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.
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.
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
UNI organization expansion to include: community engagement and resource fairs, and neighborhood block parties
UNI joins Purpose Built network
Programmatic expansion into housing and real estate development
Our Network
In 2016, Urban Neighborhood Initiative joined the Purpose Built Communities network after learning about the successful and proven model of East Lake in Atlanta, Georgia. Its framework for holistic community revitalization is based on a series of pillars, including a cradle-to-college-to-career education pipeline, a mixed-income housing strategy, and community wellness through a robust network of community and support services.
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
Between 100-200 percent poverty level
Did not complete high school
Have no education beyond high school level
