Passing the Baton | Alvin Brooks on Connecting the Black Community With Police
Passing the Baton Ep. 1
February 6, 2023 | Sandy Woodson | 1 min read
Alvin Brooks can take the long view.
A fixture in the community for decades, Brooks has served as a Kansas City policeman, assistant city manager, elected official and community leader — most notably as the founder of the AdHoc Group Against Crime. He is an ideal person to share his wisdom as part of “Passing the Baton,” a new series of cross-generational conversations hosted by urban educator Carl Boyd.
“Young people, especially in the African American community, have to know their history because that helps you identify with who you are,” Brooks tells Jermaine Reed in the first installment of the series. “And they realize that each one of us stands on the shoulders who have come before us.”
Watch the attached video to learn more about the creation of the AdHoc Group Against Crime, and ongoing efforts to build bridges between the Black community and local law enforcement.
Sandy Woodson is an independent producer, most recently of “AIDS in KC: The Early Days,” which aired on Kansas City PBS. “Passing the Baton” is presented with support from Health Forward Foundation and
Husch Blackwell.
Reading these stories is free, but telling them is not. Start your monthly gift now to support Flatland’s community-focused reporting.
Related Stories
Restoration of Black church in Parkville inspires rainbow coalition
The community has rallied around the restoration of Parkville, Missouri's, Washington Chapel. Built in 1907, the chapel has been a haven for a Black population that has not always been welcome in town.
Nick’s Picks | Soccer, Elections, Entertainment and More …
It's a soccer extravaganza in Kansas City, with the city reaching its halfway point as a host city and the City Council set to consider a bond package to expand the Kansas City Current stadium.
The Declaration at 250: How Expansionism Helped Fuel A Revolution
Animus toward British restrictions on moving westward was one reason Americans sought their independence, though bedrock principles like freedom of speech remain relevant today.