Joel Barrett

Sr. Business Development Consultant, Small Business Development Center at University of Missouri – Kansas City

“My focus is on startups in pre-concept and early-stage businesses. I also lead Joel Speaks Out and the KC Rainbow Tour, partnering with organizations and community leaders to educate and engage audiences in Kansas City’s diverse LGBTQ history.”

Joel Barrett exemplifies Mr. Kauffman’s core values through measurable, equity-centered impact and collaborative innovation that expand entrepreneurship and economic mobility across the Kansas City region. As senior business development consultant for the Missouri SBDC at UMKC, he has advised more than 1,500 entrepreneurs, launching 40 new businesses, driving $4.5 million in capital investment, and $5.7 million in sales growth. Among 443 Black, brown, women, and LGBTQ entrepreneurs, his coaching has yielded $3.7 million in startup funding and $4.6 million in new sales, demonstrating both reach and sustained outcomes.

The Kauffman Uncommon Leader Impact Award external review committee noted that “he prioritizes historically underserved entrepreneurs by providing resources, training, and funding opportunities.”

A natural collaborator and systems-builder, Barrett forged the Impact Scholarship with the Mid-America LGBT Chamber of Commerce to remove financial barriers for LGBTQ entrepreneurs and serves on America’s SBDC Access to Capital Committee, advancing national strategies for equitable funding. Interview reviewers highlighted his “extensive partnerships across the entrepreneurial ecosystem” and his ability to “link diverse organizations under a shared vision of opportunity.”

An innovator and educator, Barrett created programs such as StartSmart, Proof to Profit, and Show Me the Money, blending practical finance with entrepreneurial mindset training. His KC Rainbow Tour and LGBTQ Rainbow Business Directory extend innovation into cultural preservation – celebrating local history while strengthening inclusive commerce.

Barrett’s work is grounded in data and driven by empathy, turning entrepreneurship into a mechanism for equity and empowerment, embodying the enduring community impact envisioned by Mr. Kauffman.

Dr. Rachel Melson

Outreach Clinic Director, Swope Health Services

“My vision is that no individual’s health should prevent them from pursuing housing, employment, or recovery. I believe that healthcare is a human right, and it guides everything I do.”

Dr. Rachel Melson exemplifies Mr. Kauffman’s values of innovation, collaboration, and equity through her leadership as Outreach Clinic Director at Swope Health. Over the past decade, she has revolutionized healthcare access for some of Kansas City’s most vulnerable residents – individuals experiencing homelessness, severe mental illness, substance use disorders, and chronic infectious diseases. Under her direction, Swope Health’s Health Care for the Homeless program expanded from clinic-based care to a fully integrated outreach model, serving patients wherever they are – in encampments, shelters, transitional housing, and recovery programs.

Dr. Melson’s impact is both measurable. She led the expansion of Swope’s Mobile Medical Unit (MMU) from 790 patients in 2019 to 1,266 in 2024, while the Outreach Clinic grew from 3,175 patients to 4,200. Her initiatives increased HIV testing by 46%, boosted PrEP access by 127%, and built Swope Health’s first Hepatitis C treatment program, which has cured more than 700 patients. Kauffman Uncommon Leader Impact Award reviewers described her as “a leader who takes healthcare to the people rather than expecting them to come to her,” adding that “her creative approach and broad reach help people become healthy, reenter the workforce, and regain economic mobility.”

Equity is at the core of Dr. Melson’s model. Her clinics have no insurance requirements, no sobriety prerequisites, and no judgment—ensuring access for patients often excluded from traditional systems. She expanded mobile and walk-in services, integrated behavioral health, substance use treatment, and harm reduction into primary care, and trained 18 providers to deliver equitable HIV and Hepatitis C care. Reviewers emphasized that “her trauma-informed and culturally responsive approach creates safe spaces where marginalized individuals finally receive the care they deserve.”

Dr. Melson’s collaborative leadership has built one of the most comprehensive outreach networks in the region. She partners with more than a dozen local organizations, including Heartland Center for Behavioral Change, Healing House, and the Veterans Community Project, to coordinate shelter-based care, transportation, and medical respite. Her shelter shuttle program, designed with community input, has reduced missed appointments and improved medication adherence. Regionally, she co-founded the Kansas City Hepatitis C Elimination Task Force, uniting public health and healthcare partners to standardize treatment access.

Her innovation stems from necessity and compassion. When specialty care was out of reach for her patients, she trained herself to treat Hepatitis C and launched a low-barrier treatment program within primary care, now a nationally recognized model replicated by providers across the U.S. She authored a Hepatitis C Treatment Guide for Providers Serving Unhoused Populations, now used by the National Viral Hepatitis Roundtable, the National Health Care for the Homeless Council, and the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, she coordinated pop-up testing clinics, distributed telehealth tablets to shelters, and led street and shelter-based vaccination drives. As one Kauffman Uncommon Leader Impact Award reviewer summarized, “Dr. Melson identifies problems, then sets about solving them, teaching herself and others how to bring care where it’s needed most.”

Dr. Melson’s work directly advances economic mobility by pairing health stability with pathways to recovery and employment. Her team’s case management services link patients to housing, Medicaid enrollment, job training, and recovery programs, while improved chronic disease management reduces emergency care dependence and frees individuals to pursue work. Many of the 700+ Hepatitis C patients cured under her program have reentered the workforce or secured stable housing, breaking cycles of illness and homelessness.

Reviewers affirmed that “Dr. Melson’s work embodies the spirit of an Uncommon Leader: collaborative, compassionate, and transformative.” Her data-driven, equity-focused innovation is changing how Kansas City defines healthcare access, proving that compassion and measurable impact can coexist at scale.

Through courage, collaboration, and visionary leadership, Dr. Melson has built a healthcare model that restores dignity, saves lives, and empowers economic mobility – embodying the enduring spirit of Mr. Kauffman’s mission to create lasting community impact.

Anna Munguia

Director of Community Outreach, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Kansas City

“I am the product of generational mentorship as my father had a mentor that completely changed his life, and I wanted to give back in hopes I could do the same for someone else.”

Anna Munguia exemplifies Mr. Kauffman’s core values of community impact, equity, collaboration, and innovation through her work advancing mentorship, youth development, and inclusive leadership across Kansas City. As director of community outreach for Big Brothers Big Sisters Kansas City (BBBSKC), Anna leads efforts to connect children and youth, known as Littles (mentees), with mentors (Bigs) who help shape their futures. Under her direction, BBBSKC’s outreach team has attended more than 1,600 community events and generated an average of 1,793 prospective mentors per year, resulting in measurable success: 74% of Littles reported increased self-esteem, 86% of families noticed positive behavioral change, 97% of Littles had no involvement with the juvenile justice system, and 100% of Littles graduated high school, compared to 74.9% across the Kansas City region.

Reviewers describe her as “deeply ingrained in Kansas City and touching many lives through her leadership.” One reviewer highlighted her “ability to eliminate systemic barriers, empower people, and foster long-term economic mobility through mentorship.”

As the leader of BBBSKC’s Justice, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (JEDI) Advisory Board, Munguia has transformed DEI from philosophy into practice by recruiting mentors who reflect the racial, cultural, and gender diversity of Kansas City’s youth. Her efforts ensure that mentees see themselves in those who guide them, fostering belonging and trust.

Munguia’s commitment to innovation has reshaped outreach and engagement. She launched creative initiatives such as the Barbershop Initiative, First Friday Night Market, and 60 Bigs in 60 Days campaigns, designed to attract diverse mentors and connect with communities of color through trusted local spaces. She also led BBBSKC’s transition to Salesforce, revolutionizing how data is used to identify underserved neighborhoods and strengthen community outreach. Reviewers commended her as “an authentic, tech-savvy innovator who combines grassroots engagement with data-driven strategy.”

Her work directly supports economic mobility by linking mentorship to measurable long-term outcomes. Under Munguia’s leadership, BBBSKC has connected more than 500 mentees to internships with local, minority-owned businesses, bridging education, workforce readiness, and empowerment.

Reviewers agreed that “Munguia is a changemaker who uplifts communities through mentorship, advocacy, and inclusion.”

Through measurable outcomes, cultural leadership, and community-driven innovation, Munguia has redefined mentorship as a pathway to equity and opportunity. Her leadership embodies the spirit of the Impact Award, transforming connection into empowerment and empowerment into lasting change for Kansas City’s next generation.

Kimberly Weaver

Program Director, Community Health Council of Wyandotte

“I believe lasting change starts when communities are trusted to lead their own solutions.”

Kimberly Weaver lives this belief through her steadfast commitment to the people of Wyandotte County. Her leadership reflects the very essence of the Impact Award: transforming compassion into action, fostering collaboration, and creating equitable opportunities for all. Over the past three years, she has led initiatives that tackle food insecurity, health disparities, and civic engagement, all while building stronger connections and empowering her community to lead change from within.

Through her work with WyCo Mutual Aid and Communities Organizing to Promote Equity (COPE), Weaver has helped deliver over 15,000 pounds of food and provided 16,000 free loads of laundry to families in need. She helped launch community gardens where residents grow fresh produce, learn new skills, and reconnect with their neighbors. As one Kauffman Uncommon Leader Impact Award reviewer noted, “Weaver is leading a number of critical efforts to remove barriers for families facing financial hardship. She ensures access is given and people from marginalized communities are invited into spaces from which they are often excluded.”

Equity is the heart of Weaver’s leadership. She intentionally builds inclusive spaces where everyone has a voice – especially those often unheard. When forming the Community Advisory Board, she reached out to refugees, people with disabilities, LGBTQIA+ residents, and homeschooled youth, ensuring the group truly reflected the diversity of Wyandotte County.

Another reviewer praised her for “addressing how her work is inclusive of underrepresented voices and identifies systemic inequities,” recognizing that her approach creates not just programs but platforms for empowerment.

Collaboration and innovation define how Weaver works. She builds bridges between local laundromats, nonprofits, and small businesses to meet basic needs with creativity and dignity. When community members shared that children lacked shoes, she acted quickly, partnering with schools to provide 237 pairs, showing how listening can spark immediate, meaningful results. Her partnerships extend to mental health initiatives, maternal well-being, and civic education through the KCK Neighbors Alliance, which she helped launch to teach residents how local government works and how they can advocate for themselves and their neighbors.

Reviewers commended Weaver’s ability to connect short-term relief with long-term systems change highlighting her collaboration with small businesses and nonprofits to “bolster the economic mobility of the entire community.” These words affirm what her neighbors already know. Weaver’s leadership doesn’t just meet needs; it builds pathways for lasting opportunity.

Weaver’s work demonstrates that true impact happens when people are trusted, included, and inspired to lead. Her story reflects Mr. Kauffman’s belief in the power of community-driven change, one that is innovative, inclusive, and deeply rooted in equity. She has not only improved lives but also strengthened the fabric of a community that continues to rise together.

Brandon Yangmi

Rebel Song Academy Program Director, Art as Mentorship

“Having struggled with mental health and anxiety throughout high school, I experienced firsthand the power of music as a lifeline.”

Brandon Yangmi demonstrates Mr. Kauffman’s values of community impact, equity, collaboration, and innovation through his work using music as a tool for empowerment, healing, and economic mobility. As program director for Art as Mentorship’s Rebel Song Academy (RSA), Yangmi has expanded a once-yearly program serving fewer than 20 youth into a year-round initiative reaching over 800 young people annually across 10+ schools and community organizations throughout the Kansas City metro. Under his leadership, RSA has provided more than 8,000 hours of mentorship, 50+ live performance opportunities, and 90 student-produced recordings, while cultivating partnerships with institutions such as Kansas City International Academy, Youth Resiliency Center, and Wyandotte High School.

Kauffman Uncommon Leader Impact Award reviewers describe him as “a lifelong artist who uses his skills to amplify the gifts of young people and allow their artistry and creativity to emerge in the face of health and wellness challenges.” One reviewer emphasized that “Yangmi has developed and taken several programs to scale, collaborating with musical artists and producers to bring music creation learning opportunities to under-resourced communities.” Yangmi’s commitment to equity is evident in RSA’s focus on under-resourced and historically marginalized youth, ages 10–20, many of whom face trauma, homelessness, or community violence. All programs are free, bilingual (English and Spanish), and intentionally located in Kansas City’s Historic Northeast where 73% of residents are people of color and one-third are foreign-born.

As a collaborator, Yangmi has built a regional ecosystem connecting schools, nonprofits, artists, and industry professionals. RSA’s partnerships span organizations such as the Mattie Rhodes Center, Guadalupe Center, InterUrban ArtHouse, and Harmony Project KC, giving students access to a professional recording studio, mentorship from Grammy-winning artists, and performance stages from Kansas City to the Smithsonian Folklife Festival in Washington, D.C. Reviewers praised his ability to “leverage art, education, and community networks to create pathways for opportunity that would not exist otherwise.”

Yangmi’s approach to innovation bridges art and science. His leadership has produced groundbreaking initiatives such as a student-operated professional recording studio, launching a mobile studio on the National Mall, and organizing the Celebrate AMERI’KANA Music Festival, which drew 3,000+ attendees, featured 48 artists, and showcased 36 local artisans. Reviewers highlighted his “creativity and courage to pilot programs that demonstrate the measurable mental health and workforce benefits of the arts.” Another called his work “truly innovative,” noting his use of an EEG brain study to scientifically measure how songwriting reduces anxiety and depression – an initiative that has “brought Art as Mentorship into national conversations on arts and well-being.”

At its core, Yangmi’s work fuels economic mobility by equipping youth with marketable creative and technical skills from audio engineering and live production to financial literacy and intellectual property management. Reviewers concluded that “by providing workforce skills, performance opportunities, and professional artist exposure, Yangmi is creating career pathways and economic mobility.”

Through measurable results, creativity, and empathy, Yangmi has redefined what community impact looks like for Kansas City’s youth. His leadership transforms music into a vehicle for healing, belonging, and opportunity – embodying the spirit of the Impact Award by turning personal experience into community transformation and building sustainable systems of hope for the next generation.

Theo Bunch

Director of Build Trybe, Cornerstones of Care

“I am proud to lead an incredible group of changemakers and to spend every day running empowerment-based programming for Kansas City’s youth.”

Theo Bunch exemplifies Mr. Kauffman’s values of equity, innovation, and collaboration through his leadership as the founder and program director of Build Trybe at Cornerstones of Care, a vocational workforce and life-skills program serving foster, unhoused, and justice-involved youth in Kansas City. Over the past 15 years, Bunch has transformed a deeply underserved population – young adults aging out of the foster system – into a force for community restoration and personal empowerment. Under his leadership, Build Trybe has provided more than 100 paid apprenticeships in conservation, building trades, horticulture, and culinary arts, along with 240 additional pre-apprenticeship training opportunities, directly equipping participants with employable skills, income, and confidence.

Kauffman Uncommon Leader Impact Award reviewers call him “a powerful leader serving the most vulnerable in our community by helping youth defy the statistics that would otherwise lead them to homelessness, incarceration, or poverty.” They commended his “unique ability to connect the dots between the needs of young people and the needs of the community,” noting that Build Trybe “creates pathways to self-sufficiency while strengthening Kansas City’s social and economic fabric.”

Build Trybe was designed to disrupt the generational cycles of neglect and exclusion that youth in foster care often face. The program removes every practical barrier to participation while offering transportation, meals, clothing, and paid employment from day one. This equity-based approach allows youth to reimagine their value, reclaim dignity through work, and see themselves as contributors to Kansas City’s future.

Bunch has built a coalition of more than 40 organizations, including JE Dunn Construction, DeLaSalle Education Center, ReStart, Hope House, and the Missouri Department of Conservation, ensuring youth gain hands-on training, mentorship, and community connections. Reviewers praised this network as “a living example of partnership at work where government agencies, nonprofits, and corporations align around a shared purpose of lifting youth into opportunity.”

Build Trybe participants build tangible assets for Kansas City, including gardens, picnic spaces, furniture, and outdoor classrooms, leaving a visible mark on their city while developing professional portfolios. At its heart, Build Trybe is a model of economic mobility in action. Every apprentice earns wages while developing a portfolio of skills and projects that lead directly to employment. As one reviewer summarized, “Bunch has created an ecosystem where young people once written off by society now find employment, education, and purpose.” His program stands as both a workforce development engine and a beacon of hope for youth facing the toughest odds.

Bunch has built more than a program. He has built a movement of empowerment and opportunity that reflects the very spirit of the Impact Award and Mr. Kauffman’s legacy of community transformation.

Keva Gorman

Career Pathways Specialist, Prep-KC

“Building systems and connections that open doors is not just my work, it’s my calling to help shape a stronger, more inclusive Kansas City.”

Keva Gorman embodies Mr. Kauffman’s values of innovation, equity, and collaboration through her leadership in creating college and career pathways that expand opportunity for thousands of Kansas City students. As a senior leader at PREP-KC, Keva directs a network of programs – HealthStart, the Business Finance Institute (BFI), Pathways to Graphic Design (P2GD), and the Student Law Academy (SLA) – that link high school students to high-demand industries through paid internships, industry credentials, dual-credit coursework, and mentorship. Her work is already producing measurable results: participating schools achieved a 64% college enrollment rate, surpassing the national average for similar schools by 13 percentage points.

Kauffman Uncommon Leader Impact Award reviewers describe Gorman as “a leader who removes barriers that keep people from achieving their goals, ensuring equitable chances for success while uplifting students’ confidence.” Under Gorman’s direction, HealthStart grew from a small, selective pilot to a regional healthcare pathway that now spans 20 schools, expanding enrollment by 153% between 2022 and 2025. Her redesign of SLA nearly doubled its duration, adding alumni mentorship and a forthcoming fellowship rotation with law firms and courts.

Gorman’s approach to equity is deeply personal and structural. Recognizing the barriers that low-income and first-generation students face, she developed systems that remove practical and financial hurdles to participation. Her HealthStart model covers costs for scrubs, vaccinations, and testing – expenses that previously prevented students from completing their Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) credential. She also implemented partnerships with HopSkipDrive and the Jackson County Health Department to ensure safe, consistent transportation and free testing access. Reviewers noted that “Gorman’s work transforms equity from an idea into lived reality.”

A hallmark of Gorman’s leadership is her collaborative problem-solving. She forges partnerships with higher education and industry leaders including UMKC, University of Central Missouri, University Health, and Metropolitan Community College to ensure pathways remain relevant to labor market needs. Her creation of the Health Sciences District Academy, in partnership with UMKC and University Health, exemplifies how she connects students to immersive experiences like simulation labs, surgical prep, and clinical rotations.

Gorman’s innovation extends beyond curriculum design. She restructured “earn and learn” models so students can receive paid, career-connected experience while still in school, increasing participation among students balancing work and family responsibilities. She expanded the Pathways to Graphic Design program, partnering with the Kansas City Art Institute and Johnson County Community College to create real-world design projects that celebrate culture and representation.

Gorman’s work is a powerful engine for economic mobility. By expanding access to industry credentials, internships, and college credit, she is creating pipelines into high-wage careers in health, law, business, and design. Her programs strengthen the region’s talent pipeline while empowering students – many from historically underrepresented backgrounds – to enter adulthood with both confidence and credentials.

Through visionary innovation, equity-driven partnerships, and a relentless focus on breaking barriers, Gorman is reshaping what educational and economic opportunity looks like for Kansas City’s next generation.

Candace Ladd

Outreach Development Coordinator, Heartland Center for Jobs and Freedom, Inc.

“My theory of change is shaped by years of direct service work as a case manager and advocate for people with mental illness and survivors of intimate violence. I made a commitment to myself that if I were ever in a position to influence policy, I would make sure that those directly impacted were involved from the beginning, not as an afterthought.”

Candace Ladd embodies Mr. Kauffman’s core values of community impact, equity, and innovation through her leadership advancing housing justice and systems change in Kansas City. As an organizer and policy advocate at the Heartland Center for Jobs and Freedom, Ladd has led efforts that have directly helped more than 5,000 tenant households avoid eviction over the past three years, reshaping the local housing landscape and creating measurable, lasting impact.

Kauffman Uncommon Leader Impact Award reviewers cited her “collaborative, cross-sector approach that addresses both economic and equity issues.” Her work was praised for “connecting the lived experiences of low-wage workers and tenants to public policy and systemic reform.”

Ladd played a pivotal role in the design and passage of Kansas City’s Right to Counsel Ordinance, one of the strongest tenant-protection laws in the nation. Before Right to Counsel, tenants in Kansas City were evicted in 90% of cases; now, the majority of represented tenants are able to remain in their homes, reversing a generational trend of housing insecurity. Reviewers noted that her “ability to move from advocacy to implementation demonstrates moral clarity, perseverance, and systemic vision.”

Beyond housing, Ladd’s impact extends into public health, policy, and economic mobility. As a founding member of Jackson County Public Health’s Innovator’s Network, she co-leads the Housing and Economic Stability Lab, advocating for housing as a determinant of community health. She also serves as a Public Health Regenerative Leadership Synergy (PHEARLESS) Fellow, where she has championed the inclusion of stipends for impacted community members, ensuring “those most affected are part of designing the systems meant to serve them.”

When the Kansas City Royals proposed a sales tax to fund a downtown stadium, Ladd organized tenants and workers to share their stories and join the Community Benefits Agreement (CBA) bargaining team. She developed the CBA’s housing platform, grounding policy in tenant data and lived experience. Her State of Evictions Reports (2023–2024) combined quantitative research with tenant storytelling, weaving personal narratives into systemic data to make policy human. As an adjunct professor at UMKC’s School of Social Work, she mentors emerging advocates to drive equitable systems change through public policy.

Her innovative theory of change – bridging direct service with systemic advocacy – has positioned Kansas City as a model for equitable housing reform.

Ladd’s achievements represent a combination of moral conviction, strategic partnership, and practical implementation. Through data-driven advocacy and authentic collaboration, Ladd has not only changed eviction outcomes but redefined how systems respond to poverty, housing, and equity in Kansas City, embodying the transformative leadership and community-first spirit envisioned by Mr. Kauffman.

Dr. Michael Moncure

Trauma Surgeon, Truman Medical Center

“I have had at least 100 kids shadow me in my practice of Surgery, realizing that is how my dream of being a Physician, growing up in Oakland, CA, was manifested.”

Dr. Michael Moncure exemplifies Mr. Kauffman’s values of innovation, equity, collaboration, and community impact through his leadership in trauma care, mentorship, and health equity across the Kansas City metropolitan region. As a professor of surgery and a nationally recognized trauma surgeon, Dr. Moncure was instrumental in establishing Level I Trauma Centers at both University Health and The University of Kansas Medical Center, a milestone that has dramatically improved survival rates and advanced emergency response systems throughout the region.

Kauffman Uncommon Leader Impact Award reviewers describe Dr. Moncure  as “a leader who has improved medical care throughout the metro and is mentoring young medical students of color to save lives and build economic mobility in the process.”

Dr. Moncure’s commitment to equity is rooted in both personal experience and professional advocacy. As one of the few Black male Professors of Surgery at two major medical schools, he actively mentors underrepresented students and has hosted over 100 youth and medical trainees for shadowing and mentorship experiences, helping them envision and achieve careers in medicine. He partners with UMKC’s STAHR program, KU’s Pipeline Initiative, and local K–12 schools to expose students of color to healthcare professions early, addressing representation gaps that persist in medicine. Reviewers praised his mentorship and leadership that opens pathways for others.

A hallmark of Dr. Moncure’s leadership is collaboration across systems. He works with KC360, AdHoc Group Against Crime, and Care Beyond the Blvd to connect public health, violence prevention, and trauma care. He helped expand healthcare access for the city’s unhoused population, securing laboratory partnerships and expedited emergency treatment through University Health. His leadership on MARC’s Healthcare Coalition ensured hospitals across Kansas and Missouri remained open and staffed during the pandemic. Reviewers noted that “his collaborations between hospitals, city agencies, and nonprofits are advancing trauma-informed care for the most vulnerable.”

Dr. Moncure’s innovation is redefining trauma care nationwide. He co-developed the RISE Program (Resilience, Intervention, Support, and Education) with psychologist Dr. Joah Williams, establishing the only program in the country that screens all gun-related injury patients for Acute Stress Disorder and PTSD, offering immediate therapy to break cycles of violence and trauma. He is now leading efforts to launch Kansas City’s first Bullet-Related Injury Clinic (BRIC), modeled after the pioneering work of Dr. LJ Punch in St. Louis. This initiative will provide culturally congruent wraparound services for victims of gun violence, ensuring physical recovery is paired with mental and social rehabilitation. At KU, his work on the Adult Concussion Management Center led to state-level concussion care and prevention laws in Kansas and Missouri.

Dr. Moncure’s contributions to economic mobility extend through education, mentorship, and employment pathways. He supports job creation and skill development through Care Beyond the Blvd’s forthcoming 39-room respite care facility, which will offer transitional support for unhoused patients recovering from illness or injury. His mentorship pipeline directly contributes to diversifying the healthcare workforce and building sustained financial independence for families across Kansas City.

Reviewers lauded Dr. Moncure’s leadership as “transformational, system-level, and deeply human,” noting that his work reflects the highest ideals of service, mentorship, and innovation.

Through pioneering leadership, inclusive mentorship, and unwavering dedication to community health, Dr. Michael Moncure has redefined trauma care and opened new pathways to equity and economic mobility, embodying the spirit of the Impact Award and the vision of Mr. Kauffman.

Katie Nixon

Food System Director, West Central Community Development Corporation/New Growth

“I am proud that my work is focused on creating a better KC food system for growers and eaters.”

Katie Nixon exemplifies Mr. Kauffman’s values of innovation, collaboration, and equity through her leadership in food systems, small farm development, and economic mobility across the Kansas City region. As director of food systems at New Growth, Nixon has built a regional model that connects local farmers, schools, and consumers in equitable, sustainable markets. Over the past three years, her team has provided business development assistance to 642 food and farm entrepreneurs, helping them start, grow, and sustain their operations. Through her leadership with the Kansas City Food Hub, farm-to-school programs expanded from 1 to 29 school districts, linking regional farms directly to institutions that now serve thousands of students fresh, local food.

Kauffman Uncommon Leader Impact Award reviewers commended Nixon’s “systems-level approach to addressing challenges faced by small farmers” and “innovative ability to connect farmers needing buyers with schools needing affordable, nutritious food.” Her work has “touched farmers, entrepreneurs, and anyone who values nourishment,” creating a network that strengthens local food supply chains while advancing economic opportunity.

Nixon’s focus on equity is deeply embedded in her mission. More than 75% of the farmers she works with are limited-resource or historically underserved, including small urban and rural producers who have long been excluded from traditional agricultural markets. She has built market systems that prioritize fairness, ensuring that farmers receive 80% of wholesale sales revenue, compared to the industry average of 50%.

Nixon’s collaborative leadership is a defining strength. Over her career, she has helped secure more than $30 million in funding for regional food system work, including $5 million in grants for New Growth, with half sub-awarded to partner organizations. She co-founded the Fresh Farm HQ Cooperative (Kansas City Food Hub) and co-directed the Heartland Regional Food Business Center, uniting 34 partners across five states to create shared food infrastructure. When the USDA unexpectedly cut funding midway through the Heartland project, Nixon worked with partners to sustain operations, continuing to serve 2,500 food entrepreneurs and preserving a $3.75 million Business Builder Grant Program that supported 90 small businesses in Kansas and Missouri.

One reviewer remarked that “her ability to pivot in the face of federal funding loss demonstrates rare resilience and commitment to community-driven change.”

Nixon’s innovation extends from local farms to international influence. As an Eisenhower Fellow, she studied China’s local food systems in 2024, applying global best practices to Kansas City’s own food equity initiatives. Her “food value chain” approach – grounding business-to-business markets in shared community values – has become a model for sustainable food economies.

Her work directly advances economic mobility by building resilient systems that help farmers transition from subsistence to stability. The Heartland Regional Food Business Center alone generated $550,000 in farm sales in 2024, projected to reach $750,000 in 2025, with the majority of revenue reinvested in small operations. By helping small farms move into mid-scale markets, Nixon restores what she calls “the agriculture of the middle” – the missing link between local producers and institutional buyers that strengthens both urban and rural economies.

Reviewers agreed that “Nixon is a trusted leader whose collaborative vision has reshaped the region’s food ecosystem.” Her measurable results, equity-driven leadership, and relentless advocacy have turned Kansas City into a national model for local food resilience and rural-urban economic integration.

Through innovation, partnership, and authenticity, Nixon demonstrates the transformative, community-centered leadership that defines the Impact Award, nourishing both people and possibility across the Heartland.

Alejandra Pérez

Scholarship Program Director, Hispanic Development Fund

“Over the past years, our collective efforts, with support from the community, have grown the scholarship program from 325 to 580 scholars, who are pursuing degrees at 68 colleges and universities nationwide.”

Alejandra Pérez exemplifies Mr. Kauffman’s values of equity, collaboration, and innovation through leadership that expands access to higher education and economic mobility for Latino families in Kansas City. As director of the scholarship program at the Hispanic Development Fund (HDF), Pérez has grown the program from 325 to 580 scholars across 68 colleges nationwide, making HDF one of the largest Latino-serving scholarship programs in the U.S. and one of the few supporting undocumented students. Under Pérez’s leadership, annual awards have increased from $700,000 to $1.2 million, with 88% of recipients as first-generation college students and a median family income of $53,600.

Kauffman Uncommon Leader Impact Award reviewers praised Pérez’s “tenacity, agility, and creativity in connecting with the Hispanic community in ways that inspire collective improvement.” One reviewer highlighted “the applicant’s ability to eliminate barriers and bias while engaging the community in solutions.”

Pérez’s innovative Named Scholarship Program, which turns everyday residents into donors, has grown from 7% to 30% of all awards, cultivating a new model of grassroots philanthropy. Through the creation of the Scholar Advisory Board, Pérez also ensured that “student voices inform decisions that directly affect them,” empowering scholars to lead initiatives such as microgrant funding for local nonprofits.

As a collaborative leader, Pérez has built partnerships with the Hall Family Foundation, Sherman Family Foundation, and Health Forward Foundation to launch renewable scholarships for Latino educators and health-care students. Reviewers noted that “these partnerships represent systemic thinking, connecting education to long-term community outcomes.” When federal policy shifts threatened university match funding, Pérez swiftly mobilized donors to raise $38,000 in weeks, preserving access for undocumented students and demonstrating agile, mission-driven leadership.

Reviewers said “Pérez’s work to provide access to scholarships for area Latino students, regardless of citizenship status, is exemplary,” and that “the creative, passionate approach is shaping the future of education access and opportunity in Kansas City.”

Pérez’s record of measurable results, responsive innovation, and community empowerment demonstrates a profound and lasting impact. Through data-driven equity and human-centered leadership, Pérez embodies the spirit of the Impact Award, building pathways to education, opportunity, and generational change across Kansas City’s Latino community.

Lily Wilson

Director of School Partnerships, Boys and Girls Club of Greater Kansas City

“I understand the weight of navigating systemic barriers without enough resources or support. That’s why my commitment to equity is deeply personal and it’s the foundation of every decision I make as a leader.”

Lily Wilson embodies Mr. Kauffman’s vision of community-centered innovation and equitable opportunity through her decade-long leadership transforming youth development systems across Kansas City. Lily began her career with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Kansas City as a youth development professional, working directly with Club attendees and providing fun and educational experiences. Now, as director of school partnerships, she directly serves more than 700 youth annually at her program sites and 5000 across all locations. Between 2024-2025 she secured over $4 million in state and federal funding to sustain and expand these critical youth programs.

At Lee A. Tolbert Community Academy, Wilson spearheaded a turnaround that exceeded attendance goals by 250%, with 97.7% of middle school youth attending at least 30 days, and transforming the program into a dependable anchor for youth facing significant challenges.

Kauffman Uncommon Leader Impact Award reviewers cited her as “an uncommon leader who uplifts underrepresented voices, provides transformative solutions, and initiates systemic change that inspires others.” Her leadership is deeply informed by lived experience; she “pays particular care to Black, Brown, and historically underrepresented communities” and “co-creates programs with youth, families, and local entrepreneurs to ensure culturally responsive impact.”

In the 2024-2025 school years, she developed a partnership with Hope House to introduce a customized domestic violence prevention curriculum at Nowlin Middle School, providing tailored, trauma-informed support for youth and families. As Missouri Afterschool Network State Ambassador, she champions youth-led advocacy, recently taking students to the state capitol to influence funding policy, embedding civic engagement into her equity practice.

Her Restorative Justice Framework represents true innovation and systems change. Replacing punitive removal policies, Lily created empathy-based behavioral supports that reduced behavioral referrals and improved retention to 70% across program sites.

Wilson’s approach to economic mobility redefines long-term opportunity. She integrates workforce readiness, entrepreneurship, and financial literacy into afterschool spaces while hiring Black and Brown entrepreneurs to deliver programming, keeping investment local and scalable. Reviewers highlighted that “her approach to economic mobility is not just workforce readiness – it is creating scalable pathways and generational change.”

Through empathy, data, and relentless advocacy, Wilson has built a model that links education, equity, and empowerment. Her measurable outcomes and transformative partnerships make her a standout nominee who exemplifies Mr. Kauffman’s legacy, proving that when opportunity is made equitable, communities thrive for generations.