DT | Reception for Legislator Crystal Williams - 5:00 p.m.

Join us to celebrate and honor Legislator Crystal Williams' reappointment as Chair of the Jackson County Legislature. 

Crystal Williams, was recently reelected to her second four-year term as Jackson County Legislator, 2nd District At-large. In January 2016 she was elected by her peers to be the first woman to serve as Chair of the Jackson County Legislature.  In addition to her political work, she has a long history of working in the non-profit sector as an advocate giving voice to the needs of women, families and children.

Williams is a founding partner in Missouri Policy Matters, LLC, through which she works to pursue public policies to improve the lives of families throughout Missouri and the region.  She works on the federal, state and local level to advocate for women and low- and middle-income families to have access to health care, early education and safe environments. 

She has served as executive director of a statewide health advocacy organization, Planned Parenthood Affiliates of Missouri, as vice president of a regional child advocacy organization, Partnership for Children, and recently as vice president of the management team for Swope Health Services and Swope Community Enterprises, a large Kansas City non-profit.   She also contracts with other firms and non-profits providing legislative and communications advocacy.

 Williams is a recent past President of the Greater Kansas City Women’s Political Caucus, having previously served on the Board of Directors and as the GKCWPC PAC Board Chair, as well as being honored as the recipient of the GKCWPC’s Pillar Award.  She is active in many organizations, including serving on the board of directors for Kansas City Health and Bi-State Commissions, a member of the Mayor’s Anti-Violence Task Force, as well as recent service for Missouri PROMO and MO CASA.  Williams and her husband, Richard Speidel, are strong supporters of public education.  Their son, Will, is a proud student at Lincoln College Preparatory Academy in the Kansas City School District.