Citizen Advisory Council Members...Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. She received the Junior League of...
Transcript of Citizen Advisory Council Members...Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. She received the Junior League of...
Topeka Police Citizens Advisory Council
John Nave John Nave is the Executive Vice-President of the Kansas AFL-CIO. He began
serving in January 2018 as an elected officer to assist in the union legislative
work through the seasonal state legislative sessions and became fulltime in 2019.
John comes from the United Steel Workers Local 307 where he served as
Goodyear union rep for the past six years and as COPE chairman for the past
three years. John’s extensive political history began in the early nineties working
on local and state campaigns for public servants still serving at the local, and
state level. Soon after expanding on his own political experience, John served as
district four councilman for the City of Topeka from 2003-2007. During that
time, he served as a member of the law Enforcement partnership Panel. The
United Steelworkers International Political Dept. utilized John’s experience in
working on campaigns, that they had interest in, working past elections across
the United States.
John is married to wife Peggy with six grown children. He is a graduate of
Leadership Greater Topeka, National Leadership Development training program-
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National Institute of Corrections. He is a standing board member of Living the Dream Inc; past board
member of American Red Cross, Golden City Sertoma, Volunteer Center of Topeka & the Topeka
esthetics design committee.
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Susan Zuber-Chall, Ph.D Dr. Zuber-Chall is an alumnus of both Washburn University and
Emporia State University . She is strongly invested in both Topeka
and Kansas. She is a member of the NAACP (and former
secretary), a former member of the Topeka Human Relations
Commission, (2008-2010), former president/vice president of
Topeka’s Temple Beth Sholom, former vice president and treasurer
of The Topeka Interfaith Council, former member of the District
501 Citizens Advisory Council (20142015) and a former advisor for
the Topeka Law Enforcement Partnership Panel (LEPP).
She currently teaches in the Crime and Delinquency Program at
Emporia State University. She has an undergraduate degree in
Anthropology, a master’s degree in Criminal Justice, Law
Enforcement and a Ph.D in Library and Information Science. She
looks forward to serving on the TPD Citizens Advisory
Council and the opportunity to contribute to our community.
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Lorean Johnson Williams Mrs. Lorean Johnson Williams was born in Greenville, MS and has
been a residence of Topeka, KS since 1980. She is the mother of three,
grandmother of seven and great grandmother of one. Mrs.
Johnson Williams is currently a commissioner on the Topeka Human
Relations Commission.
Mrs. Johnson Williams is a 1992 Associate of Arts, Paralegal graduate
from Washburn University and is a member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha
Sorority, Inc. She received the Junior League of Topeka Community
Volunteer Award and the Golden City Sertoma Club Service to
Mankind Award.
Mrs. Johnson Williams has been active in Civil/Human Rights for over
25 years. She has served in various positions to include board member,
panelist, and secretary. As a member of the Justice for All People,
High Crest NIA, Topeka Weed & Seed, the Law Enforcement
Partnership Panel.
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Angela Gamber, MBA, BSN, RN, NE-BC,
FACHE
Mrs. Angela Gamber is the Administrative Director of Emergency,
Trauma and Surgical Services at Stormont Vail Health where she
provides strong leadership for the staff, supports the direction and vision
of the organization, manages program development and ensures patient
and employee satisfaction. Angela’s perspective as an Administrative
Director is grounded in hands on experience as an
RN as she began her career in the medical field with Stormont Vail in
1991 promoting through various leadership roles into her current position
in 2007. She received her BSN from Washburn University and her
Master’s in Business from Baker University. Angela is a Fellow of the
American College of Healthcare Executives.
In her spare time she enjoys spending time with her husband of 32 years
and her family. She has a special interest in working closely with Topeka
Police Department in caring for the community they serve.
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Joyce Scott Grigsby Mrs. Joyce Scott Grigsby was born in Emporia Kansas, she graduated
in 1960 from Eskridge High School. Mrs. Grigsby attended the
University of Washburn and Clark's business college in Topeka
Kansas. She also attended the University of Alaska and Anchorage,
Tacoma Community College and Clover Park Technical College in
Tacoma Washington.
With more than 40 years in the workforce, she has had the pleasure of
working and meeting a variety of people from many different cultures
and backgrounds.
Mrs. Grigsby has worked in city and state governments, the superior
court of Alaska, several school districts and in the private sector. She
has received numerous awards and earned her 10-year pin with the state
patrol.
Topeka Police Citizens Advisory Council
Larry Gawronski Larry Gawronski is Executive Director for the Topeka Performing Arts Center, managed by
VenuWorks - a firm based out of Ames, Iowa that specializes in private management of theaters,
arenas, convention centers and stadiums.
Larry has been managing theaters, convention centers and arenas since 1978, producing concert,
theatrical and pageant productions and promoting concerts with artists ranging from Tony Bennett
to Guns N’ Roses and Florida Georgia Line.
A graduate of the State University College of New York at Buffalo, Larry also has a professional
theatrical background having performed in numerous professional and community theatrical
productions. He was active with the Miss Mississippi Pageant from 1995 through 2011and has
assisted in preparing several Miss America contestants from Mississippi.
Larry has earned the accreditation of Certified Venue Executive (CVE), the highest professional
certification available in the public assembly facility industry. He serves several committees
including the Performing Arts Committee for the International Association of Venue Managers.
While in Vicksburg, MS, Larry mobilized his Convention Center into a shelter for evacuees of
Hurricane Katrina in 2005. His work led to a detailed Memorandum of understanding with the
American Red Cross on Disaster Preparedness and what is now known as Mega-Sheltering.
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He is a member of the Downtown Topeka Rotary Club and a Board Member for Downtown Topeka, Inc. He is a past
president of the Rotary Club of Vicksburg, MS.
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Steve Kearney Mr. Steve Kearney is the founder of Kearney and Associates, Inc. and Kearney
Law Office, P.A. Kearney and Associates, Inc
Steve graduated from Washburn University with degrees in Criminal Justice and
Anthropology, cum laude, with Departmental Honors in both areas. He
subsequently earned his Juris Doctorate from Washburn University School of
Law.
Following graduation from law school, Steve has served as a Special Agent with
the
Federal Bureau of Investigation, Assistant City Attorney, Chief of Staff to the
Kansas Senate Majority Leader, Corporate Counsel, and since 1990, as
Government Affairs and Legal Counsel to various professional associations and
corporations.
Steve just completed two terms serving Kansas as a member of the Kansas Board
of
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Regents Postsecondary Technical Education Authority, is currently a member of the Workers
Compensation and Employment Security Boards Nominating Committee and a member of the State
Employee Pay Plan Oversight Committee.
He is active in the Topeka community as a board member and immediate past President of the Kansas
Society of Association Executives (KSAE). He has also served as Chair of the board of directors of the
Family Service and Guidance Center, Past President of CrimeStoppers of Topeka, a board member of the
Topeka Volunteer Center, and as a founding member of the Kansas Children’s Campaign.
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Reverend T.D. Hicks Rev. T.D. Hicks is a native of Denver, CO. who was called into ministry at the
very young age of 9. He attended Prairie View A&M University and the
Houston Bible Institute.
Rev. Hicks has served as the youth pastor at Calvary Baptist Church in
Houston, TX. He was an associate minister at Good Hope Missionary Baptist
Church in Houston, TX. Rev Hicks was the assoc. pastor at Mount Carmel
Community Baptist Church in Denver, CO.
Rev. Hicks was called to be the reverend at the Antioch Missionary Baptist
Church in Topeka Kansas in June 2004. He has graduated Swisher Bible
College in Denver, CO receiving his Bachelor's of Arts degree in Christian
education and graduated Central Baptist Theological Seminary in Kansas City,
Kansas, receiving a master's degree in community service
He sits on the YWCAs board of directors, is the chaplain of the Washburn
University football team, member of leadership Topeka class of 2007,
President of the Topeka Baptist ministers Union, is an Elder on the board of
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Highland Park High School, Reverend Hicks is a devoted husband of Joan and the proud father of
son DeAndre Tyrel and daughter, Tracee Danyelle.
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Stacie Torrez Stacie Torrez is the Agency Services Coordinator at Harvesters in
Topeka. She has been at Harvesters a little over 2 years and loves her
work and plans on staying at Harvesters for a long time.
Mrs. Torrez is also on the board for MANA de Topeka, Women
Empowerment Inc., and Community Action. She has also recently
graduated from the Latino Leadership Collaborative of Kansas.
Stacie also loves teaching Zumba at Anytime Fitness on Gage and
inspiring people to try dance fitness.
Mrs. Torrez has three beautiful children Santana (15), Atchison (10)
and Aqua (10) that's right twins! Santana is a Sophomore attending
Shawnee Heights High School and her twins go to Scott Dual
Language where Mrs. Torrez is the Vice President of the PTO. She
enjoys cooking and spending time with family and friends and is
becoming quite the balloon artist.
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Andrew Gutierrez Mr. Andrew Gutierrez has been a lifelong resident of the Topeka. He is
a true believer in the ‘American Dream’ and believes there is no greater
land of opportunity.
Mr. Gutierrez is a graduate of Seaman High School and Washburn
University, where he received a Bachelor of Science in Biology.
Mr. Gutierrez began working with his uncle, Joe Gutierrez, at State
Farm Insurance. In 2016, he became an approved agency candidate
eligible to apply and own any agency throughout the United States.
Gutierrez has been involved in the following programs/organizations:
Leadership Greater Topeka, Forge, Latino Leadership Collaborative’s
Community Leaders program, HOPE mentoring, United Way of Greater
Topeka, and Hands of Hope.
In his free time he loves to read (especially political memoirs), cook and
eat food (loves hole-in-the-wall restaurants), take part in beer and wine
tastings, travel, and is a self-admitted reality TV junkie.
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Delmar White Pastor Delmar White has over 25 years of experience as a Senior
Pastor. He has attended the Western Baptist Bible College of Kansas
City, MO and received an Associate Arts degree in Christian Education
and administration and a Bachelors degree in Theology.
Pastor White has been the Senior Pastor of the Antioch Missionary
Baptist Church in Topeka, the Paseo Baptist Church in KCMO, the
Ninth street Missionary Baptist Church in Lawrence, KS and now the
New Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church in Topeka.
He has received several awards to include but, not limited to the
Kansas Correctional Association Citizenship award, The Who’s Who
of Professionals Outstanding Leadership Award and the Dr. Martin
Luther King Jr. Citizenship Award for Leadership.
Pastor White is an active member of the NAACP, Kiwanis Club and
the Baptist Ministers Union of Lawrence/Topeka.
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Luc Bensimon
Mr. Bensimon is a 47 year old man of transsexual experience
born and raised in right here in Topeka, Kansas.
Mr. Bensimon wears a few different hats when it comes to
activism. He is the current president and one of the founding
members of Kansas statewide transgender education project
(K.S.T.E.P), The current chairperson of Equality Kansas
Topeka chapter, and the President and founder of the Black
Transmen Inc. Kansas chapter (BTMI Kansas).
He has been an activist for the LGBT community but my true
passion Trans people of color.
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Shelia McDonald Ms. McDonald was born and raised in Chicago, IL by her grandmother (Aline
Garrett) and mother (Joyce McDonald). While growing up her and her sister
were raised to help the elderly in the projects and every Saturday her
grandmother would have her and her sister dust the pews and kneelers at ST.
James Catholic Church.
In 1970 she graduated from Loretto Academy High School where she
received an academic, music and sports scholarships to attend Mary Mount
College in Salina, KS. She graduated with a double major in psychology and
sociology with an associate degree in social work. Ms. McDonald furthered
her academic career with a master’s degree in clinical social work from the
University of Kansas in 1982.
She has over 44 years of services within the social field. She has worked as a
Juvenile Probation Officer (Saline, Co,), CPS, Foster Can, Adoption and
Placement worker and then promoted to supervision of CPS and APS Unit in
Wichita, KS.
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Ms. McDonald continues to enjoy working with students and staff and loves connection families with
resources in the Topeka community to help build bridges to positive outcomes for children, families, the
disabled and elderly.
She believes it does “take a village” to help those in need.
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Pastor Gregory L. Bland,
Elder Gregory L. Bland Jr. Was born in Memphis, TN But raised in Topeka, KS
Elder Bland has Served in Ministry faithfully for over 10 years. He was the Youth
Pastor at Wonderful Works COGIC before transitioning to Founding New Life
Deliverance Center Here in Topeka, KS.
Pastor Bland Now serves as the Executive Pastor at In Gods House Church. Pastor
Bland is a Local activist that has stood up criminal Justice Reform as well as Bridging
the Gap between Police and Community Relations. Pastor Bland has Been married for 6
years and has 5 loving children.