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Alvin Brooks, Kansas City’s ultimate civil servant

Alvin Brooks was a former Kansas City police officer when he started Ad Hoc Group Against Crime in 1977.
Paul Andrews
/
KCUR 89.3
Alvin Brooks was a former Kansas City police officer when he started Ad Hoc Group Against Crime in 1977.

Alvin Brooks is a public figure who has served as a bridge in Kansas City for decades. He was one of the city’s first Black police officers, an educator, a leader in the civil rights movement, a founder of Ad Hoc Group Against Crime and almost a Kansas City mayor. Yet few know about his personal life and the internal struggles he’s faced. KCUR’s Reginald David talks to Brooks about the moments in his life that shaped him and pushed him to fight for a better Kansas City.

This episode of A People's History of Kansas City was reported by Reginald David and produced and mixed by Suzanne Hogan, with editing by Mackenzie Martin and C.J. Janovy.

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As an assistant producer on Up To Date, my goal is to amplify voices of people who serve as pioneers in their respective fields while shedding light on issues that affect underserved communities. I produce daily conversations to uplift and inspire the people of the Kansas City area to make the world a better place. You can reach me at reginalddavid@kcur.org.
As managing podcast producer for KCUR Studios and a host of A People’s History of Kansas City, I want to feed your curious mind, offer historical context so you understand why things are the way they are, and introduce you to the people working to make a difference behind the scenes. Reach me at hogansm@kcur.org.
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