Small Topeka business working to change lives wins nationwide recognition

A local small business earned national recognition from one of the nation's largest networks of volunteer and expert business mentors.

Kujima Health Innovations won the 2018 American Small Business Championship, which was presented by SCORE. Founder Chris Omni says they raise awareness of issues affecting the health of African-American women.

According to the American Cancer Society, an estimated 33,750 black woman died from cancer in 2016. Furthermore, Omni says Kansas has the highest death rate for black women of cancer in the nation. She's hoping to change that narrative.

"If right now Kansas has the highest death rate, in 2020, let's say that we don't," Omin said. "Probably because of an initiative like this and all the people that come together to make it happen. Because it's not just going to take black women to improve the health of black women, it's going to take the entire state believing this is a priority."

Omni now gets an all-expense paid trip to a training and mentoring event, as well as a chance to win $15,000 dollars.