23
Faith Community Members
4
Organization Members
127
Monthly (Recurring) Donors
task forces
How we’re working to transform our community.
Education Task Force
This is our longest standing task force, dating back twenty years, and it boasts some of our most impressive victories, including Tax Increment Finance Reform, Banning Out of School Suspensions (KCPS) and Saving KCPS from complete decimation (to be replaced with an all charter school model).
You can get involved in the education Task Force by contacting Co-Chair Janet Parks at parksj3271@gmail.com.
Criminal Justice Task Force(s)
In both Missouri and Kansas, these Task Forces have done impressive work to keep police reform in the local spotlight. Their work includes helping police chiefs find their way to retirement, pushing for a fully funded Conviction Integrity Unit in WYCO, ensuring the first Public Defender’s Office in Wyandotte County, and supporting victims of police brutality. On the Missouri side, the task force continues to pursue Local Control of Kansas City Police Department. In Kansas City, Kansas, the team seeks justice for victims of police violence and sexual assault.
To get involved, contact Organizer Lora McDonald mcdonald@more2.org.
Our Voices
Our Voices is a “for us by us” group of people who have been incarcerated. They have earned some hard fought victories, from regaining Food Stamps for Missourians with drug related felonies to banning the box. Most recently, Our Voices won one of our most impressive victories to date when they ensured the passage of an ordinance in Kansas City, Missouri, to make people with any form of criminal record a protected class, meaning people with an arrest or conviction cannot be discriminated against in employment, housing and public accommodations. Right now, this group is building a bloc of voters in Kansas and Missouri who will fight for equal opportunities for people with records. To reach Our Voices, email us at ourvoices@more2.org.
Youth Leadership Program
This program started as a summer initiative whereby 12-17 year old metro area kids came together weekly on zoom to learn leadership and organizational skills through a historical lens, especially focusing on civil rights and more recent movements. The debut group got an ordinance passed that would fund and launch their idea to address violence- Y Chat, a youth violence prevention hotline/ chatline that is operated by the city health department. Y Chat is available at 816-799-1720. The youth alumni of the summer program desired a year round program and now they are working on banning Juvenile Fines and Fees for youth in Missouri.
To learn more about the youth program, contact our Youth Organizer, Aspen Piggie, at aspen@more2.org
Environmental Justice Task Force
This is our newest team, and they have already launched the city’s first Environmental Action Hub! Their aim is to train and develop leaders in our congregations and Kansas City’s historic east area neighborhoods to tackle environmental inequities, including things like illegal trash dumping and infrastructure.
The Environmental Action Hub
Central Christian Church
3801 E. Linwood BLVD
Thursday evening and Saturday morning (closed holidays)
To get help tackling an issue or get involved, contact thehub@more2.org
VICTORIES
Here’s how you can see our work in the community.
Voting
- Registered hundreds of voters in lower income areas.
- Engaged voters on health, public education and voter suppression issues.
- Engaged in broad Get-Out-The-Vote efforts in multiple campaigns and elections across the metro.
- Put Healthy Homes (for rental housing inspections) on the ballot and WON the first rights for tenants in Kansas City, Missouri.
Education
- Saved KCPS from complete decimation, when powers were trying to turn the school district into an entirely charter school system.
- In coalition, ensured the passage of a cap on TIF, which means more money generated from TIF projects into our public schools, libraries, etc.
Criminal Justice
- Modified the KCMO Liquor License Ordinance (three times) to open jobs to people with a felony.
- Passed Missouri State Statute to eliminate the lifetime ban on food stamps for people with drug convictions
- Passed Ban the Box in KCMO, KCK, and Johnson County, KS, removing Criminal History Questions off
municipal employment applications. - Assisted with passage of Exoneree Compensation Bill in Kansas.
- Ensured funding of a Conviction Integrity Unit in Wyandotte Co., to review old convictions and ensure that
justice was/is properly pursued.
Work & Transportation
- Ensured the first Workforce Ordinance in KCMO, requiring project hours for women and people of color.
- Ensured the passage of MBE/WBE in Jackson County.
- Ensured the passage and implementation of a Community Benefits Agreement Resolution, which allows for workforce development deals on TIF and other city projects.
- In coalition, passed an increase of the minimum wage in KCMO.
- Worked in coalition to win Raise Up MO and CLEAN (ethics reform) in Missouri in 2018.
- Allied with Unions to defeat Right to Work in MO.
- Won Sunday Bus Routes in Kansas City, KS.
- Ensured a Community Benefits Agreement on the Christopher Bond Bridge, with MODOT, to gain workforce training for women and people of color.
Immigration
- Gained public commitments from Kansas elected and appointed officials to prevent mass deportation and fear among immigrants.
- Won Welcoming Proclamations all over the metro.
- Ensured “sanctuary” commitments from area congregations
- Provided legal services and information to hundreds of immigrant families in Kansas/MO
Programs
More ways we’re breaking down barriers.
Black Owned Businesses
Black Owned Businesses- in 2019, MORE2 started working directly with Black Owned Businesses, specifically restaurants, to ensure greater access to public opportunities. In 2020, we ensured an ordinance that added two Black Owned Businesses to the City’s preferred catering contracts, giving those businesses access to millions of dollars of earned revenue. During the pandemic, these businesses worked with each other to get access to PPP loans and to ensure public policies around COVID that allowed them to continue to operate. We offered essential support and marketing to our members during this difficult time for small businesses.
Transforming Congregations & Communities
Transforming Congregations and Communities is an exciting initiative with a team of local congregations, operating as a “cohort,” working with Gamaliel and MORE2 trainers, to transform their congregations and deepen their commitments to their communities.
Currently we have a cohort of four congregations participating in the Transforming Congregations and Communities program in partnership with the National Gamaliel Network. These congregations are on a journey to build and deepen internal relationships, discern, set attainable goals, and implement new strategies around their goals. We intend to begin a NEW Cohort in 2026. If your congregation is interested, contact Lora McDonald mcdonald@more2.org
National Leadership Training with the Gamaliel Network, aka, “Weeklong”
This lifechanging national training opportunity is offered three times annually for Gamaliel affiliates. Members come together from all over the nation to challenge what holds them back as leaders and to develop clarity about what they need to do/ build in their local communities. This training is for members and there is a fee, which your organizer can work with you to raise.
Ntosake
Training for Women in Leadership- over two decades ago, women in the Gamaliel Network recognized the need for their own space to train and develop one another as leaders. That training, Ntosake, has become one of the most diverse spaces in the network as women from all walks come together, once every other year, to invest in each other.
Kansas City has a Local Ntosake Pride Chapter of women in leadership. To find out more about their gatherings, contact ntosake@more2.org
Bi-annual Race and Power Summit
In even numbered years, the Race and Power Summit is the Gamaliel Network’s national powerful convening of the who’s who of race and justice. Preaching powerhouses, union giants, campaign champions and on racial equity experts converge with leaders from the National Gamaliel Network to learn from each other and prepare for our frontline work.