Vivienne Starks Smith grew up in Kansas City’s Leeds/Dunbar neighborhood. She worked
at Gates Bar-B-Q for 27 years and has dedicated her life to preserving Kansas
City’s African American culture and heritage and sharing those stories with
others. Vivienne is a community historian and advocate for the Heart of the
City Neighborhood Association. Vivienne is helping to curate an exhibit and
education programs about the historic Leeds/Dunbar neighborhood.
