Downtown Council ‘imagines’ its Annual Luncheon on April 22

The Downtown Council will ‘Imagine’ the future of Downtown KC at its Annual Luncheon next month.

Sports + entertainment to take spotlight at Annual Luncheon

Save the date! The Downtown Council announced plans this week for its Annual Luncheon program and awards ceremonies beginning at 11 a.m. Friday, April 22 at the Loews Kansas City Hotel.

The luncheon – the first since early 2020 – marks a celebration of Downtown Kansas City. It will feature a spotlight on the Imagine Downtown KC 2030 Strategic Plan process and implementation; a panel discussion on the power and passion of sports and entertainment; annual awards for community service and leadership; and the largest Downtown networking event of the year.

The DTC luncheon is expected to attract 1,000+ attendees to celebrate Downtown accomplishments and drill down into opportunities and challenges in the year(s) ahead. This year’s event will bask in the glow of the Imagine Downtown Strategic Plan, which was released six weeks ago before a celebratory audience at the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum.

“The Imagine Downtown KC plan reaches into the hearts of the people and neighborhoods that make greater Downtown Kansas City unique and remarkable. It’s filled with the spirit of compassion, fueled by the human experience, and the vision to create an equitable, inclusive, and vibrant urban place,” said Lynn Carlton, vice chair of the plan’s implementation committee, and immediate past chair of the DTC Board of Directors.

A highlight of the 2022 Annual Luncheon will be a sports and entertainment panel focused on the economics and energy they bring to the urban neighborhood. Confirmed speakers include:

  • Mark Donovan, Team President, KC Chiefs
  • Angie Long, Founder & Owner, KC Current
  • Kathy Nelson, President and CEO of Sports Commission and Visit KC
  • Jake Reid, President and CEO, Sporting KC
  • Shani Tate Ross, VP of Sales & Marketing, T-Mobile Center (Moderator)
  • And more to come…!

The luncheon festivities will also feature the annual Downtown Council awards. Each one honors those who are committed to advancing Downtown and the 22 neighborhoods that make up Downtown Kansas City. Honorees will be recognized in three prized categories:

  • J. Philip Kirk Jr. Award – lifetime achievement award presented in recognition of community vision and Downtown stewardship
  • Urban Hero Awards – recognition of individuals who are committed to advancing urban neighborhood(s) into more vibrant places to live, work, and play. Downtown KC embraces a mosaic of 22 adjacent neighborhoods.
  • Harvey Fried Award – recognition of outstanding service by a Community Improvement District Ambassadors

Click here to learn more, including details on sponsorship opportunities and individual ticket sales. See you there!

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