El Centro prepares to celebrate 50th anniversary
By Angie Baldelomar A staple in the Greater Kansas City area’s Hispanic community is celebrating a milestone. This year, El Centro Inc. is celebrating its 50th anniversary of serving the community. In October, the anniversary month, the center will host a gala. Because of the COVID pandemic, the nonprofit organization couldn’t celebrate its 45th anniversary, […]
KC students and mentors celebrate KC BizFest
Photos by Hennig Sac Morales Hispanic students, mentors, and business leaders from the Kansas City metropolitan area gathered for four days of hands-on entrepreneurship training and a business competition designed to open doors to future careers and college opportunities. KC BizFest 2026 took place from Feb. 25-28 at the Dr. Thomas R. Burke Technical Education […]
Kansas City welcomes Spanish version of 1 Million Cups
By Tere Siqueira On Feb. 4, more than 60 Greater Kansas City area residents gathered for the launch of the program 1 Million Cups Kansas City en Espanol (Español in Spanish). Hosted at 5440 W. 110th St. in Overland Park, Kansas, the bilingual event welcomed those who attended with coffee. The event also included stories […]
Latin dance studio wants to show dancing is for anyone
A Greater Kansas City area dance studio focuses on teaching Latin genres like salsa and bachata to anyone who wants to learn. At Viva Social Dance Studio in Shawnee, Kansas, the belief is that “dancing is for everyone,” said Josh Hernandez, studio owner and instructor. “My driving force to open the studio was really (that) I […]
GKC area residents protest against ICE operations
By Roberta Pardo Frigid temperatures didn’t stop Greater Kansas City area residents from staging outdoor protests. On Jan. 30, hundreds of demonstrators gathered across the area to protest U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations and recent events in Minneapolis, as reported by multiple area media outlets. The protests were part of a national movement […]
The Ella Initiative promotes education for Latin American women
By Angie Baldelomar A new nonprofit is promoting higher education for women in Latin America by providing scholarships and mentorships. That nonprofit is The Ella Initiative. Its goal is to support young women pursuing higher education in Latin America, founder Genesis Mercado said. “There are certain barriers that limit those opportunities, and sometimes, you just need […]
La Fonda El Taquito closing after 47 years
By Angie Baldelomar A staple in the Greater Kansas City area’s Hispanic community is closing soon. La Fonda El Taquito recently announced it’s officially closing its doors on Jan. 31 after 47 years. For Maria Chaurand – who has run the business for the past 20 years along with her sister, Sandy Medina – the […]
Cigar lounge provides place to unwind, connect
By Chara A Kansas City, Missouri, establishment has become a place for Greater Kansas City area residents to unwind and connect with other members of the community. That establishment is Sherri’s Executive Cigar Lounge. Located in the heart of the West 39th Street District, it was founded by Jason Sharp, a Chicago native who’s also Puerto […]
Westside 24th Christmas celebration!
Story and photos by Jorge Coromac On Dec. 6, the Westside neighborhood celebrated its 24th annual Christmas party. From 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., 47 volunteers joined forces with library staff, Irene Ruiz, KCPD-WCAN Hall and Villalobos officers, the Tony Aguirre Community Center – Parks and Recreation, and volunteers from the Westside CAN Center. “We […]
Nebraska Hispanic grocery store to open location in Topeka
By Angie Baldelomar Nebraska-based Hispanic supermarket is expanding into Kansas. On Saturday (Dec. 6), Supermercado Nuestra Familia is opening its new location in Topeka with a grand-opening celebration that will include a ribbon-cutting ceremony. “We’re excited to introduce Supermercado Familia Nuestra to a brand-new community here in Topeka,” said Silvi Nicholas, district manager. “The brand-new […]