Lawrence Brooks IV
Race & Culture ReporterAs KCUR’s race and culture reporter, I work to help readers and listeners build meaningful and longstanding relationships with the many diverse cultures that make up the Kansas City metro. I deliver nuanced stories about the underrepresented communities that call our metro home, and the people whose historically-overlooked contributions span politics, civil rights, business, the arts, sports and every other realm of our daily lives.
Contact me at lbrooksiv@kcur.org.
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Eric Devalkanaere, found guilty in November 2021 of killing 26-year-old Cameron Lamb, is appealing his conviction. As protestors rallied on the street, a three-judge panel of the Missouri Court of Appeals questioned his attorneys on his version of what happened, including if Lamb was armed.
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Jackson County’s Community Backed Anti-Crime Tax, or COMBAT, is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year. The first-of-its-kind program has been lauded for its contributions to crime reduction. But, with gun deaths climbing each year, it's challenging to measure whether the money makes a difference.
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The 2023 Summer of Code is a weeklong initiative dedicated to introducing underserved youths to the world of computer science and programming. It's hosted by the nonprofit WeCode KC, dedicated to bridging the digital divide in the metro.
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The Parvin Estates tenant union is the first of its kind in Kansas City's Northland. Residents say that rents are being raised by 35% after years of neglect, including broken air conditioning and infestations of rodents and insects.
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The greater Kansas City area is continuing a massive clean up effort after a string of severe storms with wind gusts north of 60 miles per hour pummeled the region last Friday. Several cities have already begun curbside pickup programs, while others are offering drop-off locations.
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Lincoln College Preparatory Academy, one of the highest-ranking schools in Missouri, has a storied history in Kansas City. When a group of parents and alumni noticed that current students were constantly coming up short on resources, they founded the district's first booster club to raise funds for sports programs and after-school clubs.
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From their new spot on the south end of the Historic 18th and Vine district, Vine Street Brewing Company’s owners want to create an inclusive, multicultural atmosphere with artwork, community service, music and — of course — beer.
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After escaping civil war in their homeland, members of the Kunama ethnic group have found a home in Kansas City, Kansas. After seeing some youths get into trouble, Abraham Atu started a soccer team to steer them the right way.
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The Crescendo Award festival started to provide an inclusive space to amplify the work of underrepresented local playwrights. It helps showcase the diversity in Kansas City’s theater scene, said one honoree.
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The first ever Juneteenth Film Festival in Kansas City is this year's launching pad for African American festivities. It's part of the largest and longest running celebration of the emancipation of enslaved people in the region.