DT | Commerce Bank Presents: Ending Community Violence Together

As of April this year, there have been more homicides reported in Kansas City, Missouri than during the same period in at least the last nine years. More recently than in the years prior, violence is affecting our community. But what can we, as a community, do to stop it?

Join Central Exchange and series sponsor Commerce Bank, as we uncover the many facts and truths about violence in our community, the theories behind what is driving it, and the possible solutions to help combat the issue head on. How can you help contribute to the solution and help create A Better Kansas City for our community?
 

Panelist Bios:

Alana Muller is an entrepreneurial executive leader whose primary focus is to connect, inspire and empower community.  She is the former President of Kauffman FastTrac (a division of the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation), a global provider of training to aspiring and established entrepreneurs, providing them the tools, resources and networks to start and grow successful businesses. Additionally, Alana spent a number of years as an executive with Sprint Corporation serving in a variety of general management roles, including marketing, talent management, corporate strategy and wireless data product marketing. 

Today, Alana is founder and CEO of Coffee Lunch Coffee where she is a Networking speaker, workshop facilitator, coach and author of the book, Coffee Lunch Coffee: A Practical Field Guide for Master Networking and a companion blog, CoffeeLunchCoffee.com. Her accessible, relevant, immediately actionable approach to professional Networking for those interested in Connecting with others, getting involved in their community, seeking to advance their career or looking to build social relationships, has helped thousands of people formulate a strategic mindset around Networking while creating a game plan to get out there and Connect.  Coffee Lunch Coffee is a WBENC-Certified WBE.  

Alana is also Community Director for American Public Square, an organization that brings together non-like-minded people to engage in civil conversation about controversial topics, for which she also launched KC Common Good, a region-wide initiative designed to give everyone in the community access to hope and opportunity while reducing violence.  




Pastor Cassandra Wainright serves as Pastor alongside her husband, Pastor Calvin Wainright, of Heaven Sent Outreach Ministries.  She also serves as the current President of the Concerned Clergy Coalition of Kansas City as well as the Co-Chair of the Youth & Education Task Force alongside her husband.   She also serves as the Program Director for Calvary Community Outreach Network.  In 2015, she was elected as the very first female President of the Concerned Clergy Coalition ~ making history for this faith-based Clergy organization that was founded by Pastor Emeritus Dr. Wallace S. Hartsfield, Sr. over 30 years ago.  

In each of these “servant leadership” roles, Pastor Wainright’s passion and call is steeped heavily in serving her community in outreach ministry.  Under all three of these hats, she works in the areas of Violence Prevention; HIV/AIDS; Youth Development; Health & Wellness and Youth & Education.  



Jennifer Dameron has been actively involved in the community including serving as past President of the Committee for County Progress and immediate past President of the St. Thomas More School Board. She recently has been selected to participate in the Centurions Leadership Program though the Kansas City Chamber.  

In 2012, Mayor Sly James appointed her to be the first ever Chair of the Kansas City Land Bank. Jennifer served as Chair during her entire three year term and worked closely with the Executive Director on creating the policies and procedures for the Land Bank.  Following the completion of her appointed term, Mayor James appointed Jennifer to the Kansas City TIF Commission. She resigned her position on the TIF Commission to accept her current role with Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker.

In 2016, Governor Nixon appointed and the Missouri Senate confirmed Jennifer to the Truman State University Board of Governors representing the first college district as defined by RSMo. 174.010. She currently serves as the Board’s Vice Chair and chairs the Student Affairs and Academic committee while also serving on the Truman State University Foundation Board.