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-


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.


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.


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.


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.


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.


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.


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.


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


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.


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


Highland Park High School, Reverend Hicks is a devoted husband of Joan and the proud father of

son DeAndre Tyrel and daughter, Tracee Danyelle.


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.


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.


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.


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.


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.


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.


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.

citizen advisory council members...kappa alpha sorority, inc. she received the junior league of...

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