Women’s Political Caucus presents Torch awards

Greater Kansas City Women’s Political Caucus will present the 2009 Torch Dinner Awards at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 17, at the Intercontinental Hotel on the Country Club Plaza. The 2009 Torch award winners are:

The Torch Award

Diana Kander is president and CEO of Kander & Rigby LLC. Prior to co-founding Kander & Rigby, Kander served as a practicing lawyer for Lathrop and Gage. She is a prominent campaign manager and consultant for numerous campaigns in the Kansas City area. Kander is a graduate of Georgetown Law School and has taught as an adjunct professor of political science at University of Missouri-Kansas City. She serves as a general board member for the Committee for County Progress.

The Erika S. Fox Pillar Award

Dianne Cleaver is president of Symmetry Consulting LLC, specializing in human services, educational reform and cultural competence. She has served as chief administrative officer for the Kansas City, Mo., School District, coordinator of Gov. Bob Holden’s State-wide Initiative for Families and Children, director of community development for Truman Medical Center and mental health director at Swope Parkway Health Center. Cleaver has served on numerous committees and boards for which she has been honored including Kindest Kansas Citian honoree, Delta Sigma Theta Woman of Courage Award, Woman of the Year, Missouri Legislative Black Caucus Friend in Deed Award and the Gay/Lesbian Alliance Leadership Award.

The Mel Carnahan Good Guy Award

Peter Brownlie has served as president and CEO of Planned Parenthood of Kansas & Mid-Missouri since August 1999. He was CEO of AIDS Services of Austin, Texas, and CEO of two Planned Parenthood affiliates in Texas and Planned Parenthood of North Central Indiana prior to coming to Kansas City. Brownlie started his career in reproductive health services as director of Family Planning and Sexuality Education at a multi-service center for adolescents in New York City. He has served on many Planned Parenthood organizations, including the Metropolitan Executive Director’s Council Steering Committee and Policyholder’s Council of Planned Parenthood’s national insurance program.

The Community Service Award

Cynthia Smith is president and CEO of Sunflower House, a child abuse prevention center based in Shawnee. Her role as a child advocate began when she anchored the news at WDAF-TV in Kansas City. She has covered presidential inaugurations, national political conventions, and traveled to El Salvador to cover the country’s first free elections in 1980. In 1992, Smith became a vice president for KCPT. During her career, she has received two Emmy awards, been honored by the National Association of Women Legislators, the National Association of Broadcasters, the National Association of Social Workers and PBS.

Harriet Woods Guardian of the Flame Award

Sen. Yvonne Wilson was elected to the Missouri Senate in November 2004 after serving five years in the Missouri House of Representatives. She holds a leadership position in the upper chamber as Minority Caucus secretary and represents a portion of Jackson County in the Senate. Wilson spent 35 years with the Kansas City, Mo., School District. She was the first African-American to serve as president of the Missouri Association of Elementary School Principals. She was recently recognized as The Kansas City Globe’s 100 Most Influential African Americans.

The caucus also will pay special tribute to former U.S. Rep. Karen McCarthy, 5th District; honor the work of the late Dr. George Tiller; and make an announcement about the Kansas City Women’s Political Hall of Fame.

For information, visit www.gkcwpc.org.

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