Calvin Wainright: A Trailblazer in Community Development

February 10, 2023 | By: Jennifer Manuleleua, CSL’s Vice President of Community Development

On October 31, 2022, the Kansas City community lost a giant of a man.  Named a legacy, Calvin Wainright was known in Kansas City from his days at Don Boscoe, Greater Kansas City LINC, his basketball teams, to his church with his life partner and wife, Cassandra. Calvin knew life in Kansas City.  He knew hard times, and he knew good times.  He knew and he never stopped reaching down to help someone up, to celebrate and rejoice with you, and to grieve with you.

Over the last few months, I’ve seen afresh how many people loved Calvin. Truly, a great man. However, my experience was a bit different than others. I remember Calvin from 20 years prior when I played pick-up ball in the summers during college at Don Boscoe. Then, I became his co-worker at LINC at a school in Northwest Independence.  We shared a tiny office in the basement of the school.

Calvin would tell me what it was like as a Black man driving over the railroad tracks to places where he knew many had experienced harm. He felt that, but every single day he kept coming!  More than once he told me it was hard to drive into communities where others who looked like him suffered. Calvin kept coming; shining his light and spreading his love. He shared his love with the children in our school program. He shared his love with the staff who were young and figuring out life. He never stopped.  It hurt him to see Confederate flags flying.  It grieved him to be pulled over with no apparent reason. To be curious if certain restaurants would welcome him.

Calvin Wainright made such an impression on me by his showing up every single day. He chose not to be afraid. He chose to come, to show up, and to love. Calvin became known in Independence. He was soon transferred to another school community, and, as only Calvin could, he transformed spaces and lives with his love and his kindness. 

Calvin Wainright was a trailblazer in Independence.  He knew the inequity, he remembered the hurt, and he saw the racism.  But he came to the other side of the tracks anyway, and I am incredibly grateful he did. 

Today, we still have too many barriers that keep people of color down and unwelcome. For the men like Calvin and like Rudy Summerville and Dr. Dred Scott, I hope that one person can decide to do the work of creating spaces, places, policies and systems that give everyone a safe community in which they can live, work, drive, eat, be. They inspire me to do better, and I hope Calvin’s life inspires you too.

Thoughts from others who knew Calvin Wainright:

“I loved frequently walking into the Gregg Klice Community Center on 18th & Vine to workout, eagerly anticipating to see Coach Calvin rallying a group of young kids on the basketball court – strict with his expectations but compassionate in his persistence. Amidst the drills we would make eye contact and he would wave me into his practice to check-in and ask how I was doing. He did this often with people – inviting them in despite the setting, cutting right to the important topics of conversation, expressing his care, and dropping a nugget of wisdom or challenge. “You should start a team… young ladies need mentors.” The invitations extended to town hall meetings with the Concerned Clergy Coalition on topics about faith, race, social issues, and community needs. I was struck by how he would boldly and continually cast bigger visions for folks to build healthier communities and individuals. I would also see him on the streets of the neighborhood passing out awareness information, never hesitant to spark up a meaningful conversation with a stranger. When we worked together for LINC Caring Communities in Independence, MO, I remember dialoguing the pains and beauties of fostering diverse relationships and building united communities across racial lines and denominational divides. He would walk the school hallways taking whatever opportunity to shake young men’s hands or build up the young ladies. When he spoke, ears listened. Always trying to bring people together within the Independence schools he worked at to have meaningful dialogue with youth and their parents. Even in the midst of opposition and differing opinions in the work he did, he knew his mission and stuck to it – to love others, call people upward, and inspire change – often remembering that God was his influence and his mission was bigger than him.”

~Grateful to have known him, Brianna Powers, Assistant Vice President, Community Development

A Caring Communities journey through Independence, MO with Calvin Wainwright:

Ring, Ring. “Rudy, this is Calvin. Meet me at 291 and Independence Avenue to have an intervention with a couple of youth and their parents at 6PM.” Ok Calvin, see you there.

Two weeks later, another call comes in. Ring Ring. “Rudy I'll be at a community unity site meeting in Independence until 7pm. Meet me at Van Horn High School at 7:30 as a follow up on the kids we spoke to two weeks ago. We will review the treatment plan (behavior support and a community involvement plan).” OK Calvin see you there.

The above scenario was my non-stop interactions across the KC and Independence metro with Calvin. It wasn't just work, but Calvin's "Calling".  The calling makes a difference for another person's life.

When things for Calvin went wrong and the road he was trudging was all up-hill, when funds were low and debts were high, Calvin had to cry, Calvin rested but he did not QUIT.

It is hopeful that people that had contact with Calvin will live on with hope in their lives.

~ A friend: Rudy Summerville