Jazz And Jobs In Kansas City, Missouri

Kansas City, Missouri has been rated as the Number One Best City in the US for Mid-Level Careerists and Mid-Career Professionals.

The US Federal Government reported that in the 4th Quarter of 2007, Missouri as a state enjoyed the 5th lowest cost of living in the country. The largest city in the state, Kansas City straddles four different counties: Cass, Clay, Jackson, and Platte, attracting employees from all four.

In 2005, Kansas City population totaled nearly 500,000 and the Greater Kansas City Metro Area is home to 1.5 million -- approximately 60% white, 32 % Black, 2% Asian, 1/2% Native American, 5% Other. Hispanic of all races = 7%. Average household Income was approximately $42,000 and median home value over $125,000, with a lower cost of living than on other areas of the USA.

Job growth is high in several occupations and industries and the downtown section particularly has been revitalized and renovated.

Arts and culture comprise a consistent focus in the communities in KC and the Crossroads Community offers a Gallery Hop with free food and beverages once monthly. The Power and Light District provides high quality night life and entertainment and The Country Club Plaza is a 14-block area of shopping and dining.

The River Market Historic Area is a revitalized section located on the site of the old Santa Fe Trail gateway. The lands had been the province of three Native American Nations in particular: Kansa, Osage, and Wyandotte; but, as settlers arrived by wagon and by riverboat, a marketplace sprang up. Today, it is a center of residential, dining, entertainment, and shopping venues.

The largest employers in Kansas City, Missouri are engaged in healthcare, auto manufacturing, government, greeting cards and stationery, communications, and education.

• US Federal Government - Health & Human Services
• City Hall - Kansas City MO
• Sprint Nextel
• State of Missouri
• Ford Motor Company - see link below about $400,000,000 investment.
• Hallmark Cards, Inc. & Crayola, a subdivision
• A T & T
• Ambassador Cards
• Children's Mercy Hospital
• St. Lukes Hospital
• University of Missouri, Kansas City

• Amtrak's Missouri River Runner attracting more riders - Columbia Missourian: Amtrak's Missouri River Runner, which runs from St. Louis to Kansas City every day, is serving more passengers as people seek less expensive transportation options. Although more popular, the train still relies on subsidies from the state and federal.
• State wins more than $200M for high-speed rail | Detroit Free Press | freep.com-- Rail passengers who have hoped for faster trips between Detroit and Chicago could get their wish in a couple of years as Michigan upgrades tracks and crossing signals and buys locomotives and railcars to boost speeds across the state.

Top 10 High Demand Jobs Forecast for Kansas City, with Average Annual Wage

Registered Nurses (RNs), requiring less than a 4-year college degree, comprise the Number One high demand job in Kansas City. RNs will be needed at a rate of over 150% that needed in the Number Two job of Accountants/Auditors.

In addition to high demand for RNs, Travel Nursing is a most lucrative opportunity, at times even within one's hometown. This occupation is open to LPNs, RNs, and Allied Health Professions and offers a wide range of benefits, including payment of rent or mortgage for form 12 weeks up to one year.

1. Registered Nurses (RNs) $52,000+
2. Accountants & Auditors $52,600
3. Computer Software Engineers, Applications $71,000+
4. Carpenters $39,500
5. General & Operations Managers $91,500
6. Sales Reps - Wholesale & Mfg $51,000
7. Business Operations Specialists $59,500+
8. Computer Systems Analysts $68,000+
9. Insurance Sales Agents $78,500+
10. Police & Sheriff Patrol Officers $41,700+

The area around 18th & Vine in downtown Kansas City was the site of the development of Jazz music, especially from the 1930s - 1950s. Charlie "Bird" Parker learned to play saxophone here and became famous.

His instrument is in the nearby American Jazz Museum, along with exhibits commemorating other jazz legends like Count Basie and others that performed in New Orleans as well as Kansas City and St. Louis.

Another interesting place here is the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum. It is a tribute to the players of the Negro League Baseball Players Association. These leagues were successful until 1847, when Jackie Robinson signed to the Brooklyn Dodgers, a formerly all white team.

The Gem Theater Cultural and Performing Arts Center is nearly 100 years old and still used for the performing arts, including drama, dance, and multimedia.

In 1857, the Santa Fe Trail began in the East in Kansas City MO. Today the site of the old stagecoach station is the yard of Santa Fe Bible Church.

Because horses needed water along the Santa Fe Trail, Kansas City provided such water and became known as the City of Fountains in the late 1800s. In 1900, Kansas City leaders built drinking fountains for people as well all around the city's downtown area. Through the 20th century, additional large public water fountains were built and dedicated as memorials to important individuals and groups. Only Rome, Italy now has more city fountains than does Kansas City anywhere in the world.

MISSOURI STATE FUNDS

• MISSOURI COLLEGE GUARANTEE - A need-based program for Missouri residents; award based on University of Missouri fees.
• CHARLES GALLAGHER STUDENT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM - For Missouri residentsonly, up to $1,500.
• MISSOURI TEACHER EDUCATION SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM - Must be Missouri resident. One-time scholarship of $2,000 for students who choose teaching careers only.
• MISSOURI HIGHER EDUCATION ACADEMIC SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM - $2,000 award for top 3 percent of Missouri students on the American College Test (ACT) or the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT), by highest scores.
• MARGUERITE ROSS BARNETT MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP - For employed students.
• MISSOURI SAVINGS FOR TUITION (MO$T) - State- and Federal tax-deferred college savings program. Anyone can contribute on the behalf of a student at $8,000 annual maximum, lifetime maximum of $235,000.
• NATIVE AMERICAN - Native American Scholarships for Healthcare and Policy Studies in the State of Missouri.

• Avila University

11901 Wornall Road; Kansas City, MO 64145
(816) 501-3603 or (800) GO-AVILA

• Cleveland Chiropractic College

6401 Rockhill Road; Kansas City, MO 64131
(800) 467-2252 or (816) 501-0100

• Kansas City Art Institute

4415 Warwick Boulevard; Kansas City, MO 64111-1820
(816) 472-4852 or (800) 522-5224

• Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences

1750 Independence Boulevard; Kansas City, MO 64106-1453
(816) 283-2000 or (800) 234-4847

• Metropolitan Community College Campuses - several at the link.
• National American University - Accounting, business, health, othre.
• Rockhurst University

1100 Rockhurst Road; Kansas City, MO 64110
(816) 501-4000 or (800) 842-6776

• University of Missouri - Kansas City, Homepage.
• Webster University Homesite - Campuses internationally as well.

THEOLOGICAL:

• Calvary Bible College School

15800 Calvary Road; Kansas City, MO 64147

• Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary

5001 N. Oak Trafficway; Kansas City, MO 64118

• NTS - Nazarene Theological Seminary Homepage

• Technical & Vocational Training - State sponsored, 1 semester up to 4 years.
• Apprenticeship Programs - Training and employment for a variety of trades.

Professional Sports

According to the Newspaper Archives in the Kansas City MO library, the earliest Professional Sports Team in Kansas City, Missouri was the Kansas City Antelopes of 1860 - in Civil War times! Wild Bill Hickok attended their baseball games nearly every Saturday and even umpired once - He wore both his six-shooters as he did so and was paid in two white horses.

Elmwood Cemetery staff in Kansas City, Kansas feel that this happened in Kansas -- a group of men entered the bar where the lawman Bill was and he asked if they were a posse.

They said, "No, baseball!"

Hickok as a lawman in Kansas, Missouri and elsewhere, so either may be the true story.

This baseball team was followed by other Kansas City ball clubs, including the Unions, the Maroons, the Cowboys, and dozens of others. This included the well-known Negro Leagues. Football began in 1924 with the Blues.

Basketball began with the 1946 Black Professional Basketball League team called the Stars.

Hockey? - 1926 - the Pla-Mores and a succession of other teams that ended in 2005 when the Outlaws went out of business.

Soccer began in 1968 with the Spurs. Rugby came on the scene a but earlier with the Blues for men in 1966 and in 1993, the Jazz for women players.

Baseball

• Kansas City Royals
• Kansas City T-Bones

Football

• Kansas City Chiefs
• Storm-Independent Women's Football Association.
• Shockers- Semi-Pro, North American Football League
• Brigade - Arena League Football

Pro Rugby

• Kansas City Blues
• Kansas City Jazz Women's Rugby Club
• Irish - Women's; Sirens - Women's
• Mustangs -Men's

League Rugby

• The Kansas City Rugby Football Club
• Kansas City Rogues - Men's.

Soccer

• Kansas City Comets-indoor soccer
• Kansas City Brass - Men's USISL Developmental League.

Roller Derby

• Roller Warriors Teams since 2004: Black-Eye Susans, Dreadnought Dorothys, The Knockouts, and the Victory Vixens

• Women's Roller Derby League

Curling - Kansas City Curling Club, since 1987

In a long-term ongoing project, the Native American communities of Kansas City MO have partnered with those of Oklahoma to communicate with Native troops stationed overseas during peace and wartime.

PROJECT MOCCASINS FOR NATIVE TROOPS

In a centuries-old old tradition, as a Native Warrior rode away from his family and village to enter a battle, he wore newly made moccasins. These fresh moccasins were endowed with the responsibility to guide his feet safely, either home or into the next life. The National Native Veterans Association of Oklahoma has organized this project and will preserve it for as long as Native Troops are ever stationed outside of North America.

Moccasins for the project are handmade well but inexpensive by artisan volunteers, packaged in red flannel, and sent to Native Troops with the goals of providing at least one pair of moccasins to each person.

Information is available or you can request moccasins be sent to a serviceman or -woman at National Native American Veterans Association, Email : National Office. If you know Canadian First Nations military overseas,, email the NNAVA and ask if they can include them. Donations are accepted.