Kelvin Simmons, president and CEO of Swope Community Builders of Kansas City, traveled to the Gulf Coast region this week with a mission: To help rebuild hurricane-battered black communities in Baton Rouge, Shreveport and New Orleans.

"We’re talking about their development needs, giving them technical assistance and advice," Simmons told BlackAmericaWeb.com Wednesday. "There are similarities between communities in the Gulf Coast region and Kansas City."

More than a decade ago, The Shops on Blue Parkway in Kansas City was flooded, the result of torrential rains. Swope Community Builders invested nearly $200 million in improving the streets, sidewalks and infrastructure along Brush Creek, rebuilding the entire black neighborhood and one of the city’s major thoroughfares.

"The area was flooded. It was underwater," Simmons said. "Thirteen years later, this is a thriving community. We look at this from a holistic approach: We have to heal the community and, at the same time, build the community."

Swope Community Builders has been recognized nationally as a catalyst for strengthening civic investment, building social networks and enhancing economic opportunities within neighborhoods. More than 500 housing units and 162,000 square feet of commercial retail development will be completed in the next three years, Simmons said.

"We want to improve the quality of life for residents," said Simmons, the first black American to direct the Missouri Department of Economic Development.

Two weeks ago, radio personality Tom Joyner toured the Shops at Blue Parkway and met with retailers, customers and developers of the project. Simmons said Joyner suggested that Kansas City be a model for rebuilding in New Orleans.

Joyner said the $200 million Blue Parkway development could be a template for others. "It sounds like this used to be a Ninth Ward back in the day," he said, referring to the flood-devastated inner city in New Orleans. "It’s certainly not now."

Simmons said he was already providing help for flood recovery. "We’ve actually secured contracts in the state of Louisiana to be technical assistants and advisers," he said.

Through Swope Community Builder's efforts to stabilize neighborhoods and overcome their challenges, their website said, residents have received access to quality, affordable health care; market-rate housing opportunities and vital local programs.

According to Simmons, over the years Swope Community Builders has: 

• Formed public-private partnerships, resulting in more than $184 million invested to redevelop the streets, sidewalks and infrastructure along Brush Creek, and to build Swope Health Services, the Thomas-Roque Child and Family Development Center, a substance abuse center, and an elderly housing complex.
• Developed more than 350 housing units in neighborhoods surrounding Swope Health Services.
• Developed several commercial office projects in the Brush Creek Corridor, including the H&R Block Service Center and the FirstGuard Building.

Swope Health Services is a community health center that serves more than 200,000 annual visitors, regardless of ability of pay. According to the organization’s website, Swope Health Services provides primary health care, outreach and behavioral health services in Kansas City. More than 55,000 patients are served through eight clinic and residential treatment locations. More than 90 percent of its patients live below the poverty level.

As a critical part of the Kansas City safety net of care, the website said, Swope Health Services provides medical care to people who have no other access to care.

"By providing primary health care, immunizations and prevention, Swope Health Services helps relieve area hospitals of the burden of providing expensive emergency care to uninsured patients. Services are provided on a sliding fee scale based on ability to pay and family size. No one in need of attention is turned away," the website boasts.

Officials said Swope Health Services provides adult medicine, pediatrics, family practice, ob-gyn, dental, optical services, radiology, and pharmacy. Behavioral health services include children and adolescent services, crisis intervention, substance abuse treatment and prevention, parenting training, psychological testing and school-based services.

"We’re the largest African-American community development corporation in the state of Missouri," Simmons said. "We redevelop communities in need."