Meet Our Honorees
Ardie A. Bland served as a Municipal Court Judge for the 16th Judicial Circuit Court of Missouri – Kansas City Municipal Division for fourteen years. He was appointed by Kansas City, Missouri Mayor Mark Funkhouser and the City Council in 2008. Prior to his appointment, Judge Bland operated his own law office. In addition to handling traditional Municipal Court cases, Judge Bland presided over the Veterans Treatment Court for thirteen years; and in 2015 became the judge for the Mental Health Court where he served for seven years. He also presided over the Municipal Court Truancy Court from 2012 to 2015. Under Judge Bland’s direction, more than 400 students from the various school districts serving Kansas City, Missouri successfully improved attendance rates between 5 to 25 percent. In September 2022, he was appointed by President Biden to serve as a Veterans Law Judge for the Board of Veterans' Appeals. Judge Bland is a lifelong resident of Kansas City. He holds a Bachelor of Science in economics from Truman State University and received a Juris Doctor Drake University Law School.
Dr. Robert Cordell serves as the Director of Student Support Services in the Raytown School District. Previously, he was a social studies classroom teacher, Assistant Principal and Principal. Robert earned a Bachelor of Arts in History and Secondary Education from Missouri State University, a Master of Education Degree in Secondary School Administration, an Education Specialists Degree in Secondary School Administration and a Doctor of Education in School Administration and Educational Policy Study from the University of Missouri- Kansas City. Dr. Cordell has been serving in education for 23 years. Robert’s wife is Dr. Casey Cordell. They have been married for 23 years and they have three daughters: Cailyn (20), Claire (16) and Campbell (12).
Theresa Cass Galvin has served on the Jackson County Legislature for eight years. For two of those years she held the leadership role of Chairman and two more years as Vice Chairman. Theresa began her career, which spanned 30 years in the construction industry, in the front office and worked her way up to owning her own construction company. Theresa is the daughter of a United States Air Force family. Her family moved back to Kansas City when Theresa was in grade school. She attended schools in the Hickman Mills School District and graduated from Hickman Mills Senior High School. Theresa and her husband, Billy, have 4 children and 5 grandchildren. Theresa is a member of the American Legion Post 21, American Legion Auxiliary and a life member of the Ladies Auxiliary with VFW Post 5789. She is also a dedicated member of the Raytown and Lee's Summit Chamber of Commerce. She has a strong sense of community and enjoys spending her free time volunteering.
Lisa is a native of the Kansas City area and has a passion for strengthening and supporting our Community. She has built a 26-year career in banking and as the Vice-President of Commercial Banking for First Citizens Bank, plays an active role in helping business owners, entrepreneurs and executives become successful and execute their dreams and visions for the organizations they lead. Lisa is also an advocate for supporting philanthropic needs throughout the Kansas City Community and invests her time and resources volunteering for various not-for-profit organizations and currently serves as the President of Dream Factory’s Kansas City Chapter, a 100% volunteer-based organization. During her 5 years volunteering for Dream Factory, she has played an integral part leading the efforts to bring hope and smiles to more than 275 children battling chronic and critical illnesses. Lisa also serves on Dream Factory’s Executive Board and the Boards of Blue Valley Industrial Association, Midwest Small Business Finance and Clay County Economic Development Council.
Adrienne Powell was born in Atlanta, GA and raised in Kansas City, MO. She graduated from Lincoln Prep and went on to obtain a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work and then a Master’s of Social Work from the University of Central Missouri and St. Louis University, respectively. She began her professional career in St. Louis, MO and worked in a number of different capacities such as clinical supervisor, director of Imani House, adjunct professor at UMKC, therapist and most recently, licensure supervisor for professional social workers in the state of Missouri. She was also included in Who’s Who in Black Kansas City twice for her community leadership. She has a passion for implementing evidence-based therapy programs and developed two new programs while working for a local community mental health organization which are still in place today. Ms. Powell has always had a passion for working with those in need of assistance and support as well as developing skills in clinicians to effectively provide that support and has done so for three decades. She has 3 sons; Stanley, Brandon and Christian and one granddaughter, Raya.
Since October 2018 Vince Ortega has served as the Executive Director of Jackson County COMBAT. He had previously serviced as the COMBAT Deputy Director since 2009. Vince brought to COMBAT a highly respected reputation as a law enforcement officer and community leader. He had a distinguished 30-year career with the Kansas City Police Department, rising through the ranks to become Deputy Chief. During his KCPD career, his assignments included serving as Executive Officer to the Chief of Police, Commander of the Patrol Bureau, Homeland Security, Intelligence Unit, Internal Affairs, Violent Crimes Division, Human Resources, and the Drug Enforcement Unit. He was also recipient of more than 70 awards and commendations. Upon retiring as a Deputy Chief, he served as the National Security Specialist for General Electric’s Homeland Protection Division, where he was a Domain Expert. He holds a Master of Public Affairs degree from Park University, where he previously earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice. Vince is a life-long resident of Kansas City. He and his wife, Gillian, have been married 40 years.
Colonel Taylor hails from Kansas City, Kansas, and is a 1974 graduate of J.C. Harmon High School and went on to play 4 years of football at Washburn University. He received his B.A. Business from Washburn and was commissioned into the Air Force in 1978. He received his M.A. in Public Administration from Golden Gate University in San Francisco, California, and his M. A. National Resource Management from the Industrial College of the Armed Forces, National Defense University, Washington DC. After 29 years of military service, he is the recipient of the Defense Superior Service Medal and numerous other military decorations. On Apr 3, 2008, Colonel Taylor opened the Chick-fil-A at Oak Park Plaza as the Owner/Operator. Colonel Taylor is happily married to the former Harriett McCallop of Shawnee Mission, Kansas for 44 years. They have a son, Clarence Taylor IV, a daughter, Christina Taylor and five grandchildren.
Dr. Jomella Watson-Thompson is the Director of the Center for Service Learning, and an Associate Professor in the Department of Applied Behavioral Science at the University of Kansas. She is also an affiliated researcher with the Center for Community Health and Development. Dr. Watson-Thompson is the Director of the Kansas City Youth Violence Prevention Research Center, a Center for Disease Control National Center of Excellence in Youth Violence Prevention. Additionally, she is the co-Principal with Ad Astra Community Innovations Group, LLC. Dr. Watson-Thompson has been the recipient of numerous local and national awards related to her contributions to community-engaged scholarship. She serves on the Executive Council for the Association of Behavior Analysis International. She attained a Ph.D. in Behavioral Psychology, a Masters of Urban Planning from the University of Kansas, and a B.A. in Urban Studies from Jackson State University. . She is married to Eric Thompson, a higher education professional and motivational speaker and they have three children.
ABOUT SISTERS IN CHRIST
Founded in 2014, Sisters In Christ (SIC) is a community-based organization serving disadvantaged women, youth, and children in the Kansas City metroplex with demonstrated success in helping women transform their lives after struggling with drug addiction, mental illness, incarceration, homelessness, and other traumas.
Sisters In Christ assists in the transformation of people by creating and then weaving together a cohesive set of resources that promote physical, emotional, financial, and spiritual wholeness. SIC serves as a resource conduit, personal advocate, and supporter for those we serve.
Sisters In Christ currently services 50 to 60 women annually 7 days per week at 3 sites.
