Who We Are

We Are UNI

Our Priorities: Engage, Encourage, Elevate, and Educate

The Urban Neighborhood Initiative is a community development corporation that serves residents in the urban core of Kansas City. We believe in strengthening communities through building quality mixed-income housing, serving as a connection to resources, presenting STEAM-based educational experiences for youth, and providing space for community organizations to meet and connect.

Mission Statement: To build communities with purpose on purpose where every household member is engaged, encouraged, elevated, and educated through the joys of stable housing, quality programming, and impactful services.

Vision Statement: To see communities that are engaged, encouraged, elevated, and educated.

Purpose Statement: Team members of The Urban Neighborhood Initiative are to be R.E.A.C.H.E.R.S of resources in our communities.

R- Real Estate Development
E- Education
A- Arts
C-Careers/culture
H-Health
E- Engagement
R- Reinvestment/ Redevelopment
S- Safety

DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLUSION, & JUSTICE STATEMENT OF PRINCIPLE

  • We value the seen and unseen qualities that make communities who they are.
  • We welcome that every community brings a unique perspective and experience to advance our mission and progress our fight for the housing, health, education, and financial stability of every person in every community.
  • We believe that each UNI community member, donor, volunteer, advocate, and employee must have equal access to solving community problems.
  • We strive to include diversity, equity, inclusion, & justice practices at the center of our daily work. 
  • We commit to using these practices for our business and our communities.

Our History

Community Milestones

UNI evolved as one of the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce’s “Big 5” initiatives and from work of United Way of Greater Kansas City, becoming an independent 501c3 in 2012 and established as a Community Development Corporation (CDC) in 2016.

UNI house picture
2012
UNI Founded
KC Chambers and United Way logo
UNI Founded

The Urban Neighborhood Initiative (UNI) evolved as one of the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce’s “Big 5” initiatives and from work of United Way of Greater Kansas City, becoming an independent 501c3

2013-15
Expansion
UNI
UNI Expanded

UNI organization expansion to include: community engagement and resource fairs, and neighborhood block parties

2018
Programmatic expansion
Housing

Programmatic expansion into housing and real estate development

2019
Programmatic expansion
Home Repair
Programmatic expansion minor home repair
2020
COVID-19
Response Programs
COVID-19 response programs
2021
Dianne Cleaver Retires
Dianne Cleaver Retires
Dianne Cleaver retires as President/CEO. Jamee Rodgers named new President/CEO
2022
10 Year Celebration
10 Year Celebration
10 year celebration first annual Recess! gala

Our Neighborhoods

Committed to community betterment

We serve ten communities south of Truman, north of 52nd street, east of Troost, and west of Prospect.

Beacon Hill

Blue Hills

Boston Heights / Mount Hope

Center City

Ivanhoe

Key Coalition

Manheim Park

Squier Park

Troostwood

Wendell Phillips

Our Team

UNI has grown to a staff of 15!

The Community We Serve

Live at or below the poverty level

0 %

Between 100-200 percent poverty level

0 %

Did not complete high school

0 %

Have no education beyond high school level

0 %