Who we are Class of 2020 Fellows Darryl Answer Pastor, New Community Church Read full bio > Micah Chrisman Communications Manager, Alive and Well Communities Read full bio > Sabrina Dowdy Director of Programs, Show Me KC Schools Read full bio > Meredith Doyle Associate Athletic Director, Kansas City Public Schools Read full bio > Crystal Everett Real World Learning Coordinator, Kansas City Public Schools Read full bio > Tonya Guinn Senior Program Assistant, Kauffman Foundation Read full bio > Martin (Tino) Herrera Congregational Care Pastor, United Methodist Church of the Resurrection Read full bio > Samara Crawford Herrera Director of Community Partnerships, SchoolSmartKC Read full bio > Jorge Holguin Manager of Community Organizing, LEANLAB Education Read full bio > Adam House Senior Program Officer, Entrepreneurship, Kauffman Foundation Read full bio > Kiona Hughes-Sinks Community Engagement, Digital Marketing Strategy Manager, Negro Leagues Baseball Museum Read full bio > Brandy Lynch Assistant Professor, Department of Nutrition and Kinesiology, University of Central Missouri Read full bio > David McDaniel Senior Pastor, Holmeswood Baptist Church Read full bio > Janay Reliford-Davis CEO, Camp Choice Read full bio > John Rios Retired Principal and School Administrator Read full bio > Eva Santiago Plaza Comunitaria Program Coordinator, Kansas City Public Schools Read full bio > Andrea Sellers Partner, Stinson LLP Read full bio > Justin Stein Statewide Organizing Director, Missouri Jobs with Justice Read full bio > Rachel Svaty Executive Director of Central Resources and CFO, United Methodist Church of the Resurrection Read full bio > Chris Vukas Director of Economic Development, Sunflower Development Group Read full bio > Darryl Answer Pastor, New Community Church Year 1 Fellow Darryl Answer was born and raised in London, England. He is currently co-pastor of New Community Church. Darryl has served in a variety of leadership roles within churches, non-profit organizations, and in community development. On Saturday mornings, you can usually find Darryl making breakfast with his daughter, Jaidyn, while listening (and singing along) to children’s movie soundtracks. #dadlife. Back to top > Micah Chrisman Communications Manager, Alive and Well Communities Year 1 Fellow Micah Chrisman currently works as a communications manager for Alive and Well Communities. On Saturday mornings, Micah enjoys wilderness adventures with his doggo Raylah, as well as writing short stories and novels. To learn more about his other writing projects and activism, check out mjchrisman.com. Back to top > Sabrina Dowdy Director of Programs, Show Me KC Schools Year 1 Fellow Sabrina Dowdy is the director of programs at Show Me KC Schools. She organizes a variety of programs and events designed to help families navigate school options in Kansas City’s education landscape. On Saturday mornings, you can usually find Sabrina taking a Peloton bootcamp class or at her family’s home for pancake breakfast. Back to top > Meredith Doyle Associate Athletic Director, Kansas City Public Schools Year 1 Fellow Meredith Doyle is the Associate Athletic Director for Kansas City Public Schools working with student-athletes, coaches and athletic directors across the district. Meredith serves on a Women’s Coaching Summit steering committee with local leaders advocating for women in coaching and administration roles. On Saturday’s you can usually find Meredith wrangling her children to go for a hike or heading to the lake with family. Back to top > Crystal Everett Real World Learning Coordinator, Kansas City Public Schools Year 1 Fellow Crystal Everett, a native of Kansas City, Missouri and 2006 graduate of Lincoln College Prep, currently serves as the Real World Learning Coordinator for Kansas City Public Schools. She has over a decade of experience in education spaces, holding roles with various organizations. On Saturday mornings, you can usually find Crystal in full mommy mode, navigating YouTube Kids and eating bowls of cereal with her daughter. Back to top > Tonya Guinn Senior Program Assistant, Kauffman Foundation Year 1 Fellow Tonya Guinn is a senior program assistant in Education for the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, where she provides support for education-focused initiatives through program development, program management, conducting research and building relationships. As a Kansas City native, Tonya was a student in the Kansas City Public Schools K-12 and this drives her passion in doing what she can to work in establishing an equitable, fair, and quality education for all students in the urban core. On Saturday mornings, you can find Tonya riding her bicycle. Back to top > Martin (Tino) Herrera Congregational Care Pastor, United Methodist Church of the Resurrection Year 1 Fellow Tino Herrera currently serves as one of the pastors in Congregational Care at the United Methodist Church of the Resurrection. He currently serves on the board for Turn the Page KC, a non-profit organization that seeks to achieve reading proficiency for students in Kansas City. On Saturday mornings, you will find Tino brewing up some coffee, a good book in one hand, and making scrambled eggs for his beloved wife, Kauffman Education Fellow Samara Crawford-Herrera. Back to top > Samara Crawford Herrera Director of Community Partnerships, SchoolSmartKC Year 1 Fellow Samara Crawford Herrera is Director of Community Partnerships at SchoolSmart KC, where she works to convene, connect, leverage and drive key partners and stakeholders to support and demand quality of all schools on behalf of students and families within the Kansas City education community. She is a veteran of the Navy and mother to one spirited teenage daughter. On Saturday mornings, you can usually find Samara laid out on the couch; coffee in one hand, a good book in the other and a trashy Lifetime movie on the TV. Back to top > Jorge Holguin Manager of Communty Organizing, LEANLAB Education Year 1 Fellow Jorge believes that in order to create change, we must look at the education landscape through an equity glass. Jorge’s most recent project has been working on Preguntame, a platform that provides college-access resources and local support in collaboration with the Mid-Continent Public Library. On a Saturday morning, you can usually find Jorge hiking at Shawnee Mission Park or Clinton State Lake with his partner, Paola, and his daughter Melody. Back to top > Adam House Senior Program Officer, Entrepreneurship, Kauffman Foundation Year 1 Fellow Adam has over 20 years of experience developing and supporting program management and strategic planning offices in the private, public and nonprofit sectors. On Saturday mornings you can catch Adam at the local soccer field or basketball court cheering for his daughter while applying ice to his knees and ankles as he continues to play Friday night adult soccer decades past his prime. Back to top > Kiona Hughes-Sinks Community Engagement, Digital Marketing Strategist, Negro Leagues Baseball Museum Year 1 Fellow Kiona is a community-minded connector with eight plus years of consistent volunteerism and community engagement. She is a community advocate, social & civic innovator, cause-driven equity leader, and immensely passionate about diversity & inclusion. On Saturday mornings you can usually find Kiona drinking coffee, going to the park, and enjoying the free-flowing weekend vibes. Back to top > Brandy Lynch Assistant Professor, Department of Nutrition and Kinesiology, University of Central Missouri Year 1 Fellow Brandy Lynch is an Assistant Professor at the University of Central Missouri in the School of Teaching and Learning. She specializes in the application of technology in instruction and the analysis of effective teaching. On Saturday mornings, you can usually find Dr. Lynch riding her bike around town with her family. Back to top > David McDaniel Senior Pastor, Holmeswood Baptist Church Year 1 Fellow Rev. David McDaniel is the Senior Pastor at Holmeswood Baptist Church. A significant personal focus for Rev. McDaniel is the work of justice and equality, particularly focused in Kansas City. On Saturday mornings, you can find Rev. McDaniel exploring various parks in the city with his wife and two daughters, ages 3 and 1, and then rooting for the Alabama Crimson Tide football team. Back to top > Janay Reliford-Davis CEO, Camp Choice Year 1 Fellow Janay Reliford-Davis is a Kansas City native and graduated from Westport High School as a Kauffman Foundation “Project Choice” scholarship recipient. For the past 23 years Janay has served the Kansas City community through many social service agencies, in various capacities. On Saturday mornings, you can usually find Janay in bed meditating on life. Back to top > John Rios Retired Principal and School Administrator Year 1 Fellow John Rios is a life-long resident of Kansas City, Kansas. He had a 34-year career in the KCKPS as a teacher, assistant principal, principal, dropout prevention specialist, and assistant superintendent. John enjoys sports, music, and time with family and friends. On Saturday mornings, you can usually find John doing yard work or chores around the house. Back to top > Eva Santiago Plaza Comunitaria Program Coordinator, Kansas City Public Schools Year 1 Fellow Eva is a native New Yorker, former KCMO Police Officer, and current yoga instructor. Eva found a perfect fit at KCPS where she now is the Program Coordinator for Plaza Comunitiaria, a collaboration between The Mexican Consulate in Kansas City and KCPS that promotes health and wellness. “As the Program Coordinator my goal is to address the needs of the Latino school community, specifically our Dreamers, DACA recipients and our undocumented brothers and sisters.” On Saturday mornings, you can usually find Eva running in Loose Park. Back to top > Andrea Sellers Partner, Stinson LLP Year 1 Fellow Andrea Sellers, a partner at Stinson LLP, leverages her law degree (University of Iowa) and background in agricultural biochemistry (Iowa State University) to assist universities and companies to protect and commercialize their research in the chemical, biosciences, and animal health fields. Andrea’s volunteer activities include various education-focused programs. On Saturday mornings, you can usually find Andrea at the farmer’s market, in her own garden, or catching up on housework. Back to top > Justin Stein Statewide Organizing Director, Missouri Jobs with Justice Year 1 Fellow Justin Stein is currently a Senior Organizer at Missouri Jobs with Justice, a statewide, grassroots organization that fights for racial, economic, and social justice. Justin has worked on campaigns to raise the minimum wage, protect union rights, expand Medicaid, and bring ethics reform to Missouri politics. Justin enjoys rock climbing, backpacking, gardening, and participating in his book club. On a typical Saturday morning you can find him at the climbing gym or, most likely, mowing his lawn. Back to top > Rachel Svaty Executive Director of Central Resources and CFO, United Methodist Church of the Resurrection Year 1 Fellow Rachel Svaty is the CFO and executive director of Central Resources at The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection. Central Resources includes finance & accounting; IT; HR & staff development; facilities & construction management; and safety, compliance, & risk management. On Saturday mornings, you can usually find Rachel paddle boarding, coaching her daughter’s volleyball team, or cooking a big breakfast for her family. Back to top > Chris Vukas Director of Economic Development, Sunflower Development Group Year 1 Fellow Chris began his community development career helping to pioneer the use of New Market Tax Credits on Native American lands at Travois New Markets. New Market Tax Credits (NMTCs) are a tool to help provide capital in highly distressed census tracts to create living-wage jobs for low-income people or provide goods and services like healthcare, child-care and or grocery stores. On Saturday mornings, you can usually find Chris making breakfast for the family. Back to top >