Jarrett Meek, MDiv, Founder, Executive Director/Pastor at Mission Adelante, Inc.

Jarrett is the founder of Mission Adelante. A graduate of Midwestern Baptist Seminary, Jarrett served for several years on the staff of Heartland Community Church in Overland Park before moving to Bolivia with his wife Kristen and two daughters to work as missionaries. When they returned they found a mission field right here at home. Now the Meek family lives in Kansas City, Kansas. Jarrett is passionate about disciple-making, biblical justice, and gardening.  

Ariel Griffin, M.A. Global Policy, MSE, Secretary, Program Officer, Children International, Youth Minister at Kairos Church

As a 2011 Mission Adelante ESL intern and a former LIT volunteer, Ariel Griffin is passionate about access to education, immigrant rights, and REI (race,equity, and inclusion). Additionally, Ariel Griffin taught for seven years in private, charter and public schools in various countries and U.S. states. While teaching, she served on a district- wide committee for Socio-Emotional Learning (SEL) and the school site team for AVID – a national program committed to closing the achievement gap in education. Ariel holds two master's degrees - teaching and global policy studies (international development). Now, Ariel works as a Program Officer for Education at Children International, which allows her to combine her policy education along with her practical experience in the classroom. Since 2020, she has led the organization in its global Digital Learning work so that children all over the world have access to quality virtual learning programs. Apart from her professional experience, Ariel serves with her husband as a youth minister for Kairos Church (Grandview, MO). On Saturday mornings, you can usually find Ariel going on a stroller run or bike ride with her two year old in South KC.

Kori S. Carew, Director, Chief Inclusion & Diversity Officer, Seyfarth Shaw LLP and Founder/Speaker Bridge 68 LLC

Kori is a people inclusion strategist, advocate, speaker, writer, status quo disruptor, child of God, wife and mother of two curly-haired, wise, energetic, fierce, spitfire daughters. A trained attorney who graduated from Drake Law School with an undergraduate degree in Politics of Underdevelopment and minors in Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics, her life experience includes a family that is multi-ethnic, multi-racial, multi-religious and spans multiple nationalities. She brings a fierce love of community and belonging that transcends differences to her work, ministry, and life.  At her day job she focuses on developing and implementing strategies for individual career and diversity and inclusion success, and helps organizations build bridges across differences and improve inclusion. Kori focuses her voice and talent on issues of gender equity and rights, inclusion, human and civil rights, serving in her church and community, and cherishing her phenomenal tribe and community. She is energized by helping people live their best lives including being a voice for marginalized people. Kori is also a wife to Gary Baack and mother to Riley and Samarah.

Israel Guillermo, M.A. Project Management, Director, Application Developer at Crema

Israel graduated from MidAmerica Nazarene University with a Bacherlor’s degree in Business Administration. While working in insurance for over six years, Israel also pursued his passion for technology by teaching himself programming and seeking additional education. He then transitioned into an application developer role in 2020. Israel was born in the small town of Tres Valles in Veracruz, Mexico. Having experienced the difficulties of learning a new language, adjusting to a new culture and living in a different country, Israel is passionate about supporting, serving and including the immigrant community. He enjoys photography, hiking, being outside and playing in his church’s worship team. Israel and his wife, Danielle, live in Olathe.

Steve Steddom, PhD, Director–Philanthropy and non-profit consultant, Steddom Advisors, LLC.

Steve recently completed 17 years of service for the Harry J. Lloyd Charitable Trust, serving as Executive Director and as Program Officer. Previously, he has held various marketing and account management roles with Westlaw-Thomson Reuters over 19 years. He has recently earned a PhD from Middlesex University in London. His research interest centers on the intersection of faith and philanthropy for the millennial generation of the evangelical church in America. In his role with the Trust, Steve became intimately familiar with the unique and important vision of Mission Adelante and is now sharing in that mission as part of the board. Steve and his wife, Kelly, have two adult children and one granddaughter. So, yes, he is old!

Nayeli Flores Morales, MBA, Director - President of Red Global MX Capitulo KS & MO, Entrepreneur  

Nayeli is a faith filled woman that by God’s grace and favor had the opportunity to travel the world, learn about different cultures, and accomplish many dreams of her heart. 

She has a bachelor 's degree in Marketing and an MBA from Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona. She came to Kansas City in 2014 with a job promotion, but since 2021 she has pursued the development of businesses in Mexico. During her time in the United States, she has been engaged with the community and pursued different serving opportunities with her local church, the Mexican Consulate, and other organizations. Her passion is to empower people and see them thrive wherever they are.

Felipe Ham, Director, Developer III at Sprint Nextel Corp.

Felipe has worked as a software developer for Sprint since 2005. He graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science from the IEST in his hometown of Tampico, Mexico and has worked in the Information Technology field since 1994. Felipe and his family are founding members of Mission Adelante and live in Kansas City, KS. His passion for social justice and for the elevation of underrepresented and underprivileged people make Mission Adelante a ministry where he feels at home.

Michael Fry, Chairperson andTreasurer, Co-founder & CEO of Brown Button Estate Sales

Michael Fry is the co-founder &  CEO of Brown Button, which serves high net worth individuals through luxury estate sales & curated auctions. Brown Button has won numerous awards in KC for their growth & culture as well as national recognition with inclusion in the INC 5000 list in 2017 & 2018. Michael is also founder of the non-profit National Estate Sale Association. He lives in Olathe with his wife. Lindsay, and four kids.

Wendy English, Director, Sr. Corporate Recruiter/HR professional

Wendy is a Kansas City transplant from the great state of Oklahoma. She is passionate about justice and bringing others into a place of empathy and understanding. Wendy is people focused and looks for ways to connect with others who come from different backgrounds. She is a lifelong learner who values relationships and looks for ways to be more inclusive. Wendy strives to be not just a hearer of the Word of God, but a doer also.

Reid Kapple, MDiv., Director

Reid has been in pastoral ministry since 2008 in the Kansas City area where he has served with people from a wide range of ages and backgrounds. Reid received his B.S. in Rhetoric at Kansas State University and went on to complete his MDiv from SBTS. He and his wife Megan have been married since 2005 and are blessed with three daughters (Lula, Jane, Pearl) and one son (Edmund). Reid finds joy in guiding others into the fullness of life found in the kingdom of Jesus which impacts and influences every part of life. Additionally he enjoys obstacle course races, fish tacos, and repeating stories.

Amy Hill, M.A. Education Technology
Amy lives in Olathe, Kansas with her husband, Brian, and their two boys.  She graduated from Pittsburg State University with a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education, as well as MidAmerica Nazarene University with a Master’s degree in Education Technology.  After teaching fourth grade for several years, she pivoted to raising her two boys.  As they have grown, she is able to dedicate more time to volunteering and advocacy.  She currently teaches an ESL class at Mission Southside and provides leadership for her church’s Multicultural Family Team.  Amy has a passion for pursuing racial justice, fostering multiethnic spaces, and advocating for immigrants.   She loves spending time at the lake, hiking, and reading.  Her family thinks she has way too many books and plants.