Laura Palacios is a woman who gets things done. In her words, she “means business” when it comes to the causes she champions. Renowned for her support of literacy, diversity advocacy, and numerous other initiatives, Laura’s extensive community contributions have earned her recognition as a Rising Star from The Independent. 

The motivations behind such dedication often run deep. For Laura, her passion for literacy, diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) is deeply personal and influenced by her bilingual upbringing in El Paso, Texas. “My mother’s first language was not English, and so it was a struggle to read, understand, and comprehend the English language,” Laura said. “I got to see the consistent result of those struggles in a resource-filled country.” Despite the hardships, Laura went on to receive a master of science degree in organizational leadership. Undoubtedly, this experience prepared her to make an impact through her professional and volunteer work.

Laura has a long history of filling notable roles within local organizations, including past president of the National Society of Hispanic MBAs and past treasurer of the Young Latino Professionals, where she is now a member. Laura also previously served on the governance committee of United Way and contributed her expertise to the Kansas City Neighborhood Tourism and Development Fund Committee, promoting diverse neighborhoods through cultural, social, educational, and recreational activities that bolster local conventions and tourism. 

For a cause close to her heart, Laura served as an executive board member and former board development chair for Literacy KC. Her dedication also extends to grassroots efforts, such as her role as newsletter editor for the Independence Plaza Neighborhood Council, where she mobilizes community engagement. Laura’s passion for involvement is also evident at events like the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce’s Power of Diversity Breakfast.

Laura’s dedication to Kansas City has been noted by many, including Theresa A. Garza, who serves on the Raytown Board of Aldermen, who said, “Laura’s commitment and service throughout Kansas City has had a ripple effect on the lives of so many. During the past 13 years, she has been a tireless advocate for a myriad of charitable causes, ranging from awareness of gender equity, women in politics, racial equity, crime reduction, neighborhood preservation and cleanup, education, and homelessness.” 

While Laura is a powerhouse who supports organizations across the community, one of her passions is DEI. As a Latina, she works to ensure women and all people of color are advocated for in the workplace, schools, and local government. “Laura has always been a strong advocate for the Latinx community and the broader community of women in both professional and personal spaces,” said Tahir Atwater, Jackson County CASA. “She is a community organizer, often at the center of efforts to convene groups of people to solve issues in our community. She leads, organizes, and promotes panels, rallies, meetings, and work groups that work on policy and practices that will better Kansas City.” 

According to Laura’s friend, Gene Willis, she has been a sought-after speaker by the Government Employees Health Association (GEHA), a health benefits non profit with a DEI focus. Also, through her involvement with Literacy KC, Laura promotes education and literacy initiatives that empower Kansas City’s youth, many of whom are people of color. “Literacy is the key and sometimes the door that allows people to engage with the resources available (medical, financial, and community),” she said.

Her passion for literacy led Laura away from Kansas City this summer to Indianapolis where she is serving as senior director of the Indy Summer Learning Labs (ISLL). ISLL serves more than 5,000 students annually, helping them increase their skills in literacy and math significantly. While in Indianapolis, Laura will oversee the program that provides students with an opportunity to learn English language arts and math, in addition to enrichment activities. “What attracted me to the role is the literacy gains that students who have participated in this summer program have seen in the last three years, which have been an average of 23 percentage points over five weeks and the same goes for math,” she said. An additional draw for Laura was ISLL’s potential for widespread and local impact. “It’s already scaled beyond Indianapolis, and the Midwest reach is just right around the corner,” she said. “So to be ready for that and how it may impact Kansas City one day, you have to learn and run the program first.”

From Tahir Atwater’s perspective, Laura stands out because she isn’t involved in community advocacy for status or recognition. Instead, her efforts come from a genuine desire to unite people across Missouri and Kansas for the betterment of Kansas City. He said, “Laura is actively recruiting and advocating for more people of color to join her in the spaces where decisions are being made. She has a long history of political support, leading rallies, fundraisers, and promoting candidates and ideas that champion equity and inclusion. Laura is someone you see everywhere.” 

In the words of Laura’s friend, Jessica Mindnich, senior director of strategic learning and evaluation at the Mellon Foundation, “Laura is the epitome of a service leader, inspiring others with her dedication and humility. She consistently galvanizes the people around her, motivating them to work together toward a better future.”

Featured in the July 27, 2024 issue of The Independent
By: Monica V. Reynolds
Photo Credit: Tom Styrkowicz