In 2019, Community Builders of Kansas City retained Steve Glaude, president of strategies based in Washington, D.C., to facilitate development of a three-year strategic plan for the organization. Its goals had measurable outcomes and timelines and addressed capacity, its business model, financial stability, empowering families and communities and communications.
In August 2021, Glaude returned to facilitate a review of work to date and a discussion of what is next. Glaude’s report from the session states that in the last two years, “… most of the goals had been completed or significantly advanced and that the goals should be expanded.” Work now is underway within CBKC to set benchmarks for the next two, five and 15 years.
Since Emmet Pierson Jr., CBKC’s president and CEO, was recruited to helm the organization in June 2019, professional staff has grown from four to 11. The team represents deep and diverse experience and backgrounds and each has clearly defined roles. This team advanced the setting of clear organizational objectives and aligned them with the right focus and resources so they could execute on well-established plans regardless of any long-standing or emerging barriers.
“There is a culture of persistence in the organization to keep on,” said Shannon Hesterberg, CBKC chief operations and real estate officer. “Despite the pandemic, despite systemic inequities, despite whatever the obstacles are, we press forward.”
That persistence led CBKC to purchase and improve one of the only full-service grocery stores in the urban core, develop a new housing choice with the market-rate multi-family property The Rochester, develop the mixed-used Offices at Overlook on 11 acres along Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, bring more healthcare services to its headquarters campus, plan the launch of community Wi-Fi and more. Now the organization is pursuing, and is being pursued to do, other initiatives.
“CBKC has invitations from other communities to consult, participate in or lead projects,” said Pierson. “Our mission to change the urban landscape is not confined to real estate development. Our mission clearly states it is by fueling equity, access, opportunity and advocacy. As far as our strategic plan goes, the goals were always broad.”
The organization now is in discussion or actively engaged in projects ranging from multi-use developments outside of the Kansas City metropolitan area, beautification of and safe pedestrian crossings along Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, new commercial and industrial initiatives, as well as greater housing, health, career and cultural access and choice for its community.
“The Kauffman Foundation made a $2.7 million project investment more than 20 years ago, which spurred over $225 million of additional reinvestment along the Brush Creek Corridor,” Pierson said. “We’ve added another $40 million plus to that portfolio in just the last two years. We have learned how to accelerate the pace. Every day we’re adding to our track record as a leading, credible community developer.”