About KC Health Initiative

Kansas City Health Initiative (KCHI) was born out of lived experience. Its founder, Gigi Jones, is a mother of four and grandmother of four who overcame colon cancer by transforming her relationship with food. Her healing journey sparked a passion for community-based wellness and food justice, especially for families like hers living in Kansas City’s 3rd and 5th Council Districts—areas historically deprived of fresh, affordable, and nutritious food options. With this vision, Gigi launched KC Health Initiative as a nonprofit rooted in the belief that food is medicine and wellness should be accessible to all.

The organization’s early work centered on public education, community food events, and healing-centered outreach. Gigi began offering vegan cooking demonstrations, lectures, and monthly support groups to encourage others in her community to explore plant-based living. From these efforts grew KCHI’s flagship event: Midwest Soul VegFest. Held annually in Swope Park, the event draws hundreds of attendees for food tastings, health screenings, fitness sessions, and cultural performances—all designed to affirm Black health and wellness through accessible, joyful experiences.

Over time, KCHI expanded its programming to include more specialized events like the Vegan BBQ Contest, which celebrates Kansas City’s culinary traditions while highlighting plant-based alternatives. It also established Gigi’s Vegan + Wellness Café as both a business and a community wellness hub, where patrons enjoy nourishing meals alongside workshops and events focused on holistic health.

KCHI’s mission has always emphasized community-led change. Residents of the neighborhoods most impacted by health disparities take on leadership roles within the organization’s workgroups, helping to shape programming and priorities. These include school partnerships, food relief collaborations, and initiatives that center the voices of those most affected by chronic disease, food insecurity, and environmental injustice.

Today, Kansas City Health Initiative stands as a trusted partner in health equity efforts across the region. From wellness education and culturally rooted food events to collaborations with schools and grassroots food access programs, KCHI continues to grow a movement—one that affirms the power of community, the necessity of healthy food access, and the dignity of every person’s healing journey.