SHANNON BENTON studied Communications: Advertising and Public Relations at Liberty University. While a student, Shannon completed an internship with Alvin Ailey Dance Foundation and was first introduced to nonprofit work and the arts administration industry. She also founded Divine Call Dance team, began teaching and choreographing and produced her first dance concert. After graduation, Shannon continued her dance training at The Ailey School and became a content writer for various organizations. Between the corporate and arts worlds, Shannon’s professional career has included unique opportunities to impact both industries. Prior to moving to Kansas City, Shannon performed as a guest artist in Störling Dance Theater’s production of Underground. Shortly after moving to Kansas City, she was blessed with the opportunity to join the Unite KC team as the first hired staff member. Shannon currently serves as the Communications Director for Unite KC, dances with Störling Dance Theater and serves on staff and teaching faculty for Störling Conservatory of Dance at Visible Music College. During her free time, Shannon enjoys reading, horseback riding, attending performing arts concerts and hanging out with friends.

Dayton Moore was named Senior Advisor to the Texas Rangers in November 2022. He had served as the Royals sixth general manager in franchise history, beginning on June 8, 2006, before being named Senior Vice President-Baseball Operations/General Manager in 2021. Moore founded Unite KC where he serves as President of the Board of Directors. His passion for people, unity and raising the next generation sparked a conversation among leaders in Kansas City. That conversation led to the birth of Unite KC, a grassroots, faith-based movement committed to taking action to pursue racial reconciliation in the greater Kansas City area. From day one, the goal Moore set out to accomplish was bringing a World Championship back to Kansas City, a dream that was brought to fruition in 2015. The Royals bested the New York Mets in five games to win the franchise’s first World Series in 30 years. The club became just the fourth since 1997 to reach the World Series in back-to-back seasons after falling to the San Francisco Giants in the 2014 Fall Classic. Despite a 2020 season that was shortened by the coronavirus, Kansas City continued to make strides in the rebuilding process. Under first-year manager Mike Matheny, the Royals enjoyed a strong finish to the season, going 12-6 in their final 18 games, with series wins over playoff clubs, Cleveland and St. Louis. KC’s final month of the season was highlighted by outstanding performances from young homegrown talent, fueling optimism for the 2021 campaign. Moore’s tenure in Kansas City has been one of the most successful runs in franchise history as the Royals have boasted 18 Rawlings Gold Glove Awards, 28 All-Star Game selections, five Silver Sluggers and a Cy Young Award winner. Since he took over as general manager in 2006, no Major League club has earned more Rawlings Gold Gloves, while KC’s run of nine-straight years with at least one Gold Glove winner is the longest active streak in the American League and second longest in the Majors, behind Colorado’s 10. The 2015 season was one for the ages as Kansas City stormed to their first A.L. Central Division title, winning an American League-best 95 games, their highest total since 1980. The club became just the second in Major League history to improve its win total in six-straight seasons. Along the way, the Royals set records in attendance, drawing 2.7 million fans to their 81 home games; local television viewership, recording an MLB-best 12.3 household rating during the 2015 season; and All-Star Game selections, sending seven players to the Midsummer Classic, which included four players who were selected as starters. Moore has received several accolades over the last six years, being named to the Kansas Baseball Hall of Fame and the Kansan of the Year in 2014. He has also been tabbed “Executive of the Year” by Major League Baseball (GIBBY Awards) in both 2014 and 2015 and earned the same distinction from the Kansas City Sports Commission in 2015. He was also recognized by the Boys & Girls Club with the John J. “Buck” O’Neil Diamond MVP Award as well as the Negro League Baseball Museum’s Rube Foster Award for A.L. Executive of the Year in 2016. In 2016, Moore had the honor of being the featured speaker at the National Prayer Breakfast Leadership Luncheon in Washington, D.C. The National Prayer Breakfast is a series of meetings, luncheons and dinners, established in 1953 under Kansas native, President Dwight D. Eisenhower. Under the direction of Moore, the Kansas City MLB Urban Youth Academy officially opened in 2017. While being viewed as a model for youth baseball and softball development, the $21M facility is a center for character development and educational advancement for our Community’s urban youth. Using a focused intent on treating the Academy as an extension of the Royals minor league system, Moore’s vision of providing kids the opportunity to develop “The Royals Way” is also fostering a culture that eliminates economic and social barriers in the City. A leader in the Kansas City community, Moore is also a regular speaker at numerous community events each year. In 2013, Moore started the “C” You In the Major Leagues Foundation to support youth baseball, education, families in crisis and faith-based programs and organizations. The foundation’s mission is to provide hope and support to children and families in crisis, while reaching, teaching and developing future character-driven leaders. In 2018, “C” You In The Major Leagues, under Moore’s guidance, launched the C-10 Mentoring & Leadership program. The purpose of C-10 is to bring together a select group of high school students from urban, suburban and rural Kansas City and provide them with one-on-one mentoring, life and job-skill development, leadership lessons, service opportunities, and post-high school scholarships. Twenty-seven different students have been a part of the C-10 program. Additionally, since its inception, “C” You In The Major Leagues has granted over $1,000,000 to more than 60 organizations. Some of the organizations that have benefitted from “C” You In the Major Leagues are the City Union Mission, Higher M-Pact, the Jewish Community Center, and Turn the Page KC. Following the 2014 season, Moore wrote a book, “More Than a Season” (updated in 2016), with all of the author proceeds going to “C” You In the Major Leagues. Moore, a native of Wichita, Kan., brought an impressive resume to the Royals in 2006, having previously worked for the Atlanta Braves’ organization during their run of 14-straight division titles. With Atlanta, Moore served three years as Director of Player Personnel, beginning in 2002. He originally joined the Braves’ organization as an area scouting supervisor and was promoted to the front office in August, 1996 as an assistant in the baseball operations department. Before joining the Braves, Moore served as an assistant baseball coach at his alma mater, George Mason University (1990-94). He received a bachelor’s degree (1989) and a master’s degree (1992) from GMU. Moore and his wife, Marianne, reside in Leawood, Kan., and have two daughters, Ashley and Avery, and a son, Robert. Robert was drafted in 2022 by the Milwaukee Brewers.

Ray Jarrett has a proven track record of coaching leaders and helping them to understand and correctly interpret the vision for their business and translate it into actionable items and a tangible direction. Ray consistently delivers results by establishing a strategic direction that facilitates company growth and profitability. Ray helps organizations to establish direction, manage people, expertly articulate a vision and mission to a wide range of audiences, and lead or develop solutions to complex business problems. Ray is the CEO of Impact Leadership Resources and a published author.

Jimmy Dodd is an author, well-known speaker and the founder and CEO of PastorServe. Working across denominational lines, PastorServe exists to strengthen the Church by serving pastors. Jimmy serves a number of ministries including Cross International and Unite KC. Jimmy is husband to Sally and father to five amazing kids. Jimmy is an author and the General Editor of the PastorServe Series, a series of books targeted to pastors. He is the author of Survive or Thrive, 6 Relationships Every Pastor Needs; Pastors and People Too (co-authored with Larry Magnuson) and What Great Leaders Get Right: Six Core Competencies Every Leader Needs (co-authored with Renaut van der Riet). Jimmy co-authored a children’s devotional The Magnificent Names of Jesus with his wife Sally. The book will be released in early 2022. Jimmy and his wife Sally have five children, one daughter in law and five grandchildren. Two of their daughters were adopted from China. In his free time Jimmy enjoys reading, talking walks with his wife Sally and dog Finn and cheering on his beloved Jayhawks at Allen Fieldhouse in Lawrence KS.

Jeremiah Enna is the Founder and Executive Director of The Culture House in Kansas City. The Culture House is an award winning community arts organization succeeding in excellence, education, and social engagement. The Culture House includes The Culture House Academy of the Performing Arts with over 800 students, world-class dance company Störling Dance Theater is in residency at TCH, and their social outreach program, The STAR Program serves hundreds of incarcerated and at-risk children and youth each year. Storling Dance Theater and The Culture House are responsible for the theatrical production, Underground, now in its 13th annual season. Go Underground, the small group discussion program is now a part of the Underground season and is bringing people of all races together over productive and uplifting discussions about race, racial healing and place we can take in building a unified community and church world. Jeremiah is the Vice-Chairman of the Kansas Arts & Creative Industries Commision for the state of Kansas. He is also is a founding board member of WE-KC. Mr. Enna is passionate about the building of life giving, spirited, and generous communities and a student of the socio-economic, religious, and cultural components that interplay to create either a thriving environment or an impoverished one. The Culture House in Kansas City is the successful pilot project of creating an arts organization with the opportunity to tangibly and positively affect a community. It is intended to be a model for other communities to draw from and emulate in order to infuse and make popular again, healthy morals and ethics. Jeremiah is a deeply convinced Christian and hopes that he can positively influence his community with the healthy and life-affirming values that the Biblical perspective has brought to the many cultures it has transformed. Jeremiah Enna received his BFA in Theater from UCLA, was the Carol Burnett Award winner for his work in Musical Theater, and received the Los Angeles Young Leader’s Award from Mayor Tom Bradley for his work with inner city gang leaders and members. He went on to become soloist and Assistant Director for Eternia Dans Teater in Sweden where he won accolades for his work from the French Institute, was, with Eternia, cultural ambassadors to the Baltic States after the fall of the Soviet Union, and traveled extensively performing and speaking throughout Europe, Eastern Europe and Israel. Mr. Enna was fortunate to grow in his Christian perspective under great teachers in Europe including Ellis Potter from L’Abri in Switzerland and the writings of Francis Schaeffer. Jeremiah is currently working with his wife on a new production, The Cost of Living, about the beauty, challenge and sacredness of the family.

JOHN LESLIE BROOKS is a native of Kansas City, Missouri, and the seventh child of Ruby Jean Brooks. He is married to Mrs. Teri C. Brooks and they have two sons, Benjamin and John II. Pastor Brooks received his High School Diploma from Lincoln Academy in Kansas City, Missouri. He received a football scholarship from Lincoln University in Jefferson City, Missouri, where he obtained his Bachelor of Science Degree in Sociology and a Minor in Social Work. He is also certified to teach in Kansas City, Missouri. In May 2003, Pastor Brooks graduated from Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, earning his Master of Divinity. After graduating from Lincoln University, Pastor Brooks moved back to Kansas City and procured employment as the Program Director with the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Kansas City. Within eight short months, he was promoted to Unit Director of the John T. Thornberry Boys and Girls Club. After holding that position for two years, Pastor Brooks was promoted to Area Director and in September of 1993, Pastor Brooks became Vice President of Operations for Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Kansas City. Pastor Brooks resigned his position at the Boys and Girls Club on November 15, 1998, to become the full-time pastor of Macedonia Baptist Church. Pastor Brooks was called to the ministry and licensed in August of 1988 under the late Dr. Mac Charles Jones, who was then, Pastor at St. Stephens Baptist Church in Kansas City, Missouri. He was ordained by the late Pastor Preston Allen, Jr. at Macedonia Baptist Church. Pastor John L. Brooks was called to pastor Macedonia Baptist Church on April 19, 1997. Under the Pastorate of Pastor Brooks, there were several new ministries introduced; Macedonia hired its first full time Youth Pastor, Financial Secretary, Office Manager and Administrative Assistant; several brothers accepted their call to preach the gospel and numerous deacons have accepted their call to serve. There have been many outreach endeavors under his Pastorate, to include the Senior Outreach Luncheon, Door-to-Door witnessing in the Greater Kansas City area; Freedom Fire; Pancake Breakfast and Clothes Give-a-way, Convoy of Hope; Macedonia’s Internship Program; The Macedonia Leadership Institute; and International Missions trips. Also, under Pastor Brooks’ leadership, Macedonia built a new edifice located at 1700 E. Linwood, still in the heart of Kansas City to accommodate its rapid growth and to continue the mission “To Lead Men, Women, Boys and Girls to Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior.”

Aimee Minnich serves as Chief Impact Officer and General Counsel of Impact Foundation. Purpose built for impact investing, Impact Foundation provides a streamlined way to fund transformational businesses, make loans to charity, and grow the amount you have to give away. Prior to founding Impact Foundation, she served as President and General Counsel for the National Christian Foundation, Heartland. A recovering attorney, Aimee also serves as an Entrepreneur in Residence at Miami University’s John W. Altman Center for Entrepreneurship and as a Trustee with Praxis Mutual Funds. Aimee earned a Juris Doctor from the University of Kansas School of Law with honors and a BA in Philosophy, summa cum laude, from Rockhurst University. In addition to “The Profitable Charity,” she's published a boring law article and a study of the metaphysics of salvation. Aimee and her husband Marshall live with their three adorable and high-energy kids and sweet old dog in Kansas city.

Pam is a woman of integrity and purpose. Known for her heart of “encouragement”, she believes that everyone has a purpose and spiritual gifts that should be used to build the Kingdom of God. Professionally, she has spent the past 25 years serving in the field of early childhood education, K-12 public education, post-secondary education, social services, and most recently, workforce and career development. She is a consultant with the DeVos Urban Leadership Initiative which is a 15-month leadership initiative that equips Urban Youth leaders with state-of-the art, faith-based leadership training necessary to be successful leaders in their communities where they’re doing urban youth ministry. Pam holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Human Development and Family Life from the University of Kansas and a Master’s degree in Organizational Development Psychology from Avila University. She is also a 2008 graduate of the DeVos Urban Leadership Initiative. She hopes to one day pursue a Doctorate degree in Organizational Leadership so that she can better serve her community. She is currently on staff with the Mid America Regional Council and serves as the Project Coordinator/College Success Navigator for KC Degrees. She is the wife of Dr. Artrell Harris, minister of the Roswell Church in Kansas City, KS; and together, they have one daughter. Pam is passionate about her community and helping individuals achieve spiritual and emotional wholeness and wellness. Both in word and deed, she pushes individuals to be naturally and spiritually healthy and inspires them to fulfill the call that God has on their lives. Her philosophy is simple: Treat others as you would like to be treated and ALWAYS put God first. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Favorite Saying: Your Life has Impact, Your Story is Important, Your Dreams Count, Your Voice Matters because you were born to make a difference and impact the world.

Melvin Cole has been serving in Urban Ministries for over 30 years. He has served as Youth Pastor in a local church. He served on staff with Urban Young Life and joined the staff Freedom Fire Urban Ministries in 2006. He is Co- Pastor of Freedom Covenant Church and oversee the Friday Night Outreach to Middle School and High School students. Melvin is an indigenous leader born in the Urban Core of Kansas City after completing his training through The Urban Ministry Institute (TUMI) in Wichita he now enrolled in Equip an online undergrad program through North Park Seminary in Chicago. Melvin is married to Eddie Marie. they have 2 sons Melvin Jr. and Christopher and 4 granddaughters.

James Echols retired from the Kansas Department for Children and Families on June 30, 2017, after serving as Manager, Provider Services, Program Director, HOPE Mentoring, and Assistant Director, Faith- Based and Community Initiatives, respectively. On July 1, 2017, he became the Chief Executive Officer of Renaissance Management and Training Solutions, LLP, a public relations firm specializing in business and human relations staff development, consulting and training, based in Kansas City, KS, with operations in Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska & Oklahoma. Echols was born in Memphis, Tennessee, and completed high school in Spokane, Washington, before serving nearly twenty-five years with the U.S. Army, Army National Guard and Army Reserve. He served in Vietnam as a teenager and was promoted to Sergeant and awarded the Bronze Star while there. During his professional career, Echols has served as a soldier, aide to a former Oklahoma Lieutenant Governor and Governor, Oklahoma State Equal Opportunity Officer, Executive Director, Oklahoma Human Rights Commission and Administrator, Human Resource Development, Oklahoma City Public Schools. He is also the Immediate-Past Chair, Kansas Advisory Group on Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, Immediate-Past President, Economic Opportunity Foundation, Inc., Kansas City, KS, Volunteer Mentor, Mentoring 4 Success, Kansas Department for Corrections, Member, Kansas Sentencing Commission and Member, REACH Healthcare Community Advisory Committee. Echols currently serves as Chair, Wyandotte County Boys and Girls Club, First Vice-Chair, Wyandotte County Unified Government Advisory Commission on Human Relations and Disability Issues, Board Member, Historic Northeast-Midtown Association, Executive Director, Reaching Out From Within, Inc. (ROFW), Chair, Workforce Development Committee, Kansas City Kansas Community College Downtown Advisory Council, President, Future Leaders Outreach Network (FLON) and Member, Council of Advocates, Martin Luther King, Jr., Center for Nonviolent Social Change, Atlanta, GA. Echols has a B.A. Degree in Public Service from the University of Central Oklahoma and pursued graduate studies in Human Relations/Organizational Development at the University of Oklahoma. He and his wife, Muriel, reside in Kansas City, Kansas, and have two adult children and two teenage granddaughters. He is the son and grandson of Baptist ministers.

Gregory is a native of Austin, Texas. He is married to Selena Ealey, and they have two children, Elias and Emmanuel. He attended Texas State University where he received a Bachelor of Business Administration degree with a focus in Accounting. He received a Master of Theology degree with a focus on Pastoral Leadership from Dallas Theological Seminary. He has also earned his Doctor of Ministry degree from Western Baptist Bible College. Gregory has worked with The Urban Alternative, a ministry of Dr. Tony Evans. He was a chaplain for Marketplace Chaplains, USA, serving as an Area Team Leader. He served as the ninth pastor of Paseo Baptist Church in Kansas City, MO for eight years. He now serves as the Campus Pastor for Colonial Presbyterian Church, at the South Kansas City campus. He has served as the Executive Director for Elevate KC, a city-wide collaboration that was formed to bring people together around the issues of education, human trafficking, fatherlessness and racial healing. He now helps lead the Church domain for Unite KC, an initiative for city racial healing. He has served on the board for the Signatry, a ministry working to write the last check for the great commission. He is also an executive team member for Pray-KC and author of the book, Why me? Why now?: A Biblical Perspective on Brokenness. Above all, Gregory just wants to be known as a servant of God who lives to bring God glory.

Alex Gilpin is currently the lead Pastor at Revive Church in Independence, Missouri. His ministry comes out of the home with 2 kids and an awesome wife, into the neighborhood and keeps moving into the church. A passion to see racial unity is a journey he is on that has stretched and grown him a lot.

Lorna is owner and CEO of Pneuma Pilates & Wellness. She is also Executive Director of Adaptive Living Solutions Inc., which provides home modification and adaptive solutions for those with disabilities or who are aging in place. Adaptive Living Solutions has a goal to help build livable communities and peaceful spaces for those who are underserved. Her initiative All Children Play® is focused on placing adaptive equipment on school and public playgrounds. We believe every child has a right to play. https://www.adaptivelivingsolutionskc.org/ Lorna Jarrett is Owner of BrainPeace™ Coaching and Consulting and is a mindset coach. BrainPeace™ coaching and consulting is based upon a biblical foundation, Positive Psychology theory, International Coach Federation (ICF) principles and the Neuroscience of Change. Partnering with leaders to maximize their potential, whether in groups or individuals to help them generate momentum with cohesion as it supports the greater social good. You can find peace of mind .https://www.brainpeace.info/ These businesses were birthed from her desire to help individuals live their lives to the fullest potential in spite of age, race, or physical ability. Lorna holds an applied allied health degree as Physical Therapy Assistant, Bachelor of Science in Computer Information Systems, Master of Science in Kinesiology and completing her Health Science Doctorate emphasizing education. She is trained through the Coaching and Positive Psychology (CaPP) Institute with mentoring, Coaches Rising Education along with facilitator training with the Bible-based Trauma Healing Institute. Her desire is to help people heal mentally, physically and spiritually. . She has led and facilitated grant funded programs and educational programs within health institutions, religious organizations, Performing arts and non-profits — including Kids TLC, YMCA, Front Porch Alliance, Wellspring School of Allied Health, Kansas City Ballet, Culture House School of Performing Arts, MS Achievement Center and Heartland Parkinson’s Foundation, Myotonic Dystrophy Foundation. -BrainPeace

Porsche Seals is the Executive Director of Caring for Kids. Her vision for the organization is for all children to have hope and reach their highest potential. The mission of Caring for Kids is to mobilize community organizations in partnership with schools to inspire hope and help prepare children to impact their world.