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Transforming Troost: We Are Superman

On 31st and Troost, there is a community of people who have stopped waiting for a superhero to rescue the neighborhood. They have a vision to transform the dividing line of Troost Avenue into a gathering place. They’ve even produced a film about their work called We Are Superman: The Transformation of 31st and Troost.

Another of the Chamber’s 5 Big Ideas is revitalizing the Troost Corridor. While the Chamber has ambitious goals for reinvigorating what has long been a blighted area of Kansas City, there are grassroots efforts already underway to transform parts of Troost. On 31st and Troost, there is a community of people who have stopped waiting for a superhero to rescue the neighborhood. They have a vision to transform the dividing line of Troost Avenue into a gathering place. They’ve even produced a film about their work. It’s called We Are Superman: The Transformation of 31st and Troost.

A screening of the new documentary We Are Superman: The Transformation of 31st and Troost, a film by Kevin Bryce will be presented Friday night at 7:30 at the Nelson-Atkins Museum Auditorium. A panel discussion follows the documentary. There is a five dollar admission charge. You can follow the progress of the film on the We Are Superman Facebook page.

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Big 5: Troost Corridor Revitalization

Jim Heeter and Dianne Cleaver discuss the plan for revitalizing the Troost corridor as part of the Chamber's Big 5 Ideas initiative.

For a long time in this city, people have lamented why so little progress, so little improvement and economic development has happened east of Troost Avenue–the symbolic, geographic and racial divide in this city.

Now, the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce has agreed to throw its entire weight and influence towards making big changes. As part of what it calls its Big 5 intitiative, the Chamber has picked the Troost corridor for unprecedented focus and civic attention.

The Urban Neighborhood Initiative is one of the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce’s “Big 5” ideas announced in September 2011, aimed at creating economic opportunity and establishing a more vibrant Kansas City region.

The Urban Neighborhood Initiative seeks to collaborate with an interested East Side low-income neighborhood or area to identify and begin to address issues to improve the opportunities of its residents.

This initial effort will involve two phases of work – planning and implementation. Each phase will engage community-wide stakeholders and residents in a process to collaboratively identify issues and resources that can effect change.

Nick Haines sits down with Dianne Cleaver and Jim Heeter to discuss their plan of attack for the Troost corridor revitalization initiative.

Here’s a look at the focus area for the Urban Neighborhood Initiative:

Graphic giving thanks to Big 5 underwriters Burns & McDonnnell, UMB, Kansas City Area Life Sciences Institute and Swope Community Enterprises

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