Earl Martin Phalen
The largest city in Missouri and dubbed as the “Heart of America”, Kansas City is known for its jazz festival and Chiefs and Royals sports franchises. The city has transformed in the last two decades having seen some $6 billion in downtown redevelopment since 2000. Changes include the addition of the Bloch building at the Nelson- Atkins Museum of Art and opening of the Kauffman Center for The Performing Arts.
Why not take the opportunity to visit the Heart of America at this most wonderful time of the year?
One of the change-making institutions in the community is KC Scholars ,whose work, supported by the Kauffman Foundation, provides educational scholarships to grade 11 scholars and college savings match programs for grade 9 scholars. In addition, their adult learner program has provided education access to several hundred students to date.
KC Scholars is building on its experience and success in helping low- and moderate-income young adults and adults attain postsecondary degrees. Since its inception in 2016, KC Scholars has awarded over six thousand scholarships to students from 108 local high schools. Scholars are on track for 75% graduation rates.
The group is led by CEO Earl Martin Phalen, whose experiences and life-lessons inform his new book, “Giving My All,” about the importance of lifting a community through educational access. While at Harvard Law School, Earl founded Building Educated Leaders for Life (BELL), which grew from a local community service project to a national non-profit that educates 15,000 children annually.
Below, he shares the places he loves most about the city that he calls home and has dedicated his life to helping.
The inside of the splashy performing arts venue The Kauffman Center
Experience Winter Wonderland at The Dining Experience in The Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts this holiday season. Catch a performance of Kansas City Ballet’s “The Nutcracker” or the Kansas City Symphony’s the “Elf.” To eat, try the baked brie, and pair with house made egg nog or hot chocolate.
Hang your hat at The Loews Hotel Kansas City. Featuring a restaurant, grab & go coffee shop, and an indoor swimming pool, the recently opened hotel is located close to attractions like the KC Streetcar and the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts.
Dine at The Corvino Supper Club & Tasting Room – one of the only holders of a AAA Four Diamond Rating in Kansas City. Owners Michael and Christina Corvino have created an experience featuring regular live jazz performances and an open kitchen. The seaweed donuts are a must.
The Town Company offers a creative dining experience that includes seasonally driven dishes such as pork loin with leeks and apples and ricotta dumplings with green tomatoes and butternut squash. A white oak hearth is the centerpiece of the cozy space.
