Chair
(She/Her/Hers)

After numerous transitions in her life, Hazel has found her calling professionally as a speaker, author, and social media manager. Hazel published her first book in January 2024 entitled Enthusiastically Me, which chronicles her journey into sobriety and her gender transition, as she breaks free from society’s inherent expectations for gender presentation, career aspirations, and dreams. Her ultimate goal is to inspire enthusiastic authenticity for everyone by finding their own transition to their best life. In recent years, Hazel has embraced an intensely active role in publicly advocating for the LGBTQ+ community, focusing on transgender rights, particularly for trans youth.

Hazel encourages everyone to check out No Divide KC, which uses the arts as a vehicle for stimulating social awareness, participation and community building. No Divide KC partners with Kansas City-based artists and organizations to create artistic events that are focused on the stories of underserved and misrepresented communities in Kansas City.

https://www.nodividekc.org/

Secretary (She/Her/Hers)

Angie Powers is the mother of two strong humans. She has taught adolescents from a cart, in classrooms, and online. She’s sponsored everything from National Honor Society to Literary Magazine to the Gender Sexuality Alliance. She’s also mentored new teachers and facilitated professional development in various roles throughout her career in Olathe Public Schools. Her passion for advocacy has provided her many professional opportunities: NEA Director, Leaders for Just Schools and Welcoming Schools facilitator, 2018 KTOY Team, Greater Kansas City Writing Project Fellowship, as well as National Board Certification.

Angie recommends checking out Welcoming Schools. HRC Foundation’s Welcoming Schools is the most comprehensive bias-based bullying prevention program in the nation to provide LGBTQ+ and gender-inclusive professional development training, lesson plans, booklists and resources specifically designed for educators and youth-serving professionals.

https://welcomingschools.org/

We are looking for:

Board Members

Committee Members

Regular and One-Time Volunteers

Email jocopride@gmail.com with your interest and we will get back to you!

At Large Board Member (She/Her/Hers)

Jennifer is a lifelong Johnson Countian residing in Prairie Village with her wife and 3 children. She is currently serving the queer community in Johnson County, and the larger Kansas City metro, in a variety of ways; in addition to the Johnson County Pride board, she is a co-founder of the Out with the Royals tailgate, and she serves as board president of Modern Family Alliance. Through direct action, advocacy, and community building, Jennifer is committed to building a stronger, more vibrant, and more welcoming Johnson County for the LGBTQ+ community.

Jennifer recommends checking out Modern Family Alliance. The Modern Family Alliance (MFA), formerly the Midwest Alternative Family Alliance (MAFA), was founded in 2002 by a small group of people to act as a catalyst for social action on behalf of LGBT families. Since then, the organization has been celebrating LGBTQ parents, prospective parents and those who support them. In 2005, MFA became a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with a goal of providing a presence, a voice, and a way to to better perform its mission to connect LGBTQ families and educate the larger community.

https://mfakc.org/

Marketing Chair

Rebecca is a mama of one very active little boy (3 years) and one constantly growing little girl (7 months). She currently resides in Douglas county, but was a Johnson county resident throughout her childhood and has very fond memories of the area. Before kids, Rebecca had a career focused on improving the lives of  individuals with autism. In the school, home, and clinic setting she worked with individuals on the spectrum from adolescence to adulthood. She now spends her free time with her wife and kids building a homestead and serving as a Eudora Lions Club member.

Rebecca recommends checking out your local Lions Club chapter. The Lions Club is a non political and non religious based program that serves the community in a variety of areas. It provides a space for individuals who love to bounce around to different types of service projects.