Ericka Jean Schubert and James Austin Howe were joined in matrimony on October 14th at Pippin Hall Farm and Vineyards outside of Charlottesville, Virginia. The bride is the daughter of Lisa Schubert Hickok and John D. Hickok, Jr., both of Our Town; and Kristy and Bart Schubert of Bradenton, Florida. She is the granddaughter of […]

“Great wines are like great books. Once you take your first ‘sip’, they’re hard to put down.” – James Laube To me pairing books and wine makes perfect sense. They both involve a process of discovery, and they both create a rich and sensory experience. Good wines, like good books, are well-crafted or have a […]

Mission Hills Country Club was the site for the Lyric Opera Circle’s celebration of the holiday season on December 7th. The festive event featured a delicious lunch and the introduction of new members, Wendy Burrell, Petra Kralickova, and Alison Patterson. Nancy Schall was the host.        Featured in the February 10, 2024 issue […]

Truman Library Institute’s Wild About Harry event is celebrating its 25th anniversary! The occasion will be marked on April 18th at the Muehlebach Tower of the Kansas City Marriott Downtown, with Event Chairs Merilyn and Dr. Loren Berenbom at the helm. David Von Drehle and the late Karen Ball are the honorary chairs. Guests will […]

The Carriage Club was the site for Kansas City Ballet Guild’s Nutcracker Luncheon on December 14th. Guild members and Ballet staff celebrated the wonderful holiday season, which was filled with Nutcracker ballet performances. Angela and John Walker were recognized as the 2023 Ballet Guild Pirouette Award winners, and Grace Holmes was toasted for her tenure […]

Love Is Key, especially when talking about chicken and waffles. Actually, Love Is Key when Tameisha and Cameron Martin touch anything having to do with food and catering. The name of their business says it all, and the love they put into their culinary efforts dates back to Tameisha’s grandmother, Daisy. Daisy’s gift was baking […]

Working in the field of phlebotomy requires some very specific qualities, and LaVita Green has those qualities and a whole lot more. First, she isn’t afraid of blood! Second, and more importantly, she cares deeply about the quality of work she and her teams do to ensure safe, reliable blood draws for her clientele. And […]

Ritchie Cherry, Sr. wants to help people with stress, and he is uniquely qualified to do so! Ritchie has a bachelor of science degree in psychology from Langston University, and a master’s degree in counseling psychology from Alabama A&M University. Besides that, he was a professional boxer from 2010 to 2015. But possibly the most […]

In the mid 1800s, many who were enslaved traveled through Missouri to Kansas, seeking to escape the bonds of slavery. While Kansas Citians know of Quindaro Boulevard, its namesake was an early Kansas settlement that was integral to the pre-Civil War abolitionist movement. Known today as the Quindaro Ruins, the area is significant to Black […]

Needing medical care is something we all eventually experience. Yet, receiving fair and equal healthcare treatment is not. According to Dr. Jason E. Glenn, associate professor in the department of history and philosophy of medicine at The University of Kansas Medical Center (KU Medical Center), health inequities are most stark in the African American community. […]

  The Prize Imagine being only two years into starting a brand new non-profit organization and receiving the call that you have been selected as a 2022 Pinnacle Prize winner! That is exactly what happened to Brandon Calloway, co-founder of G.I.F.T. – Generating Income For Tomorrow. Knee-deep in a movement to provide grants to Black-owned […]

“There is nothing in here you can’t touch, and if I like it, it ends up here.” Such are the words of an art collector who surrounds himself with pieces that speak to him directly, not because of their perceived value or the potential commerce of the artist’s name. Maurice Watson is pretty sure that […]

When reflecting on the civil rights movement of the 1950s and 60s, you might recall significant events that advanced the cause. What may not immediately come to mind is baseball and how a series of events in the sport initiated progress for African American rights. With Kansas City as the epicenter, a seemingly unassuming series […]

Jason Banks, Vice President, National Procurement Director, JE Dunn Construction “Courageous excellence,” is how Stephenie Smith of Sophic Solutions describes Jason Banks. She goes on to say that she “… appreciates his ability to both care for others and move the needle professionally.” This dynamic leader is excelling in his career because he pays attention […]

Maybe it’s the cold sapping my mental brain power, but I’ve been very much in the mood for cozy reads by the fire. The crackling wood, a warm drink, and a book sounds like my idea of a perfect day spent avoiding the cold. On days like the ones we have recently suffered through, the […]

December 16th was the date for Kansas City Young Matrons’ annual Mistletoe Party. Members and their guests enjoyed an evening of fun and fellowship at KCYM Member Shari and John Olander’s beautiful home.    Featured in the January 27, 2024 issue of The Independent. Photo Credit: John Caulfield

The Harriman-Jewell Series thanked its board of advisors with a dinner that included special guest opera star tenor, Juan Diego Flórez, who spoke of his connection to Our Town through the Harriman-Jewell Series and thanked his supporters. Guests enjoyed a delicious meal at The Capital Grille and celebrated the legacy of the Harriman-Jewell Series in […]

Hyman Brand Hebrew Academy’s 50th Jubilee Civic Service Celebration will be held on March 10th at the Kansas City Marriott Downtown. Mindy Corporon will be honored with the Civic Service Award. Guests will enjoy a wonderful evening to celebrate the work of Mindy, who founded the SevenDays organization. Dianne and Congressman Emanuel Cleaver II, Peggy […]

November 15th was the date for the elegant Benefactor Party for the donors of the annual Fireside Fundraiser, which was hosted by the Fireside Committee of the Kansas City Art Institute at The Carriage Club. Lynne Weilert was the chairman. Guests enjoyed delicious hors d’oeuvres, wine, and lovely music from a harpist.     Featured […]

December 2nd was the date for the Junior League of Wyandotte and Johnson Counties in Kansas’ 73rd Annual Community Ball and Cotillion, which was held at the Kansas City Marriott Downtown. Gina Brozenic and Lindsay Golubski were the co-chairs, and Cindy Ford served as the Cotillion chair. The lovely evening featured a “Masquerade” theme. Guests […]

The Midland was the site for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Kansas City’s Most Wanted Auction, which was held on December 9th. The Most Wanted honorees were recognized, and guests enjoyed bidding on once-in-a-lifetime auction packages. Proceeds support the organization to make a difference by creating professionally supported, one-to-one matches for kids who want […]