Nominations are Open for the Urban Hero Awards

By Jared Campbell, Resident Engagement Project Manager at Downtown Council of Kansas City

The heart and soul of Downtown KC are the nonprofits, small business owners, and impact makers who work to make our community a better place to live, work, and play.

Each year, in conjunction with our Annual Luncheon, the Downtown Council honors a new class of Urban Heroes.  We invite you to participate in the nomination process by submitting the name of someone or some organization who you think deserves to be honored for their impact on downtown.  You can find out more details, including a list of past winners, along with the link to the nomination form at www.downtownkc.org/awards.  The deadline for nominations is January 31st!

This year, the newest Urban Heroes will be recognized at a reception on Thursday, April 9th from 5:30pm to 7:30pm at the Grand Ballroom as well as on stage the next day during the luncheon program. In addition, the J. Philip Kirk Award, in recognition of a lifetime of community vision and downtown stewardship, will be presented from the stage at the luncheon.  A big thank you to Jennifer Ingraham for serving as the Chair of the Awards Committee this year and Dawn Taylor for serving as the Vice-Chair.

For more information on the 2026 Annual Luncheon, including sponsorship and ticket opportunities, please visit www.downtownkc.org.