‘Yeehaw!’ variety show raises $36k for the ongoing work of Kansas City Tenants Union
Saturday night at the Midland, Yeehaw!: A Benefit for Kansas City, raised over 36k for The Kansas City Tenants Union. The benefit show brought in 1,700 people for a night of comedy, music and support for their community. Each performer donated their time, and all proceeds from the event go directly to KC Tenants.
Missouri native Caleb Hearon returned to host for the third year in a row, alongside Katie Crutchfield of Waxahatchee.
The show began with comedy sets from Hearon, Jay Jurden and Beth Stelling. Despite the light-hearted sets, each comic told stories and made jokes that reminded us that this fun night is for something more important and that the issues KC Tenants fight for are happening everywhere.
Following the comics, members of KC Tenants and rent strikers from Independence Towers and Quality Hill Towers took to the stage. Strikers had a chance to tell their stories of injustice and poor living conditions that have gone ignored and how KC Tenants helped them form their own union to demand change. KC Tenants founding member Tara Raghuveer shared a picture of landlords involved at their business phone numbers, asking the attendants to text the landlords, demanding he meet with the strikers and revoke the nonrenewal notices.
Artists Samia, Briston Maroney, and Katie Crutchfield performed with the support of the house band. The Salvation Choir—a Congolese Rumba band made up from immigrants from Congo and Tanzania, followed. Each artist comes from different areas of the country, but their support and willingness to give their time for Kansas City is remarkable.
Every year, Yeehaw! has grown to bigger spaces, bigger acts, and bigger crowds. With KC Tenants reaching 10,000 card-carrying members and continuing to pave the way for tenant unions all over the country, it’s no wonder the city turns out for them again and again.
All photos by Zoe Strohm:
