Passing the Baton | Diane Charity on the Fight for Fair Housing

Diane Charity grew up during the civil rights era and has been active in local community development and politics ever since.

She is known for serving as board president of the Manheim Neighborhood Association and the Parade Park Homes Cooperative. She also is a member of Kansas City PBS’ community advisory board.

More recently, Charity became a key player in founding KC Tenants, a citywide tenant union that is emerging as a force in local politics.

In this week’s installment of “Passing the Baton,” a series of cross-generational conversations hosted by urban educator Carl Boyd, Charity reflects on her journey and the founding of KC Tenants with Brian Hullaby, a community organizer with KC Tenants.

“The people closest to the problem are closest to the solution,” Charity said while describing her decades-long battle for fair and affordable housing.

“So listen to us and help us to be at that table when decisions are made. Nothing about us without us.”

Watch more in the attached video.

Sandy Woodson is an independent producer, most recently of “AIDS in KC: The Early Days,” which aired on Kansas City PBS. “Passing the Baton” is presented with support from Health Forward Foundation and
Husch Blackwell.