KANBE’S MARKETS WELCOMES ANDRES CHAURAND
AS DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
Chaurand will help the award-winning nonprofit strengthen community connections and drive community engagement and institutional giving in Kansas City.
KANSAS CITY, MO. — (February 20, 2025) — Kanbe’s Markets is pleased to announce that Andres Chaurand has joined the nonprofit in a newly created leadership position, Director of Community Engagement. Chaurand brings experience in strengthening community ties and ensuring equitable access to resources to Kanbe’s. Joining Kanbe's Markets with previous experience at Guadalupe Centers and United Way of Greater Kansas City, Chaurand has led grassroots initiatives to drive meaningful change. A Kansas City native with deep roots, his commitment to neighborhood engagement will foster community-led discussions to strengthen Kanbe’s mission of reducing regional food insecurity.
In this role, Chaurand will be instrumental in driving Kanbe’s expansion plan as the non-profit increases its Healthy Corner Store delivery program by 40% and into Wyandotte County, Kan. With 55 new stores planned for 2025, the program will grow from 75 to 130 store partners, reaching as many as 100,000 additional residents in communities with low fresh-food access.. Chaurand’s grassroots outreach and resource connectivity expertise will ensure that residents across both states can benefit from these expanded food access opportunities.
“We are thrilled to welcome Andres to our team,” said Max Kaniger, founder and CEO of Kanbe’s Markets. “His proven experience of connecting resources to residents in our city and his personal experience of enriching the Kansas City, Kan., community ties together the next phase in our growth.”
Born in Kansas City, Mo., into a family of small business owners (his parents own La Fonda on Southwest Boulevard), Chaurand has made Kansas City, Kan., his home and the focal point of tireless advocacy work. Throughout his career, Chaurand has woven himself into grassroots organizing. As the drummer in Making Movies, an international rock ‘n’ roll band formed in Kansas City, known for its Latino activism, he has further broadened his connections outside the region and deepened them inside the metro.
At Guadalupe Centers and United Way, Chaurand has championed initiatives strengthening community bonds and promoting equity. His hands-on approach to civic engagement reflects a deep understanding that meaningful change happens at the community level. Whether working to increase representation or improve access to essential services, his commitment to making Kansas City a more inclusive and vibrant city for all residents remains unwavering.
This position is made possible through funding from the Healthy Food Financing Initiative Planning Grant Program and the Kansas Health Foundation.
For more information about Kanbe’s Markets and its initiatives, visit Kanbe’s Markets.
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Kanbe’s Markets Press Contact: Gabrielle Richie,
Gabrielle@kanbesmarkets.org
816-282-6709 Ext: 1010