Executive Turmoil At Guadalupe Centers Worsens

A crisis among the leaders of Kansas City's Latino leadership now reaches critical mass unbeknownst to most locals.

We could write thousands of words about this but it's better to keep things simple and understandable because there is a great deal of community impact for everyone in the metro.

The basics . . . 

THE HOSTILE TAKEOVER OF GUADALUPE CENTERS HAS SPARKED AN ONGOING POWER STRUGGLE AMONGST LEADERS CONNECTED TO THE ICONIC KANSAS CITY NONPROFIT!!!

Background . . .

Again, is important because GCI is taxpayer funded and has been a staple of the local non-profit community for more than 100 years. 

Background: 

GCI Exec Cris Media was recently forced out and nearly one year later NOTHING has come of the so-called "workplace investigation" story that his newfound adversaries and former colleagues manufactured.

In the meantime, Kansas City social climber Cici Rojas has seemingly lost interest and now takes her game to The Ballet after her background machinations helped to create city-wide upheaval. 

Fun fact . . . Our progressive friends at KCUR backed off follow-up coverage when they found out that CiCi has strong GOP connections along with surprisingly conservative cadre of new leadership . . . The public radio journalists no longer seem comfortable with supporting right-wing Latinos - A fun punchline for barrio denizens who still can't seem to figure out the schizophrenic politics of middle-class white people. Even worse . . . Our humble TKC bloggy outlet is really the only news-ish source that can bridge these two worlds and only because I'm a basement blogger scumbag who had the benefit of a Catholic education and city college professors who liked my very special brand of ethnic snarky cynicism . . .

But I digress . . .

The story gets more complicated . . . 

GCI recently suffered a hostile parting of ways with its credit union. 

A credit union board vote earlier this year was WON by Cris Medina and the faction who still supports his leadership. 

Current GCI executives were so enraged with the outcome of the financial coup that they sent a nasty letter and moved to kick the credit union out of their facility and spar over naming rights. It's worth noting that the credit union controls more than FIFTY MILLION BUCKS WORTH OF FUNDS and often served as leverage for GCI federal fundraising - That's just one example out of many that the organization HAD (past tense) the skill to handle large amounts of cash. 

Accordingly . . . 

The financial asset is on the move and under the control of a board that still holds confidence in Mr. Medina and his legacy of leadership that spans nearly a half century.  

Finally . . .

GCI is quickly in the midst of rewriting their by-laws after neighborhood volunteers, leaders and non-profit stalwarts are all clamoring to have Mr. Medina reinstated to some form of GCI leadership. Or, at the very least . . . More and more people are starting to question the viability of GCI going forward.

All of this financial and corporate intrigue is coming at a time when current GCI honcho Beto Lopez is hoping to earn another term taking drink orders on the Lee's Summit Council.

And so . . . 

In the new year we can expect more power plays, firings and hostility over the future of a legendary Kansas City organization that's quickly coming apart under the control of new executives who love their newfound power but didn't count on so much WORK & responsibility that come comes with it.

Developing . . .