New leaders take reins at Mutual Musicians Foundation

The Mutual Musicians Foundation, a legacy of the union of black musicians who made Kansas City a jazz capital, has new leadership.

Bitter feelings and mistrust marked the transfer of power, which is described in this week’s feature story. The new president, Will Matthews, asked for productive and respectful dialogue after the votes were cast in early December.

Matthews thinks of the foundation as an arts organization. In a letter sent to the membership at the end of the year, Matthews says the foundation needs “to change significantly in order remain vibrant, relevant and competitive in this new economy.” He attached a form asking the members for their recommendations.

In an interview, Matthews said he was encouraged to run — an idea he rejected at first. “But as I kept thinking about, I thought it was time for my generation to step up and take the reins,” he said.