Black Entrepreneurs of the Flint Hills Selected as 2026 Leadership Transformation Grant Partner by Kansas Leadership Center

“When your leadership or board does not reflect the community and people you serve—there is a problem. When I look around and see a lack of diversity among elected officials, nonprofit boards, and institutional leadership, it’s clear we have work to do.”

Representation is not just a moral imperative—it’s a strategic necessity. That’s why Black Entrepreneurs of the Flint Hills (BEFH) is honored to be named a 2026 Leadership Transformation Grant (LTG) partner by the Kansas Leadership Center (KLC). As one of only 76 organizations selected statewide this grant affirms the power of community-rooted leadership to drive systemic change.

Through this partnership, BEFH will deepen its leadership capacity to advance racial and economic equity across the Flint Hills region. With support from KLC, BEFH will engage in a year-long journey utilizing the KLC framework, equipping our team to more effectively mobilize community, challenge the status quo, and create lasting impact for underrepresented entrepreneurs and the broader ecosystem of equity.

“We’re grateful to be part of this cohort. Thank you to KLC for recognizing that Black-led organizations are essential to Kansas’ civic fabric,” said Sheila Ellis-Glasper, Executive Director of BEFH. “This investment helps us continue to build culturally affirming spaces like the Yuma Street Cultural Center, and to expand programs like the CommerceUplift Cohort and the Grind & Growth Series.”

BEFH’s selection reflects KLC’s evolving commitment to advancing inclusive leadership—one that recognizes the necessity of equipping diverse changemakers to tackle complex challenges.

To learn more about the Leadership Transformation Grants, visit https://kansasleadershipcenter.org/grants/.