For nearly 70 years, if something important was happening in Kansas City’s Black community — a tragedy, a protest, a prayer vigil, a community meeting, or a celebration — chances are Alvin Brooks was somewhere in the room.
That enduring presence was celebrated this week as community leaders, elected officials, educators, law enforcement officials, family, and longtime friends gathered at the Alvin L. Brooks Center for Faith-Justice at Rockhurst University to honor Brooks’ 94th birthday and a lifetime of leadership, public service, and community advocacy.
The event was co-hosted by Rockhurst University and Metropolitan Community College and drew city, county, and state officials, law enforcement leaders, and residents from across the Kansas City metro.
Brooks joined the Kansas City Police Department in 1954 as one of the department’s first Black officers, later serving as assistant city manager and mayor pro tem while becoming one of Kansas City’s most recognized voices for peace, justice, and violence prevention. He also founded the AdHoc Group Against Crime and remains a regular and respected presence at community and civic events throughout the city.
U.S. Congressman Emanuel Cleaver II praised Brooks’ decades of influence and leadership.
“Alvin Brooks is a diamond for us and it shines brightly having paved the way in the way he lived for so many people,” Cleaver said. “He has done so much.”
Former Kansas City Councilmember Jermaine Reed said Brooks continues to unite generations of Kansas Citians through his message of “faith, justice, and humanity,” calling him “the standard for what it means to serve Kansas City.”
The evening included a legacy exhibit and a screening of The True Adventures of Alvin Brooks, a documentary by acclaimed filmmaker Kevin Willmott that blends interviews and animation to tell Brooks’ life story in an unconventional and deeply personal way.
Kansas City Police Chief Stacy Graves said Brooks’ influence still shapes the department today.
“One thing that he brought through to the police department … is just that always calming and always for peace — justice, fairness, and just treating people right,” Graves said.
As he enters his 95th year, Brooks remains an active and familiar face in the community, still attending neighborhood meetings, church events, educational programs, and civic gatherings across Kansas City.