Tourism in Kansas City is soaring. As residents look ahead to the 2026 FIFA World Cup and an estimated 650,000 visitors — half expected from abroad — the opportunity to interact with openness, curiosity, and inclusion has never been greater.

But many of the ideas that once guided these interactions — represented by words like “equity” and “inclusion” — have been politicized or even removed from public discourse. How do we keep building spaces where everyone feels they belong in this challenging moment?

Bestselling author and inclusive leadership expert Jennifer Brown studies how to create belonging in our neighborhoods, friend groups, faith communities, schools, and city. Brown and The Kansas City Star’s Mará Rose Williams discuss the now-contentious conversation surrounding DEI, offering a fresh and hopeful vision rooted in human connection. They also unpack the meaning of belonging, why it matters so deeply, how it shows up in daily life, and how Kansas Citians can lead with authenticity and inclusion, even in a changing landscape.

Brown, considered one of the earliest voices in the DEI field, founded her company in 2006 and has consulted on inclusive workplaces for some of the largest businesses and non-profits in the world for two decades. Today, she's an in-demand keynote speaker and Wall Street Journal bestselling author, most recently of the leadership book How to be an Inclusive Leader, now in its second edition.