KC Currents

By Delores Jones

Kansas City, MO – Bobby Seale was the chairman and co-founder, along with Huey Newton, of the Black Panther Party, an organization formed in 1966 to guard against police brutality in black neighborhoods and provide social services. Last week, he was the keynote speaker at Tent State University, a group formed by UMKC students to protest against some of the University's practices.

By Sylvia Maria Gross

Kansas City, MO – In some cases, a disaster provides an opportunity for communities to come to together. KCUR's Sylvia Maria Gross speaks to one local Vietnamese family who takes in relatives from New Orleans and finds a new connection here.

The Vietnamese American Community of Greater Kansas City donated funds for the Nguyen family to get back on their feet in Kansas City.

By Delores Jones

Kansas City, MO – This weekend, Kansas City hosted two hundred future lawyers from around the country for a legal job fair. It was the first time the Metropolitan Bar Association organized such an event, aimed at attracting young people of color to Kansas City area law firms. In recent years, local law firms have struggled to hire and retain a diverse team of associates and partners. Former President of the Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association, Sylvester James is leading the drive to increase diversity in area firms.

By Sylvia Maria Gross

Goin' to Kansas City Plaza at 12th and Vine

Kansas City, MO – In recent years, the 18th and Vine area has been redeveloped, but 12th and Vine has really been the jazz center of Kansas City. Ollie Gates of Gates Barbeque is now coordinating the redevelopment of the 18th and Vine plaza and tours the area.

Kansas City Latin American Film Festival

Kansas City, MO – UMKC professor Louis Imperiale talks about the Argentine film Wild Horses. Imperiale will be presenting the 1995 film at the Latin American Cinema Festival of Kansas City, which begins this month at the Rio Theater in Overland Park. Films from Argentina, Mexico, Colombia and Peru will be presented every Saturday until October 1.

By Delores Jones

Kansas Citian Angela Cozart's Evacuation

Kansas City, MO – Recent Dillard University graduate Angela Cozart fled New Orleans just before Hurricane Katrina hit. She tells the story to KCUR's Delores Jones.

By Delores Jones

Intro to Financial Planning

Kansas City, MO – Host Delores Jones talk to David Jackson, a Certified Financial Planner with Waddell & Reed and a columnist with The Kansas City Call. Jackson defined financial independence in the first of a series on KC Currents.

By Delores Jones

Kansas City, MO – A little over a week ago, city officials approved the final design for the 250 million dollar Sprint Center - the mayor says it looks like a crystal bowl. Construction begins soon on the city-financed site . . . but some black and Latino contractors and construction workers are concerned that they won't be included on the site.

By Laura Ziegler

Excerpt from Imam Hassan Al-Qazwini

By Delores Jones

Harmony-NCCJ Unite

By Sylvia Maria Gross

Maria Hinojosa, Mary Sanchez on Latino news coverage

Kansas City, MO – Latino USA's Maria Hinojosa was in town last week to speak at the Midwest Latina Conference. Hinojosa recently left CNN to become a senior correspondent on PBS's NOW, with David Brancaccio. A few days ago, she joined the Kansas City Star's Mary Sanchez and KCUR's Sylvia Maria Gross for a conversation about Latinas in the media.

By Sylvia Maria Gross