Connect with Local Leadership at the Kansas Black Leadership Brunch Series
Discover a place where leaders, advocates, legislators, and community champions gather to inspire change and celebrate community achievements. The Kansas Black Leadership Brunch isn't just a meal—it's a dynamic platform for empowerment and connection. Join us in cities across Kansas for an uplifting series of events.
“One of the things that’s really big and important for KBLC is that leadership is not necessarily a position,” Knoell said. “Leadership is something that anyone can do. If you have a title or don’t have a title — from any position, a person can lead.”
Three Black women, Bonita Gooch, Kenya Cox and the late Gail Finney, in 2015 launched the KBLC to draw in Black communities to advocate around political and social issues that were specifically affecting them.
The organization has since evolved. It continues legislative advocacy work but now also works with organizations, such as the Kansas Black Legislative Caucus and the Kansas NAACP, to take on Kansas Black Legislative Day at the Capitol and other statewide initiatives. Part of its charge is polling and speaking with Black Kansans about issues most important to them.
The brunch series originated two years ago with a single event in Wichita. It garnered so much interest that people wanted to continue it in other cities, including Topeka and now Lawrence, Knoell said.
Conversations will be aimed at encouraging folks to get involved locally, through community organizations or commission and board seats, and voting in every election. Kaye Monk-Morgan, president and CEO of the Kansas Leadership Center, is slated as the keynote speaker.
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