Dr. VaShawn Smith is a transformative educational leader, mentor, and culture shaper with over 20 years of experience in education. He currently serves as Principal of Grandview High School in Grandview, Missouri, where he leads with a vision rooted in relationships, intentional instruction, and advancing literacy and numeracy for all students. Dr. Smith holds a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Saint Louis University, where his dissertation focused on trauma-informed policies in schools. He also holds degrees in Secondary Math Education, Curriculum & Instruction, Educational Administration, and an Education Specialist degree.

As the founder of Dreams Made Real LLC, Dr. Smith equips educators and school leaders across the nation with tools to build inclusive, high-performing cultures through strategic leadership development and intentional school improvement. Dreams Made Real is a proud sponsoring partner of Talk KC’s mentor program, where Dr. Smith also serves on the board to advance the mission of mentoring and empowering youth.

Dr. Smith is a national presenter on topics such as Black male educator recruitment and retention, instructional leadership, school culture, and family engagement. He is the host of The Black Print Podcast,, co-author of Voices Vol. 1 by BMESTL, and the voice behind the leadership blog, The Expelled Principal. A proud member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc.

Dr. Smith believes that when leaders cultivate authentic relationships, activate their teams, and lead with purpose, they create lasting change that shapes both lives and communities.

Takeisha Brown is an accomplished educator and leader with over two decades of experience in teaching and administration. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education from Clark Atlanta University, a master’s in Curriculum and Instruction with an emphasis in Multicultural Education from the University of Missouri–Kansas City, and an Education Specialist degree in Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis from the University of Missouri- Columbia. She is currently pursuing her Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction at UMKC with an interdisciplinary focus, with anticipated graduation in either December or May.

With 10 and a half years as a classroom teacher, 2 years as an instructional coach, and now in her 12th year as an administrator — including 5 years as an assistant principal and 7 years as a principal — Ms. Brown brings a wealth of experience and perspective to her work.

As the only woman on The Talk KC board, she offers a unique voice, blending a nurturing presence with strategic thinking. Her approach emphasizes emotional intelligence, encouraging students and colleagues alike to recognize their own greatness and walk in it. Known for challenging conventional limits, Ms. Brown pushes ideas beyond the obvious, inspiring others to take programs and initiatives to their highest potential. Her interdisciplinary insight — shaped by roles as teacher, coach, and principal — fuels her commitment to shaping opportunities that empower young people to achieve their fullest potential.

Jorge Fuller is an accomplished educator, community leader, and advocate for literacy and youth development. He Holds two degrees, a bachelor's from UMKC and a masters from Northwest Missouri State University, in Educational Administration (K–12). His professional journey spans nearly every role within a school building short of principal, along with leadership in the nonprofit sector. He has served as a charter school instructor, nonprofit manager, district recruiter, and currently works as the Talent and Community Engagement Coordinator for Teachers Like Me. He is also the owner and operator of Fuller for the People LLC.

In addition to his education work, Fuller has been deeply involved in community leadership, serving on multiple boards across the Kansas City area and currently holding a national board position with the American Association for Employing Educators. His contributions have been recognized both inside and outside the education arena, including being named a finalist for Spoken Word at the Kansas City People’s Choice Awards and earning recognition as a model in the Kansas City region.

As an advisor for The Talk KC, Mr. Fuller brings his expertise, extensive network, and lifelong commitment to mentorship, literacy, and character development. He sees these pillars as directly aligned with his own mission, shaped by his three guiding principles from his run for public office: civic relationships, economic progress, and educational prosperity. Mr. Fuller believes that without literacy, educational success is impossible; without emotional intelligence, economic progress cannot be sustained; and without meaningful connection to others, civic engagement cannot thrive. Through his role, he works to ensure The Talk KC’s mission and vision are carried out with intention, providing young Black and Brown boys with the skills, confidence, and brotherhood they need to overcome adversity and succeed in life.

Stanley Taylor Jr. is a seasoned youth services leader, entrepreneur, and advocate for community-based mentorship and literacy. With over 15 years of experience in the youth services industry, he has dedicated his career to creating opportunities for young people to thrive academically, socially, and professionally. His work has spanned key leadership roles, including Youth Programming Assistant Director at the Mary Kelly Center (2012–2017), Site-Based Coordinator and later Director of Development for Communities in Schools (2017–2023), and his current position as Director of Talent for SchoolSmartKC (2023–present).

In addition to his nonprofit leadership, Taylor has over a decade of experience as an entrepreneur, founding and operating multiple businesses. He holds a degree in Computer Science and Information Technology, bringing both technical expertise and strategic business insight to his work.

As an Advisory Board member for The Talk KC, Taylor is committed to advancing the program’s three pillars of mentorship, literacy, and character development. Drawing from his own lived experience of navigating life without a consistent mentor, he leverages his network and resources to connect young Black and Brown boys with opportunities that foster growth, confidence, and leadership. His work with the Kansas City “Unconference” and the Literacy for All initiative underscores his dedication to ensuring that students and educators have access to culturally relevant literacy resources.

Taylor’s mission is to equip the next generation with the tools to succeed, combining his entrepreneurial knowledge, community partnerships, and passion for youth empowerment to help them build legacies, achieve economic independence, and develop the emotional intelligence needed to lead in their communities.

Vincent Gunnels is an educator, mentor, and community leader with nearly two decades of experience serving youth. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice Administration and a master’s degree in Urban Education Administration. Over the past 18 years, he has worked in multiple roles within education and youth development, including special education paraprofessional, behavior intervention specialist overseeing multiple schools, curriculum coordinator, and classroom teacher. For the past eight years, he has taught in the classroom, serving as an AVID site coordinator for four to five years. He is the 2025 Teacher of the Year for Central Middle School and a 2025 KCPS Teacher of the Year finalist.

Beyond the classroom, Gunnels’ impact extends into coaching football, basketball, and track; co-founding BLOC, a Kansas City–based community initiative; tutoring in St. Louis University’s Rising Teacher program; and mentoring through Teachers Like Me since its inception. His work reflects a deep commitment to fostering academic growth, personal accountability, and character development in young people.

As a mentor with The Talk KC, Gunnels draws on his professional expertise, lived experiences, and cultural understanding to create authentic connections with young Black and Brown boys. Growing up in similar neighborhoods and facing many of the same challenges his mentees experience today, he offers guidance that is both relatable and rooted in real-world experience. He believes The Talk KC fills a critical gap by providing safe spaces for young men to discuss personal issues, build literacy skills, and develop emotional intelligence without fear of judgment.

Gunnels’ approach is centered on authenticity, empathy, and accountability. He understands the importance of creating an environment where young men can be vulnerable, learn from mistakes, and still feel a sense of pride and belonging. Through his mentorship, he works to ensure that each boy sees himself as a leader in the making, equipped to navigate life with purpose, confidence, and a supportive brotherhood at his side.

Dr. Caleb Stephens is a 2011 Bachelor of Social Work graduate from Bethel College in Kansas, a 2014 Master of Social Welfare graduate from the University of Kansas, and a 2021 Doctor of Philosophy graduate from the University of Kansas in Performance Studies. He is a dually licensed LSCSW (Licensed Specialist Clinical Social Worker) and LMAC (Licensed Master Addiction Counselor).

Dr. Stephens’ professional experience spans child welfare, addictions, schools, psychiatric residential treatment facilities, work with incarcerated individuals, and over a decade as a community organizer and activist. His research focuses on the Black narrative, safety, hope, empowerment, intentionality, and authenticity. As a student of Kimberlé Crenshaw’s Intersectionality, he applies its principles across all areas of his work and life. Above all, he identifies as a social worker.

As an intersectional clinician, Dr. Stephens is committed to meeting people where they are and applying a deep understanding of how intersecting identities shape lived experiences. His teaching philosophy and clinical praxis center on empowering voices, fostering authentic identity, and supporting informed self-discovery. He believes in a multi-faceted approach to learning and healing, recognizing that individuals have diverse styles, capabilities, and needs. His work embraces both tough conversations and tenderness, grounded in the belief that everyone deserves equitable access to resources and tools.

Dr. Stephens strives to create environments that are naturally therapeutic, where individuals feel rooted, supported, and equipped to do the necessary work to live their best lives. Guided by his belief that “You are worth whatever work it takes to get to wherever you wanna go,” he sees it as an honor to speak truth to power, especially for today’s young people, and to encourage and empower the pursuit of life and joy.