Shirley’s Kitchen Cabinet (SKC) is an advocacy group that provides left-of-center organizing and activist training within the Kansas City area. ¹ SKC is named after the late U.S. Representative Shirley Chisholm (D-NY), one of the founding members of the Congressional Black Caucus. ²

Shirley’s Kitchen Cabinet (SKC) is registered as a charitable nonprofit with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). However, SKC’s donation page links to the website of the Greater Kansas City Community Foundation. ³

Activities

Shirley’s Kitchen Cabinet (SKC) provides left-of-center organizing and activist training within the Kansas City area while advocating that African-American female activists be more involved within nonprofit  organizations. ¹ SKC previously operated a blog on its website to discuss politics and other policy topics on health care, education, and “eradication of violence.” ⁴

SKC founder Michele Watley has appeared on several podcasts to promote left-of-center policies on issues like health care, discrimination, and voting rights. ^{5 6}

SKC “successfully led the charge to pass” the CROWN Act in Kansas City, Missouri and Lawrence, Atchison, and Wichita, Kansas. These local bills were based on the 2022 Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair Act passed in the U.S. Congress. The bills prohibited discrimination on the basis of natural hair styles or textures, and was designed to combat alleged discrimination against Black women. ⁷

Leadership

Michele Watley is the founder of Shirley’s Kitchen Cabinet. Watley is also the founder and political consulting agency Griot Group. She previously worked as an adjunct professor of communications at Avila University. From 2013 to 2016, she served as the director of the Kansas City Office of then-Missouri Secretary of State Jason Kander (D). From 2011 to 2012, Watley was appointed to the Engage KC Leadership Board by Kansas City Mayor Sly James (D). Earlier in her career, Watley worked at Planned Parenthood of Kansas and Mid-Missouri. ^{8 9 10 11}

Funding

In 2021, the REACH Healthcare Foundation donated $20,000 for “technical assistance” to Shirley’s Kitchen Cabinet as part of the foundation’s “Centering Black Voices” Fund.” ¹²

1. “About Shirley’s KC.” Shirley’s Kitchen Cabinet. Accessed May 13, 2025. https://www.shirleyskitchencabinet.org/about.
2. “bryngreenwood.” Threads. March 1, 2025. Accessed May 13, 2025. https://www.threads.com/@bryngreenwood/post/DGq6SJdygse.
3. “Shirley’s Kitchen Cabinet Fund.” Greater Kansas City Community Foundation. Accessed May 13, 2025. https://gkccf.kimbia.com/shir00.
4. “Amplify Your Voice.” Shirley’s Kitchen Cabinet. Accessed May 13, 2025. https://www.shirleyskitchencabinet.org/blog
5. “Women’s Equality Day.” LISC National. August 26, 2022. Accessed May 13, 2025. https://www.lisc.org/kansas-city/regional-stories/womens-equality-day/.
6. “Your Voice, Your Vote: Shirley’s Kitchen Cabinet’s Michele Watley on the 56th Voting Rights Anniversary – and Voting Rights Now.” HOT 103 JAMZ. August 6, 2021. Accessed May 13, 2025. https://www.kprs.com/2021/08/06/your-voice-your-vote-shirleys-kitchen-cabinets-michelle-watley-on-the-56th-voting-rights-anniversary-and-voting-rights-now/.
7. McBride, Melonne. “Shirley’s Kitchen Cabinet celebrates National CROWN Act Day.” KCTV 5. July 3, 2024. Accessed May 13, 2025. https://www.kctv5.com/2024/07/03/shirleys-kitchen-cabinet-celebrates-national-crown-act-day/.
8. ^[1] “REACH Announces New Initiative Highlighting Black-Led Organizations.” REACH Healthcare Foundation. February 11, 2021. Accessed May 13, 2025. https://reachhealth.org/2021/02/11/reach-announces-new-initiative-highlighting-black-led-organizations/.
9.  “Michele L. Watley.” LinkedIn. Accessed May 13, 2025. https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelelwatley/.
10. “The Griot Group.” X. Accessed May 13, 2025. https://x.com/thegriotgroup.
11. “About Michele.” We’re Not In Kansas Anymore. Accessed May 13, 2025.  https://michellelwatley.wordpress.com/about/.
12. “REACH Announces New Initiative Highlighting Black-Led Organizations.” REACH Healthcare Foundation. February 11, 2021. Accessed May 13, 2025. https://reachhealth.org/2021/02/11/reach-announces-new-initiative-highlighting-black-led-organizations/.