Keystone Sessions // Jan 8th

Doors open at 4:00 for networking, drinks and food.

Calling all tech enthusiasts, creatives, entrepreneurs, urban growers and innovators in KC. Here is what's in store:

5-6PM: Coding a Better Future: Founder of WeCode KC
In this session, we sit down with Tammy Buckner, founder and CEO of WeCodeKC, to explore her inspiring journey and impactful work in technology and education. As the leader of a minority and woman-owned tech company specializing in software development, Dev/Ops, and business analytics, Tammy is a trailblazer in her field. She’ll share insights from her work advocating for diversity in tech, founding WeCodeKC to empower youth from marginalized communities with coding skills, and her efforts to create a more inclusive tech industry. Don't miss this opportunity to learn from a true innovator and connector in the entrepreneurial ecosystem.

6-7PM: Opportunity Abounds: Community Ownership
KC is striving to be more sustainable. How can you help? In this series, we explore some of biggest social and environmental challenges facing the region and highlight opportunities for local innovators and entrepreneurs to help solve them.
This session will focus on community ownership. Disinvestment in neighborhoods followed by market-based gentrification has eroded the ability of so many in low-income communities to build wealth and well-being in-place. New models have emerged to counter that trend through local ownership. It enables the destiny of neighborhoods to remain in the hands of those who already call it home and provides an affordable, accessible path to real estate and business ownership.
Darren will be speaking with Ajia Morris, Founder of LocalCode Kansas City, and Jesse Hawks with the Northeast Neighborhood Trust. Together, the panel will outline the challenges facing low-income neighborhoods in the Kansas City region that are at risk for gentrification, explore how Ajia and Jesse are meeting those challenges, and identify gaps where innovators and social entrepreneurs are still needed.

7-8PM: Creating Connection Through Film
Join us for an inspiring conversation with Khalid A. and Corey McCartney, founders of AGA Productions and Face KC. We'll explore how their work combines art and community impact to foster inclusion, unity, and creativity in Kansas City. From the Kansas City Community Film Project, which bridges diverse communities through collaborative filmmaking, to their passion for "art for art’s sake" through AGA Productions, Khalid and Corey share their unique approach to storytelling and their mission to restore a true sense of community. Discover how their projects are transforming Kansas City, one story at a time.

Host or Publisher Keystone Innovation District