An evening of elegance, inspiration, and impact. Join us for "Handle Hard Better", a powerful fundraising gala presented by Sisters in Christ Kansas City.
The Gala will be attended by community leaders, supporters, and individuals who are dedicated to making a positive impact in the field of mental health. Your participation would not only honor us but also greatly contribute to our mission of spreading awareness and reducing stigma surrounding mental health.
EVENT DETAILS:
Date: Saturday, March 14th, 2026
Time: 6p-9p
Venue: Fiorella's Event Space (9000 W. 137th St, Overland Park, KS 66221)
Keynote Speakers: Murray L Woodard ll, Ryan Sorrell, Stephanie Wiley, Raphael Taylor Sr. Jeannie P. Crookshank, Rico Conn, Theresa Byrd
Dress Code: Black Tie/Formal
About Our Guest Speakers
Murray L Woodard ll
Murray L. Woodard II is an accomplished nonprofit and philanthropic professional, recently appointed as the new Director of Jackson County COMBAT (Community Backed Anti-Crime Tax). In this role, he is responsible for overseeing an agency that allocates more than $30 million annually to support violence prevention efforts, treatment services, and law enforcement initiatives throughout Jackson County. Murray co-founded the nonprofit organization BLAQUE Promise Project with his wife, Dr. Cokethea Hill-Woodard, to improve education outcomes for African American students in public schools. Previously, Murray served as Policy & Engagement Manager at the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, where he built and enhanced external relationships, managed learning opportunities, and spearheaded community engagement practices. Earlier, as Program Officer in Education at the Foundation, he managed education-focused initiatives involving grantmaking, program development, and relationship building-all contributing to advancing education goals across the region.
Murray’s professional accomplishments have been recognized through several honors and awards. In 2020, he was the recipient of the KC Chamber Ace Award, honoring up-andcoming senior-level managers advocating for DEI and supplier diversity efforts. In 2016, he
was selected for the Connecting Leaders Fellowship Program (ABFE), a nationally competitive program aimed at sharpening leadership capacity among foundation staff, donors, and trustees committed to supporting Black communities through philanthropy.
Woodard earned a Master of Business Administration from the University of Phoenix and a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the University of Central Missouri. He also holds a
certificate in grantsmanship from the University of Missouri–Columbia.
He is deeply engaged in civic leadership, serving on the Executive Committee of the Urban League of Greater Kansas City Board and as a Trustee of the Kansas City Art Institute since
2018. From 2019 to 2021, he was a member of the KC Chamber’s Centurions Program
Steering Committee, and he recently rejoined the Advisory Board of SXSW EDU after serving from 2017–2020. Additionally, he has been a proud member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. since Fall 1999.
Above all, Murray is a proud husband to Dr. Cokethea Hill-Woodard, father to two daughters, and bonus father to a son
Ryan Sorrell
Ryan has a diverse background including working at one of the nation's most esteemed Black think tanks, one of Chicago's top Tech PR agencies, a top 3 global PR firm, and founded one of Kansas City's largest Black-led Abolitionist direct action groups during the 2020 uprisings. He was a key organizer in the October 2021, 21 day occupation on the grounds of Kansas City's City Hall following the horrific brutalization of a 9-month pregnant Black woman by a KCPD officer, and formerly, he was temporarily suspended from his college at Loyola University of Chicago for organizing the largest social justice demonstration in university history, before being pardoned by the President in the university's first ever pardon resulting from national outcry.
During Ryan's professional career he's consulted brands such as Facebook, Samsung, Amazon and Google. In 2020 he quit his job doing web development and digital analytics at a digital PR agency to found one of the nation's fastest growing Black digital news startups, The Kansas City Defender. Under Ryan's leadership the Black-led organization has broken over 25 national news stories, reaching over 100 million people since its launch in 2021. In year two, he broke what became an international story about a white supremacist serial killer targeting Black women in Kansas City.
In year three, he broke the Ralph Yarl story, the shooting by a white man of a 16-year-old Black teen for ringing the wrong doorbell. His reporting ignited nationwide high school walkouts and led to a statement from President Biden within 72 hours.
Just in the last month he broke the story of Jayvon Givan, a 29 year old Black man from Kansas City who was found hung by a chain in New Mexico. Within 72 hours of Ryan's bombshell investigation, the New Mexico department of justice opened an independent investigation into the case.
The Defender’s model fuses journalism with organizing, arts, mutual aid, and political education. They've earned five national awards including Emerging Leader of the Year from the Institute for Nonprofit News, Innovator of the Year from the Local Media Association, Community Champion award from the Local Independent Online News Publishers, and the Urban League’s Civil and Human Rights Award. His work has been cited everywhere from The New York Times and CNN to Democracy Now.
He has lectured internationally, from the Kansas City Art Institute to the University of the Arts London in the United Kingdom, and has trained at Google’s Communicators Bootcamp.
Stephanie Wiley
Stephanie Wiley is a retired Senior United States Probation Officer for the Western District of Missouri. During her 21-year career, she specialized in treatment services, served as a level 3 contracting officer, authored numerous presentence investigation reports, and worked as a post-conviction supervision officer.
Stephanie currently serves as the Executive Director of Relentless Pursuit Outreach and Recovery (RPOR), which operates the only drop-in center in the state of Missouri for exploited women. At the center, women receive safety, basic needs, and non-transactional services designed to foster hope, restoration, and freedom from trauma.
Raphael Taylor Sr.
Raphael Taylor Sr. is a multifaceted leader who blends technical innovation with a deep-seated commitment to community empowerment. As a Licensed Solutions Advisor at California Casualty Insurance Company, he is a core member of the IT team, where he designs and implements efficient digital solutions for the nation's "American Heroes"—teachers, firefighters, law enforcement, and nurses. A 1999 graduate of Jackson State University with a B.S. in Computer Information Systems, Raphael has spent over two decades leveraging technology to enhance operational excellence and service delivery.
In addition to his corporate role, Raphael serves as the Chief Executive Officer of Alpha & Omega Consulting Services. Under his leadership, the firm provides essential Life Skills and Healthy Relationship classes throughout the Kansas City area, equipping individuals with the tools needed for personal growth and sustainable connections.
A devoted father to his two sons, London and Raphael Jr., Raphael is also a cornerstone of the Encounter Church KC community, where he serves on the Praise and Worship team. Whether he is optimizing IT infrastructure or leading community-based workshops, Raphael’s work is driven by a singular mission: to provide the systems and skills that help others thrive.
Join us at this years' Strength to Strength Gala & Fashion Show!
Our spectacular gathering will be hosted at Fiorella's Event Center, located at 9000 W 137th St, Overland Park, KS 66221. Prepare for a delectable dining experience, captivating live entertainment, and an exclusive fashion show like no other!
If you have any questions about this event (including sponsorship opportunities), please contact our Special Events Coordinator, Asha White, at adwhite@sistersinchristkc.org.
Sisters In Christ is a 501(c)3 corporation. All sponsorships and donations are entirely tax deductible. You will receive a tax receipt, MO Tax ID: 25385151.
Our Mission
Our mission is to assist in the transformation of people by creating and weaving together a cohesive set of resources that promote their physical, emotional, financial, and spiritual wholeness. Sisters in Christ serves as a resource conduit, personal advocate, and supporter for those we serve.