×
Subscribe

Subscribe Today

Save almost 50% off the newsstand price!

In addition to receiving 26 issues of The Independent Kansas City’s Journal of Society, your subscription will include our annual publication, the Charitable Events Calendar and a subscription to our e-newsletter, The Insider.

Questions about your current subscription? Contact Laura Gabriel at 816-471-2800.

TRAILBLAZING: National Congress of Black Women – Kansas City Chapter

Sylvya Stevenson founded the National Congress of Black Women–Kansas City Chapter in 2013; it is an affiliate of the National Congress of Black Women, which was founded by the late Representative Shirley Chisholm, who was the first Black woman to be elected to The United States Congress. The organization offers affordable memberships for Black women and girls ages 13 and older, provides year-round voter registration, partners with other groups to do outreach to voters and potential voters, and makes scholarships available to high school seniors, college students, and adults. Two signature events are held each year: the Annual Women and Girls Torch Carriers Conference and the Annual Scholarship and Awards Black Tie Gala. The Conference is a community event featuring opportunities to hear from community leaders and to learn about a variety of topics including education and career training. The Black Tie Gala is a celebration of the organization’s anniversary – 2023 marks 10 years – and is its primary fundraising event. As Sylvya Stevenson noted, “Membership exposes women and girls to community engagement activities and creates a sisterhood.” Volunteers are encouraged to become Friends of NCBW by signing up as corporate sponsors or individual sponsors.   

Kathryn Bell, treasurer; Layla Swanson, youth member; Erika Taylor, Brenda Baker, historian; and RaeShaun Williams

 

Janae Swanson, recording secretary; Shirley Stevenson, founding member; Sakeena Abdul-Haqq, Sylvya Stevenson, founder, chief executive officer, and president; City Council Member Ryana Parks-Shaw, Shekita Robinson, and Celeste Chaney-Tucker, vice president 

 

Scholarship Recipients: Bertha Hampton, Donnelly College; Zuri Primos, Lincoln College Preparatory Academy; Ofelia Luna, East High School/Metropolitan Community College, Kansas City; Lydia McReynolds, The Pembroke Hill School; and MarKili Leavy, Central High School 

Featured in the March 18, 2023 issue of The Independent.
Learn more at NCBWKansasCity.org.

Features

KidsTLC – Benefit23

KidsTLC hosted Benefit23, a dreamy evening filled with pajamas and a fun celebration (sounds wonderful!) led by Chairmen Sarah and Ryan Owings. With delightful cocktails from J. Rieger & Co.,…

Catholic Charities Foundation of Northeast Kansas and New Roots – The Gathering

Teresa Walsh hosted the 11th annual occasion of The Gathering, a benefit for Catholic Charities Foundation of Northeast Kansas and the New Roots program. Missy Kuklenski served as the chairman.…

Junior League of Wyandotte and Johnson Counties – Meet and Greet/Icebreaker

Being fitted for formalwear before the Community Ball and Cotillion on December 2nd should be fun, so the Junior League of Wyandotte and Johnson Counties hosted a Meet and Greet/Icebreaker…

The Family Conservancy’s Blue Carpet Event

The Family Conservancy’s Blue Carpet Event was held on October 13th at The Abbott. Partygoers enjoyed cocktails, dinner, live music, a wine pull, and silent and live auctions. Sly James…