2022 Awards

For more than 38 years, Kansas City Friends of Alvin Ailey (KCFAA) has created opportunities to unify the Kansas City community with culturally diverse programs, performances, and events.

The Race, Place & Diversity (RPD) Award was created to honor an individual and/or organization whose actions demonstrate a commitment to advance diversity and equity.

KCFAA is proud to present our annual Race, Place & Diversity Award to Olympian and philanthropist, Jackie Joyner-Kersee and the President and CEO of the Health Forward Foundation, Qiana Thomason. In addition, we will also be honoring Mrs. Joyner-Kersee with our inaugural Hoffman Legacy Honoree, endowed by KCFAA’s friends, Sharon and John Hoffman. Our event co-chairs for our annual RPD Awards Dinner are Calvin Ricks and Peg VanWagoner.

In addition to her incredible Sports Illustrated-recognized athleticism and her six wins at the Olympics, Jackie Joyner-Kersee has expanded her reach into the philanthropy sector. As founder of the Jackie Joyner-Kersee foundation, she has made it her mission to improve the quality of life for youth, adults, and families, specifically in the East St. Louis Area. Mrs. Joyner-Kersee has vigorously strived to improve children’s education, public health, racial equality, social reform and women’s rights.

Kansas City’s own Qiana Thomason has made her primary focus in bettering healthcare for minority communities after experiencing personal inequality with her medical providers. Since becoming president and CEO of Health Forward Foundation in 2020, she has worked to improve the care and wellness of those in marginalized conditions.

Join us for this year’s dinner honoring our recipients with moderator and emcee, award-winning journalist and author, KSHB’s Dia Wall at the Sheraton Crown Center.. We will start our evening with a VIP reception with our award recipients at 5:30 p.m. on November 3, finishing off with our awards dinner at 7:00 p.m.

We invite you to participate in our sponsorship program for the event, which benefits our KCFAA’s arts education programs. KCFAA thanks you for your contribution and continued support which makes it possible to unify our community through dance.