-income families, he was able to take a variety of classes, including painting, swimming, and martial arts, beginning when he was 11 years old. At 12, Christian began learning to play the viola. He was nearly 18 when he moved to São Paulo, where he was employed with the São Paulo State Youth Orchestra and attended São Paulo State Music School. Christian decided to study abroad in order to both improve his skills and experience life in another country. At Park ICM, he feels he has benefited from the opportunity to work with the Park Quartet and a chamber orchestra, in addition to solo performances. Christian envisions continuing his education in The United States. He would like to teach and also to be a professional musician, perhaps with a studio of his own. He intends to help ensure that other students in Brazil have the options he has pursued. 

TRAILBLAZER: Author Crystal M. Everett

Crystal M. Everett recently published Mari and Mommy Move It! This children’s book was inspired by her daughter and her love for music and dance. Crystal is an educator who has spent more than a decade working with youth from Kindergarten through 12th grade, and in higher education and non profit capacities. All of these experiences enhance many of her professional projects. She is the founder of the Everett Consulting Group, which focuses on educating and empowering students and their supporters about college and career opportunities. Her podcast, Conversations with Crystal, features discussions with experts in education. In addition, Crystal has served as a facilitator at the Parent Leadership Institute KC for the past five years. She earned degrees in public relations and sociology from Drake University, which honored her with its Young Alumni Loyalty Award. Crystal received a master of education degree in human relations from Northern Arizona University. She received the Rising Star Award from the Missouri Association for College Admission Counseling. Crystal is a member of Delta Sigma Theta sorority. She and her husband, Marquis, are the parents of a daughter, Mari.    

TRAILBLAZING: Negro Leagues Baseball Museum

John “Buck” O’Neil founded the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in 1990. It is the only museum dedicated to preserving and celebrating African-American baseball history and its impact on the social advancement of America. Originating in a one-room office in 1991, the NLBM expanded to a 10,000 square-foot space in the cultural complex known as the Museums at 18th & Vine. This Kansas City, Missouri, location is the ideal spot for the NLBM – it is two blocks from the Paseo YMCA, where Andrew “Rube” Foster established the Negro National League in 1920. The United States Congress designated the NLBM as “America’s National Negro Leagues Baseball Museum” in 2006. Volunteers are welcome. 

TRAILBLAZER: Author Cynthia L. Fails

Cynthia L. Fails is the author of many books, in genres ranging from children’s books to romance novels and beyond. Her most recent book is Decoding Joy. Cynthia self-published her books, and she grew tired of the unequal split of the profits. In one instance, she received only 14 cents per copy on a book that had a profit of five dollars per sale. Cynthia decided to start LaunchCrate Publishing, “to provide a platform for writers to launch their ideas into the world while keeping the portion of profit they deserve.” Cynthia’s company specializes in infusing technology within print books.    

TRAILBLAZERS: Kansas City Leaders

Dawn Rattan

EverFit

@EverFitKC

EverFitKC.com

Isaac Lee Collins

Yogurtini Frozen Yogurt

Streamlined Profit Academy

Superhero Yoga

@IsaacLeeCollins

IsaacLeeCollins.com

Lynnette Crawford

Style Therapii

@StyleTherapii

StyleTherapii.com

(Photo Credit: Bryan Alford Photography)

Brandy Spearman

Black Lemon Boutique 

@BlackLemonBoutique 

BlackLemonBoutique.com

TRAILBLAZER: Author Christle Reed

Christle Reed’s first book, Hugs from the Sky, is about the journey of love, loss, and acceptance. Christle said, “So many children are often overlooked when grief is involved. As a person who has dealt with major childhood loss, I understood the need for a helpful resource that children could use to acknowledge and work through their grief.” Christle’s second book, I Can Be Me in KC, was created in partnership with the Turn The Page KC organization. (TurnThePageKC.com) The story follows two young children who explore Our Town, meet professionals and entrepreneurs, and discover all of the possibilities open to them. Christle is also a public speaker. She earned a bachelor of science degree in sociology from Iowa State University and a master of science degree in management and leadership from Western Governors University. Christle and her husband are the parents of three children.   

TRAILBLAZER: Author Trae Q L Venerable

Trae Q L Venerable began exploring writing, photography, film, and fashion while he was a student at the University of Central Missouri, where Venerable’s Projects was born. He has published a series of three books for children, all based on the theme of being a cowboy and exploring the history of African American cowboys and cowgirls. He has also created a fashion label, Midwest CowPoke, which features vintage, branded apparel and altered garments, including denim overalls and flannels. Trae is an avid outdoorsman, hunter, and horseman. As he sees it, the CowPoke way of life means being different, standing out, and pressing everything to its limits.    

Find more in the February 4, 2023 issue of The Independent.