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 Kansas City, MO — Nine community groups have united to publish Kansas City's first Official Multicultural Guide, A Guide to Multicultural Kansas City. The 79-page publication celebrates Kansas City's growing diversity, highlights the area's major cultures and provides access to minority businesses on both sides of the state line.
Spearheaded by the Kansas City Convention & Visitors Association (KCCVA), the multicultural guide was a collaborative effort between the KCCVA and eight other community organizations-the African Chamber of Commerce, the Asian-American Chamber of Commerce of Kansas City, the Black Chamber of Commerce of Greater Kansas City, the Coalition of Hispanic Organizations, the Heart of America Indian Center, the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Greater Kansas City, the International Office for the City of Kansas City, Mo., and the Kansas City, KS-Wyandotte County Convention & Visitors Bureau. The guide was produced by Arce Communications, Inc., and funded with support by the Neighborhood Tourist Development Fund.
Free copies of the guide are now available by calling the KCCVA at 816-221-5242, or through local minority Chambers, visitor centers and other multicultural organizations. The KCCVA will also distribute the guide at the Kansas City Convention Center during major minority conventions. A copy of the guide is also available inside this week's issue of Kansas City Hispanic News.
Facts About Kansas City's Diversity
The American Indian community is the region's oldest ethnic population. Currently there are more than 98 American Indian tribes in the Kansas City area.
According to the 2000 census, one third of the metro's population is African-American (137,870 residents).
At least 34 of Africa's 54 nations are represented in Kansas City. The Somali contingent alone numbers about 6,000.
Kansas City's vibrant Latino community can be traced back to the 1800s and the Santa Fe Trail. The region's earliest Hispanic visitors were merchants doing business in the bustling town of Independence, Mo.
The highest concentration of East Asian immigrants comes from India. The metro's Indian population has grown steadily over the years and today consists of more than 4,000 families.
About the Kansas City Convention & Visitors Association
The Kansas City Convention & Visitors Association is a not-for-profit organization whose mission is to enhance economic growth and quality of life for the region and its residents through marketing, sales and service for the convention and tourism industries. For more information about all there is to see and do in Kansas City, visit the organization's Web site at VisitKC.com.
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Photo Credit: Photos Courtesy of the Kansas City Convention
& Visitors Association
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18th & Vine Historic Jazz District
Caption: The Museums at 18th & Vine include the American Jazz Museum and Negro Leagues Baseball Museum.
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American Jazz Museum, Charlie Parker sax
Caption: The American Jazz Museum tells the story of this American art form with artifacts such as a Charlie Parker saxophone.
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Charlie Parker Memorial
Caption: Titled "Bird Lives," this statue in the historic 18th & Vine Jazz District honors Kansas City native and jazz legend Charlie Parker.
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Gem Theater
Caption: The Gem Theater in the historic 18th & Vine Jazz District hosts renowned jazz artists throughout the year for the "Jammin' at the Gem" jazz masters' concert series. This image is not available for download.
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Legends at Village West Shopping
Caption: Kansas City's newest shopping and entertainment destination, The Legends at Village West, boasts 1.1 million square feet of retail space. This image is not available for download.
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Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, Field of Legends
Caption: The Negro Leagues Baseball Museum chronicles the history and heroes of the Negro Leagues from their founding after the Civil War to their demise in the 1960s.
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Westport shopping
Caption: Westport's shops and restuarants are nestled in historic buildings amid old-style lampposts and tree-lined boulevards.
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