High Regard
Wednesday, January 7th, 2009
I was asked to say some kind words about Urban Times Publisher Christina Boveri for an honor that could be presented to her soon by a local business magazine. When the request was made, it was unclear to me whether she was being nominated and my words would be considered in her selection … or if she’d already won. Regardless, these words ring true. I can’t announce the honor or mention the publication yet, but the following is what I wrote about the woman who gave me a start in 2006:
Kansas City’s turnaround downtown, often likened to an urban renaissance, has been measured by the flashy new buildings and foot traffic in the urban core. Christina Boveri has brought about a similar change in the way people feel about Kansas City. Each month in Urban Times magazine, she lets writers like me tell the city’s story with almost no limit on creativity – our only direction being to offer a true and level-headed approach to what’s happening around town. In that sense, she’s helped fashion Kansas City’s image as a cosmopolitan place to live. But what’s most inspiring is that Christina doesn’t fully know what a great thing she’s done or how contrary Urban Times is to other local news publications. She’s a real, natural person and her soul shines through in her work. Any notion of recognition or glory that someone with her accomplishments might pursue is buried by the care she has for her city. I am a better writer because of her and any of my own successes, in some way, will always be connected to the chance she gave me to write … and write real.
