Lost and Found in the Heart of America

I didn’t know what to expect when I moved to Kansas City. I’d heard of the Kansas City Chiefs of course, but not much else. Having been consumed by my sticky-sweet southeastern bubble, followed by the hustle and bustle of New York City, my knowledge of the Midwest was minimal. But I knew it’d offer a blank slate. 

In 2022, I needed somewhere to go, a place where I could start my new life. I was living at my parents’ house in my hometown of Columbia, SC. The pandemic threw me for a loop, like it did millions of others. My post-grad plans vanished, and I was in limbo. 

I had spent the past two years trying to land a job that would help me find my footing. After graduation, I knew I wanted to keep working in media, but it was difficult to find a job during the pandemic. None of my applications to different newsrooms were yielding results. I also tried to pivot into my interest in entertainment media but didn’t have the professional experience to break into that field.

I worked different jobs, like freelance writing, being a daycare teacher, and an administrative assistant at a social impact fund, just to get by. Much of the money I made from work I spent on things such as LinkedIn Premium or MasterClass plans for television production. In those two years, I must have attended any and every virtual professional development conference or seminar offered to young media professionals, all from my bed. Days went by with no end in sight.

Without the help of a mentor or professional guidance, I was struggling to navigate such a tight and competitive market.

More than anything, I wanted to establish myself as a creative, professional, and a woman. But I was also grappling with the mental burdens of my past, which were accentuated by the dynamics of my childhood home. 

My younger years were marked by a profound sense of seclusion. I didn’t grow up in a family that discussed feelings unless they were negative. Arguing, fighting, and accusations were our tried and true forms of communication. Through all the fighting, there was always a deep-seated love present and we still managed to be close, but that never stopped me from feeling alone. 

Columbia seemed distant and indifferent to my existence, and I returned the favor. I formed my identity in contrast. Apart. From the outside. And that’s all I really knew. 

Then came the spring of 2022, and I got a job reporting on housing and labor at the Kansas City Beacon. I had previously interned with the publication in 2020, and some of the staff members remembered me from that time and reached out with a job offer. By the summer, I had packed my bags and driven halfway across the country. I didn’t know what to expect, but I came across an energy. An ever-present energy around the concept of change, which is exactly what I am looking for.

With its Super Bowl wins, high-profile celebrity appearances, and upcoming role as a host city for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Kansas City is currently solidifying its identity as a major city. Through my reporting, I’ve been able to explore the infrastructural, cultural, and political changes happening as the Heartland shifts into a player on the world stage. I have also explored a collective dedication to preserving the past and shaping the future through art and community, especially among Black Kansas Citians. 

One of the most prominent stories I have followed is the epidemic of missing Black girls after a woman escaped from captivity in Excelsior Springs. She had been abducted from Kansas City a month prior. 

The young woman was kidnapped amid a community outcry about missing women. When I began reporting on the issue, I spoke with different Black families who were struggling to find their loved ones about their experiences. Through several extensive interviews and cross-examining testimonials between my sources and police, I discovered that many families were having trouble making police reports due to a difficult and unclear process. 

But I also discovered a collective effort within the community to take matters into their own hands. I sat in on meetings with the Justice and Dignity Center Coalition, a group of community leaders and social workers who collaborate to address local needs and look for missing people. My reporting also brought me to GYRL, a nonprofit with the mission of empowering survivors of domestic violence.

I originally learned of the story through The Kansas City Defender, a Black-owned and youth-led news outlet and mutual aid organization. Their presence, alongside the work of youth news platform KC Discover and the legacy of The Kansas City Call, a Black-owned newspaper established in 1919, highlights a long tradition of Black-led media uplifting Black voices in Kansas City. Here, I have reported on many other groups that are vested in making a change. The Justice Project KC works with poor women to help them turn their lives around by getting them off the streets and providing them with support from abuse. Kansas City G.I.F.T. provides grants to Black businesses in underserved areas. 

Writing about local investments in art has been especially gratifying. Last year, I attended the GIFT of Troost showcase. The event was put on by Kansas City GIFT and Troost 39, a thrift store and nonprofit that assists residents along the Troost Corridor, which is a longtime dividing line. The seven featured artists in the show were recipients of a $3,000 community grant. I also profiled Melissa Ferrer Civil, Kansas City's first poet laureate. During our interview, we had a candid discussion about identity and origin. The conversation required vulnerability from both Melissa and me. To curate such a space, I made sure to validate her emotions and experiences, sharing parts of my own story that resonated with her journey. 

I learned about her experiences with mental health, solitude, and transformation. Her journey is a testament to the power of art as a vehicle for change. And it has stuck with me since the first day I heard it. 

Civic engagement is thriving in Kansas City, especially among young people passionate about making a difference. Immersing myself in such a dynamic environment has been incredibly inspiring in my journey as a young Black reporter. I, too, am transforming. And my work here has helped me establish my voice by learning from those who have done the work to establish theirs.

Through this journey, I’ve come to realize that identity and place are deeply intertwined, whether we acknowledge these connections or not. We are all shaped by our environments, and in turn, we shape the landscapes around us. Columbia has taught me invaluable lessons, and I owe much to its influence on my upbringing. Now in Kansas City, I find myself with much to offer and even more to learn.