Best of KC 2025: Kansas City protects its own

Protestors wave signs as thunder begins to rumble near the end of the No Kings demonstration at the Missouri State Capitol in Jefferson City on Saturday (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent)

Earlier this month, we published The Pitch’s annual Best of Kansas City issue. You can take a peek at the results of the readers’ poll here. The issue also included a list, compiled and written by our editorial staff, of some local people, places, and things that we thought clearly won 2025. We’ll be publishing these items online throughout November.

Since the inception of the second Trump term, a new energy has been brought to the city—one where people who have not historically been involved in politics feel called to advocacy. Grassroots organizations like Boots on the Ground Midwest and Midtown KC Now, along with community members across the city, have coordinated crucial workshops and events to help educate citizens on how to protect themselves and their neighbors.

While decisions made from the highest office in the land continue to plague communities and roll back long-fought civil protections, both across the country and in our own backyard, being equipped with the tools to thwart abuses of power has become more important than ever before. 

Recent community training efforts have taken the form of teach-ins that not only educate people on the misconceptions surrounding immigration, but also offer rapid-response training that teaches what to do if someone spots ICE activity in their area. This trend has also included workshops that prepare the public for basic disaster response, covering events such as floods, terrorism, or other hazards requiring immediate medical attention. 

This blooming in community training culture and intervention has transformed local activism from mere performativity to serious action. Get out and get involved. Your neighbor needs you.

Click below to read the November Best Of 2025 Issue of The Pitch Magazine: