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  • Project Equality

    Stands with Black Americans in Solidarity Against Racial Injustice

  • Diversity and Inclusion Summit

    UMKC Pierson Auditorium Coming in February 2021

  • Diversity and Inclusion Summit

    Get Involved!

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Project Equality’s Diversity and Inclusion Summit brings together leaders in the civic, educational, financial, governmental, health, corporate, and legal communities to discuss where we are on the road to full inclusion, but even more importantly, what strategies will make equality and access a reality for all. The summit has a focus on forward-thinking initiatives that encourage awareness and open dialogue for all attendees.

About Project Equality

Project Equality believes in equality and justice in the workplace. We unite the corporate, nonprofit, education and religious communities into a force for equality, justice and fairness in the workplace. Through facilitated discussions, community leaders identify and establish best practices that enhance workplace fairness. We work collaboratively to spotlight the best resources in our region that empower fairness in the workplace.

The workplace should be a place employee can thrive and grow. Discrimination is still common in the workplace. It takes many forms. Disparate treatment due to race, sexual harassment towards employees, reprisals because of sexual orientation, terminations due to age, ability/disability, age or religious bias. Project Equality works to raise the awareness of all forms of discrimination.
Join Project Equality and The Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce for the

2021 Diversity and Inclusion Summit Details coming soon

Date coming soon
Atterbury Student Success Center, Pierson Auditorium University of Missouri - Kansas City 5000 Holmes St., KCMO 64110
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Project Equality Stands with Black Americans in Solidarity Against Racial Injustice
The core tenets of what Project Equality stands for are equality, justice, and fairness. Since 1965, Project Equality has worked to address racism and discrimination in employment, education, healthcare, and housing — and sought to engage privilege to create a stronger community.

We now stand in solidarity with Black Americans in the fight for these rights. Equality has been denied for 401 years of Black oppression in every aspect of American life. This oppression came to light most recently with the murder of a Black man by a Minnesota police officer. For eight minutes and 46 seconds, Officer Derek Chauvin held his knee to George Floyd’s neck as Floyd begged for his life and three fellow officers looked on.

We grieve — as individuals, as an organization, and as a nation — the endless march of police brutality and murder of Black Americans: Jamar Clark and Philando Castile in Minneapolis; Dreasjon “Sean” Reed in Indianapolis; Breonna Taylor in Louisville; Ahmaud Arbery in Brunswick, Georgia; Botham Jean in Dallas; Trayvon Martin in Sanford, Florida; Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri; Stephon Clark in Sacramento; Laquan McDonald in Chicago, Tamir Rice in Cleveland; Eric Garner in New York; Ryan Stokes, Terrance Bridges, Cameron Lamb and Donnie Sanders in Kansas City; and Rayshard Brooks in Atlanta. The list, unfortunately, goes on.

Their lives mattered.

The death of George Floyd has laid bare the agony, fear, and exhaustion of Black Americans; constantly forced to watch innocent brothers and sisters slain by law-enforcement officers; wondering whether their next trip to the store could be their last; feeling powerless to protect their children.

America has broken its promise to Black people time and again.

We’ve been through this before; another Black body becomes a hashtag, and the national conversation turns to the horror of racism with yard signs and social media posts. But too soon after, people return to their daily lives, and the cycle begins again.

It is time for real change.

It is time to address the systemic roots of oppression and do the hard work of confronting the white supremacy that is woven into the fabric of American life – because health care impacts education, which impacts employment, which impacts housing, which has its own impacts, and so on.

The recent outpouring of support for the Black Lives Matter movement is encouraging, but there is more work to be done. We must enact legislation to reform our criminal justice system, end the school-to-prison pipeline, provide healthcare for all, democratize access to quality public education, and ensure that safe housing opportunities are available to every American.

Until our entire society leverages our political will and economic power to seriously address the stains of racism and white supremacy, we will continue this endless cycle, and the words “Black Lives Matter” will be nothing but a hollow echo as more of our brothers and sisters lose their lives.

“That’s not a chip on my shoulder. That’s your foot on my neck.” Malcolm X

The Project Equality Diversity and Inclusion Summit is a community-wide event. Volunteer or sponsor the Summit by contacting Kirk Perucca at kirk@projectequality.org or 913-486-7010 (call or text).

Project Equality, P.O. Box 7085, Kansas City, MO 64113-0085, 913-486-7010.
Kirk Perucca, President and CEO of Project Equality
Kirk Perucca has spent his life educating businesses and nonprofit agencies about diversity and inclusion. As a Presbyterian minister, Perucca serves an urban neighborhood church, with a multicultural congregation. Located in a neighborhood challenged by racial and economic disparity, diversity and equality are real issues. He has staffed committees including Justice for Women, Racial Ethnic Concerns and others within the Presbytery. Kirk Perucca spent eight years as the President/CEO of Project Equality, a nonprofit organization that promoted diversity. Perucca was a national compliance officer for the Department of Justice in the Adam's Mark Hotel settlement from November 6, 2000, to the projects end in 2004. Through past work experience, Perucca has provided training for nonprofit organizations, fire and police departments, and major corporations across the nation.

He holds undergraduate degrees from the University of Iowa in religion and political science, a master's degree in public administration. He also holds a Master of Divinity from Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary.

With a lifelong commitment to diversity and inclusion, he has the experience, skills and ability to help organizations seek real solutions based on the value diversity can add to an organization. Learn more about Kirk Perucca Associates HERE.

contact us!

P.O. Box 7085, Kansas City, MO 64113-0085 913-486-7010 (call or text) kirk@projectequality.org
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