A long-anticipated project aimed at preserving and revitalizing Manhattan’s historic Black community is moving forward.
Sheila Ellis-Glasper, executive director of the Black Entrepreneurs of the Flint Hills, said the organization will break ground at 2 p.m. March 10 for construction of the Yuma Street Cultural Center at 930 Yuma St. — an area long recognized as the heart of Manhattan’s Black history.
Ellis-Glasper said the project represents a step toward honoring a community shaped by resilience during segregation.
“We took on this work of Yuma Street Cultural Center and entrepreneurship hub, truly honoring that Black history,” Ellis-Gasper said during an appearance on Within Reason with Mike Matson on KMAN.
Home to many of Manhattan’s Black residents, Yuma Street fostered businesses, churches and social institutions that sustained the community despite systemic barriers.
“There were communities like the Yuma Street District that had Black owned businesses where Black folks lived because segregation owned their homes.” Ellis-Glasper said.
The cultural center is intended to recognize that legacy while creating space for education, entrepreneurship and community gathering.
“Black history is American history,” Ellis-Glasper said. “When it comes to that history, making sure that it’s preserved is a responsibility for everyone in the community.”
The Yuma Street Cultural Center will serve as a space to highlight Black history in the Flint Hills region while supporting local entrepreneurs and community programming.
Additional details about the project and its mission are available through the Black Entrepreneurs of the Flint Hills.