We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Carl Stafford a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Carl, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?
BOON AREA 1., An environmental, nature-based, interactive, functional art installation that acts as a contemporary communicate garden. BOON AREA 1 is one of MY REGION WINS! (MRW!) Kansas City’s Creative Nonprofit Organization projects. MRW!’s programs and projects are created to address environmental and social injustices and issues.
BOON AREA 1 is a pilot project to address the large number of blighted/vacant properties owned by Land Bank and Housing Authority on the west side of District 5 in Kansas City, Missouri. Planting native plants with 8-to-15-foot root systems to address storm water and not having to use a lawnmower to constantly cut it. Capturing storm water and reusing it. Using solar panels to collect and store energy that can be used. Revitalizing a disinvested business zone on the west side of District 5 in Kansas City, Missouri.
BOON AREA 1 has indirectly addressed negative influences by its presence, encouraged property owns within the business zone to invest in their property, and has made business owns working in these properties feel safe. Since 2021 MRW! has been able to donate the Noble neighborhood (the neighborhood BOON AREA 1 is in) a small check from revenue generated. Making BOON AREA 1 a ‘neighborhood revenue generator’.
The goal for BOON AREA 1 (and future BOON AREAS throughout the west side of District 5) is to generate enough revenue to fund neighborhood programs and projects, compensate residents living in the neighborhood who take on roles to strengthen said neighborhood, and ultimately stipend every household in the neighborhood.
It all started because as a nonprofit organization “you are supposed to be in a building.” That was a monthly cost MRW! was not ready to take on, plus all the available locations were west of Troost. This is where the history of Kansas City, Mo., comes into play and why there are disinvested business zones and over a thousand blighted/vacant properties owned by Land Bank and Housing Authority on the west side of District 5.
As an Artist this was an opportunity to take something that had been dismissed and turn it into a Guggenheim Museum Bilbao.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your background and context?
Carl Stafford, Founder / Visionary of MY REGION WINS! (MRW!) Kansas City Creative Nonprofit Organization
- MISSION: Transcend everyday challenges, by using the Arts to nurture creative and undeveloped ideas that shape society.
- VISION: A larger influence of the Arts & Nature in society.
- PROJECTS & PROGRAMS: Are created to address environmental and social injustices and issues.
- SERVICES: Assist companies in supporting their employees’ aspirational goals and dreams.
– 2022 Cultural Producer Grantee, Charlotte Street Foundation
– 2022, 816 Day Community Award Recipient.
– Recognized as the 2021 “Innovator to Watch” by Grinnell College
– 2019, Became a Certified Community Coach through F.I. A.P. C.
Born and raised on the west side of District 5 in Kansas City, Missouri. During my upbringing, the Arts became a means of social progression, from being in the Martial Arts at 4-years-old to writing a school play my junior year in high school. So did my appreciation for Kansas City as a vibrant metropolitan area, brimming with inspiration and potential. My journey as an Artist, environmental steward, and neighborhood leader has allowed me to see visions of thriving neighborhoods and communities in Kansas City, Mo.
Graduated with my Bachelor’s degree in Multimedia Arts from the Kansas City Art Institute in 2006. My original goal for attending art school was to write movie scripts and be a director, but my creative muse didn’t find this path satisfactory. There was a pull from within to serve the interest of my ‘newfound Artist within’ rather than ‘entertaining’ the masses. Concurrently at this time, an opportunity arrived for me to work with youth, creating books that ignited their own creative flames. This was amazing! But where was the adult version? 2012 gave me the wonderful opportunity to work with Artist living with disabilities which gave my vision structure.
By 2014, now 36, There was a desire to take the next step. My vision of Kansas City as a new cultural epicenter that empowered creativity, and demonstrate and display environmental best practices needed a solid foundation. Establishing MY REGION WINS! (MRW!) {a rallying cry} Kansas City’s creative non-profit organization took place April 9th 2014.
How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?
Publicity builds pipelines. Public acknowledgment is empowering, not only for the one(s) doing the act but for the act that is being done. To ‘foster’ means to encourage or promote. Help us make history. Promote me and other Artists, promote us loudly! Encourage major corporations to sign us to multimillion dollar contracts, be seen in the latest ad, or tv commercial, star in sitcom or motion picture.
Image the Arts receiving the attention sports and entertainment do. Imagine multiple 24-hour Art channels on TV, multiple yearly televised Art Award Shows, and highly exposed Art contests; where the contestants’ backstories are told and the winner wins millions of dollars and receives worldwide attention; while the other contestants get signed to multiyear multimillion-dollar deals.
Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?
BOOKS: Tao of Jeet Kune Do by Lee, Bruce
On Bullshit by Harry G. Frankfurt
I Am Me, I Am Free: The Robots’ Guide to Freedom by David Icke
Night by Elie Wiesel
Wake up and Smell the Coffee by Andrew Frothingham Tripp Evans
VIDEOS:
The Souls of Black Folk by W. E. B. DU BOIS read by toriasuncle | Full Audio Book:
Contact Info:
- Website: www.myregionwins.org
- Facebook: https://www.
facebook.com/MYREGIONWINS
Image Credits
Vision Design created by Jonathan Brice Lyman