The 2025 Kansas Black Leadership Brunch series kicked-off its five city tour with the first stop in Wichita with an empowering and entertaining keynote speech by Wyandotte County District Attorney Mark Dupree and a presentation on KBLC’s voter-to-voter program and announcements about a revised and better Kansas Black Legislative Day in Topeka in February 2026.
The Kansas Black Leadership Council, a statewide organization advancing meaningful change for African Americans living in Kansas through improved advocacy, resources and information and civic engagement sponsors the brunch series to help foster the organization’s mission and as a way to build connections with Black leaders and to help other individuals recognize their power to lead.
Committed to economic development of Kansas’ Black community, the Wichita Brunch was held at the Grandeur Events Center, a Black-owned business at 2120 N. Woodlawn, suite 370, and was catered by Jodee B’s Catering, also Black-owned. The sold out event attracted 120 guests.
Dupree, the first Black District Attorney in Kansas and the first Black president elected president of the Kansas Bar Association, , is an evangelical preacher. So it should have come as no surprise, that his message was not only informative but engaging. Dupree shared how his mentor Judge Cordell Meeks, through his leadership, changed his vision of what was possible for his future.
In support of KBLC’s civic engagement platform, a presentation shared the organization’s voter-to-votee program that encourages Kansas Black Leaders to be responsible for getting at least 10 voters to the poll.. If completely actualized, this program could change the face of Kansas politics, said the presenter.
In addition, Stacey Knoell, executive director of the Kansas African American Affairs Commission, shared about revised plans to enhance the growingly popular Kansas Black Legislative Day that will be held at the Topeka Capitol in February 2026.
The Kansas Black Leadership Brunches are jointly co-sponsored by KBLC, KAAAC and The Community Voice. The date and location for other 2025 KBLC Brunches are:
August 23, Olathe, KS
Sept 6 , Topeka, KS and
Oct. 11, Lawrence, KS
To register, go to https://www.kansasblc.org/kblcbrunch. Register early, these events typically sell out.
