Arts & Culture
Vewiser Dixon talks on his cell phone on Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2015, in front of the old Kansas City water works building he's looking to acquire on Vine Street near 22nd Street. Dixon, born and raised in the 18th and Vine neighborhood, wants to turn the largely deserted neighborhood south of the Jazz District into a "Black Silicon Valley" of high-technology training and entrepreneurial support to encourage minority tech start-up companies. He also wants to help develop residential, retail and professional space around Lincoln High School so students are surrounded by jobs and successful black-owned businesses.
ALLISON LONG
along@kcstar.com
Vewiser Dixon stands before the Kansas City skyline on Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2015, in front of Lincoln College Preparatory Academy on Woodland Avenue between 21st and 22nd Streets. Dixon, born and raised in the 18th and Vine neighborhood, wants to turn the largely deserted neighborhood south of the Jazz District into a "Black Silicon Valley" of high-technology training and entrepreneurial support to encourage minority tech start-up companies. He also wants to help develop residential, retail and professional space around Lincoln College Preparatory Academy so students are surrounded by jobs and successful black-owned businesses.
ALLISON LONG
along@kcstar.com
Vewiser Dixon kneels before the Kansas City skyline on Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2015, with his development plans for south of 18th and Vine on Wednesday. Dixon, born and raised in the 18th and Vine neighborhood, wants to turn the largely deserted neighborhood south of the Jazz District into a "Black Silicon Valley" of high-technology training and entrepreneurial support to encourage minority tech start-up companies. He also wants to help develop residential, retail and professional space around Lincoln College Preparatory Academy so students are surrounded by jobs and successful black-owned businesses.
ALLISON LONG
along@kcstar.com
Vewiser Dixon's development plans for the neighborhood south of the 18th and Vine District are pictured on Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2015. Dixon, born and raised in the 18th and Vine neighborhood, wants to turn the largely deserted neighborhood south of the Jazz District, outlined by the rainbow-colored line, into a "Black Silicon Valley" of high-technology training and entrepreneurial support to encourage minority tech start-up companies. He also wants to help develop residential, retail and professional space around Lincoln College Preparatory Academy so students are surrounded by jobs and successful black-owned businesses.
ALLISON LONG
along@kcstar.com
Vewiser Dixon (center) talks to Joey Thomas (right) as he cuts Ronald White's hair near Jordan Stephens (left) re-twisting Evin Russell's hair on Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2015, in Thomas' shop, 180V Barber Salon, in the Lincoln Building at 1805 Vine St. in Kansas City. Dixon, born and raised in the 18th and Vine neighborhood, wants to turn the largely deserted neighborhood south of the Jazz District into a "Black Silicon Valley" of high-technology training and entrepreneurial support to encourage minority tech start-up companies. He also wants to help develop residential, retail and professional space around Lincoln College Preparatory Academy so students are surrounded by jobs and successful black-owned businesses.
ALLISON LONG
along@kcstar.com
Vewiser Dixon talks to Joey Thomas as he cuts Ronald White's hair on Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2015, in Thomas' shop, 180V Barber Salon, in the Lincoln Building at 1805 Vine St. in Kansas City. Dixon, born and raised in the 18th and Vine neighborhood, wants to turn the largely deserted neighborhood south of the Jazz District into a "Black Silicon Valley" of high-technology training and entrepreneurial support to encourage minority tech start-up companies. He also wants to help develop residential, retail and professional space around Lincoln College Preparatory Academy so students are surrounded by jobs and successful black-owned businesses.
ALLISON LONG
along@kcstar.com
Vewiser Dixon (center) congratulates Marvin Lyman (left), a consulting contractor, on Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2015, as Chester Thompson Jr., president of the Black Economic Union of Greater Kansas City, watches in the Lincoln Building at 1805 Vine St. in Kansas City. Dixon, born and raised in the 18th and Vine neighborhood, wants to turn the largely deserted neighborhood south of the Jazz District into a "Black Silicon Valley" of high-technology training and entrepreneurial support to encourage minority tech start-up companies. He also wants to help develop residential, retail and professional space around Lincoln College Preparatory Academy so students are surrounded by jobs and successful black-owned businesses.
ALLISON LONG
along@kcstar.com
Vewiser Dixon (left) talks to Jason Carter-Solomon (back to camera), vice president of Enterprise Bank Trust, and Chester Thompson Jr., president of the Black Economic Union of Greater Kansas City, on Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2015, in the Lincoln Building at 1805 Vine St. in Kansas City. Dixon, born and raised in the 18th and Vine neighborhood, wants to turn the largely deserted neighborhood south of the Jazz District into a "Black Silicon Valley" of high-technology training and entrepreneurial support to encourage minority tech start-up companies. He also wants to help develop residential, retail and professional space around Lincoln College Preparatory Academy so students are surrounded by jobs and successful black-owned businesses.
ALLISON LONG
along@kcstar.com
Vewiser Dixon talks about his plans on Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2015, as Chester Thompson Jr., president of the Black Economic Union of Greater Kansas City, listens in the Lincoln Building at 1805 Vine St. in Kansas City. Dixon, born and raised in the 18th and Vine neighborhood, wants to turn the largely deserted neighborhood south of the Jazz District into a "Black Silicon Valley" of high-technology training and entrepreneurial support to encourage minority tech start-up companies. He also wants to help develop residential, retail and professional space around Lincoln College Preparatory Academy so students are surrounded by jobs and successful black-owned businesses.
ALLISON LONG
along@kcstar.com
Vewiser Dixon talks about his plans on Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2015, as Chester Thompson Jr., president of the Black Economic Union of Greater Kansas City, listens in the Lincoln Building at 1805 Vine St. in Kansas City. Dixon, born and raised in the 18th and Vine neighborhood, wants to turn the largely deserted neighborhood south of the Jazz District into a "Black Silicon Valley" of high-technology training and entrepreneurial support to encourage minority tech start-up companies. He also wants to help develop residential, retail and professional space around Lincoln College Preparatory Academy so students are surrounded by jobs and successful black-owned businesses.
ALLISON LONG
along@kcstar.com
Marvin Lyman (left), a consulting contractor, and Vewiser Dixon work on Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2015, in the Lincoln Building at 1805 Vine St. in Kansas City. Dixon, born and raised in the 18th and Vine neighborhood, wants to turn the largely deserted neighborhood south of the Jazz District into a "Black Silicon Valley" of high-technology training and entrepreneurial support to encourage minority tech start-up companies. He also wants to help develop residential, retail and professional space around Lincoln College Preparatory Academy so students are surrounded by jobs and successful black-owned businesses.
ALLISON LONG
along@kcstar.com
Marvin Lyman (left), a consulting contractor, and Vewiser Dixon work on Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2015, in the Lincoln Building at 1805 Vine St. in Kansas City. Dixon, born and raised in the 18th and Vine neighborhood, wants to turn the largely deserted neighborhood south of the Jazz District into a "Black Silicon Valley" of high-technology training and entrepreneurial support to encourage minority tech start-up companies. He also wants to help develop residential, retail and professional space around Lincoln College Preparatory Academy so students are surrounded by jobs and successful black-owned businesses.
ALLISON LONG
along@kcstar.com
Vewiser Dixon works on Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2015, in his office in the Lincoln Building at 1805 Vine St. in Kansas City. Dixon, born and raised in the 18th and Vine neighborhood, wants to turn the largely deserted neighborhood south of the Jazz District into a "Black Silicon Valley" of high-technology training and entrepreneurial support to encourage minority tech start-up companies. He also wants to help develop residential, retail and professional space around Lincoln College Preparatory Academy so students are surrounded by jobs and successful black-owned businesses.
ALLISON LONG
along@kcstar.com
Vewiser Dixon works on Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2015, in his office in the Lincoln Building at 1805 Vine St. in Kansas City. Dixon, born and raised in the 18th and Vine neighborhood, wants to turn the largely deserted neighborhood south of the Jazz District into a "Black Silicon Valley" of high-technology training and entrepreneurial support to encourage minority tech start-up companies. He also wants to help develop residential, retail and professional space around Lincoln College Preparatory Academy so students are surrounded by jobs and successful black-owned businesses.
ALLISON LONG
along@kcstar.com
Vewiser Dixon works on Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2015, in his office in the Lincoln Building at 1805 Vine St. in Kansas City. Dixon, born and raised in the 18th and Vine neighborhood, wants to turn the largely deserted neighborhood south of the Jazz District into a "Black Silicon Valley" of high-technology training and entrepreneurial support to encourage minority tech start-up companies. He also wants to help develop residential, retail and professional space around Lincoln College Preparatory Academy so students are surrounded by jobs and successful black-owned businesses.
ALLISON LONG
along@kcstar.com
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