KC Reparations Coalition & Mayor's Task Force

Terri E. Barnes

An advocate for black girls and women, Terri is the Founder and President of The Nia Project. The Nia Project advocates for, celebrates, invests, and reimagines possibilities for black girls and women. For more than 15 years, Terri served as Co-Founder and President of Trace’s Place – A Community Resource for Girls and Women, an organization that focused on mentoring and personal development. She served 12 years as President and served for more than 22 years as a volunteer at the W.E.B. DuBois Learning Center. These two experiences provided up close and personal challenges that young people and families face, particularly girls, in simply trying to live their best lives.

The Nia Project is a way for her to commit her time and resources to be part of a solution.  In the summer of 2024, The Nia Project sponsored an 8 week summer camp for middle and high school girls that used a retail boutique service model to introduce entrepreneurship. As a result, The Nia Project is working to launch a full service program to be a resource for girls that need additional support. Terri is the convener of Black Women Get Fit, a series of health & wellness events led by local practitioners and designed specifically for Black women.  She is also the convener of the Black Nonprofit Leadership Symposium and creator of The Beloved Community – A Black Nonprofit Resource Directory.  Terri is a founding member of the Contending for Children Initiative, a faith-based response to illiteracy and mental health supports for children,  and was recently appointed Chair of the Mayors Commission on Reparations.

With more than 35 years of progressive leadership experience in financial service and healthcare organizations, Terri has a wide range of skills and expertise that have proved valuable in the work she does today.  

A lifelong Kansas Citian, she received her undergraduate degree in Business Management from Park University. Terri is married to Lee Barnes Jr.  and has a brilliant son, Lee Barnes III, who currently works and resides in New York. In her spare time she enjoys live music, exploring new restaurants and supporting efforts to help improve the living conditions of people in our most challenging communities, and uplifting the leaders and organizations that serve them.