When Kansas City faced a potential crisis at 31st and Prospect this year, one leader stepped forward to sound the alarm about a decline in public safety — and, more importantly, to demand action to prevent a food desert.
Emmet Pierson Jr., president and CEO of Community Builders of Kansas City (CBKC), transformed what could have been the quiet closure of another urban core grocery store into a rallying cry for sustained investment in KC’s eastside.
Pierson is our Person of the Year for his bold leadership in challenging times and continued commitment to economic development and opportunities on KC’s predominantly Black east side.
Pierson and CBKC manage the SunFresh at 31st and Prospect and made the remarkable decision in September to publicly detail the store’s struggles, including rampant theft, lack of safety, and a staggering $1.3 million cash investment the nonprofit made to cover ongoing operational losses at the store.
Rather than quietly shuttering the location, Pierson orchestrated a public campaign that brought Mayor Quinton Lucas, Police Chief Stacey Graves, and community leaders face-to-face with the challenges plaguing the store and the area – such as prostitution, drug use, rampant theft, mental illness, homelessness and city’s poor maintenance of the city-owned shopping center.
This wasn’t just about saving a grocery store. His public stand forced city leaders to confront broader issues of urban disinvestment, leading to immediate commitments like 24-hour police presence in the area and a proposed $750,000 in city funding to support the store’s operations.
Meanwhile, Pierson has continued to drive transformative development projects across Kansas City’s east side. Community Builders operates a second SunFresh on MLK Blvd, which was in danger of closure before they took over. CBKC is also reimagining 11 acres along MLK with its $80-100 million Offices at Overlook project that hopes to complete first-phase construction this year. The Rochester, a recently opened $12 million market-rate apartment complex, won the Kansas City Business Journal’s Capstone Award in 2023, proving that high-quality development can succeed east of Troost.
Under Pierson’s leadership, CBKC has become KC’s largest urban core developer, investing hundreds of millions in development dollars. Perhaps more importantly, he’s emerged as a powerful advocate for equitable development, consistently highlighting disparities in public investment between east and west Kansas City.
CBKC’s impact extends beyond physical development. The organization maintains a minimum 25% participation rate for minority contractors on all projects, contributing to the growth of Black-owned businesses. It manages more than 800 apartment units, preserving affordable housing in an increasingly expensive market. Its two grocery stores— while challenging to operate — prevent food deserts in underserved communities.
Throughout 2024, Pierson challenged city leaders to match the level of sustained investment seen in other areas of the city. When the KC committed $43 million for infrastructure in the West Bottoms, Pierson pointed out that similar investments could transform the east side. His advocacy has helped spark a broader conversation about equitable development in the area.
His work through CBKC demonstrates that community development isn’t just about building structures – it’s about building opportunities, creating jobs, and ensuring that every part of KC has access to the resources needed for a thriving community.
Emmet Pierson Jr. has earned recognition as our Person of the Year for preventing the creation of an urban food desert while preserving an anchor tenant that drives one of the largest commercial spaces on the east side. We commend his courage in confronting systemic challenges, his continued commitment to equitable development, and his leadership in sparking crucial conversations about investment in East Kansas City.
Emmet is an authentically dedicated and visionary leader. His decades of being a voice and reflection of unmet community needs matched with actions and use of political capital makes him worthy of national, not just local recognition. Emmet’s abilities could have landed him in other prestigious positions but he has remained steadfast in his commitment to community and KC.