On Sunday, February 16, 2025, we joined Sara Glass to learn about the life’s work of Jewish lawyer and civil rights activist Sidney Willens.
Willens, who also happens to be Sara’s grandfather, spent his life in Kansas City as an attorney and activist dedicated to making the world a better place. What can we learn from him about how to make a difference here and now?
Dividing Lines is a tour of the history of residential segregation and its far-reaching impacts. Residential segregation and the racial wealth gap didn't just happen through some automatic human instinct or by chance. Individual actions in tandem with state and federal policies created our current reality. By highlighting the history of segregation in Kansas City, Dividing Lines sheds light on the governmental policies and individual actions which decimated Black neighborhoods all over the United States. (from the jocolibrary.org website)
You can watch the documentary and talk-back session and learn about the driving tour below.
View the Hellraiser Documentary Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lxc_MEPjh4U&t=1s
View the full Hellraiser Documentary: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RFW2BaZEFvc&t=2s
View the Panel Q&A/Discussion from 2/16/25: https://youtu.be/TXQcBIjMobI
Panelists [bios below]: Rabbi Mark Levin, Mark Willens (Sid’s son), Malvin Warrick (family friend),
Alvin Brooks (community organizer), and Lora McDonald from the More2 movement (community organizer)
Find out information about the Diving Lines Driving Tour here: https://www.jocolibrary.org/dividinglines
Click here for the link to take the driving tour: https://voicemap.me/tour/kansas-city/dividing-lines-a-history-of-segregation-in-kansas-city
Sid's memoirs are available online. Check out "The Hellraiser: How to Practice Law in your Pajamas"
https://www.amazon.com/Hellraiser-Sara-Nicole-Glass/dp/B0C5KBVFBC
Thank you so much to our panelists, and to the Federation and the JCRB for their support and help with this event as well as their financial donation to make breakfast happen. Thank you additionally to all of the other individuals who contributed to the breakfast spread. Thank you to the Johnson County Library for creating the audio tour and making it publicly available. Thank you to Beth Torah for their support and for hosting this event. And thank you to philanthropist Greg Patterson, whose idea it was to make this film, along with Metaphor Media for subsidizing the costs of filming and production. Feel free to share with your networks and friends who might be interested in this work.
Panelists
Rabbi Mark H. Levin is the Founding Rabbi of Congregation Beth Torah. He was ordained at the Hebrew Union College in Cincinnati, Ohio in 1976, and retired in 2014. Rabbi Levin holds a doctorate from HUC-JIR, New York, in Rabbinics, and is the author of two books: Praying the Bible: Finding Personal Meaning in the Siddur, Ending Boredom & Making Each Prayer Experience Unique (Jewish Lights, 2016) and To Hear, To Learn, To Teach and To Do: Then Birth of Congregation Beth Torah, Sermons 1988-1996 (Rabbi Mark H. Levin,1996)
Lora McDonald, More2.org and community activist. Lora McDonald grew up in rural Missouri and graduated from the University of Missouri in 1995 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work. While in college, McDonald worked at the Boonville Correctional Center for Men and McCambridge Center for Women. She has worked for public and private organizations including Division of Family Services, The children’s Place, Metro Lutheran Ministry, Cross-Lines Community Outreach, and Kansas City Metropolitan Crime Commission, providing both direct service and macro level program development and administration. McDonald developed and implemented multiple new social service programs in the Kansas City metro area. She started the Coalition of Homeless Youth Service Providers in 2002. She has worked to facilitate change, throughout her career, for individuals and systems. On April 16th , McDonald begins her position as Executive Director of MORE2, “more-squared,” Metro Organization for Racial and Economic Equity. She is most excited about the opportunity of expanding her focus area beyond returning offenders to encompass many of the issues that lead to mass incarceration in our nation and local community, such as education, employment, transportation and systemic classism and racism.
Alvin Brooks, political and civil rights leader.
Alvin L. Brooks (May 3, 1932 - ) is a political and civil rights leader working in Kansas City, Missouri. He was born in North Little Rock, Arkansas, later moving to Kansas City as a child. From 1954-1964 he served as a police officer and, later, a detective for the Kansas City Police Department (KCPD). In the mid-1960s he joined the Division of Urban Education as Coordinator of Parent, Student, and Community Interpretation. In 1968, following the uprisings after the death of Martin Luther King, Jr., Brooks was appointed to organize and then lead the Kansas City Human Relations Department, making him the first Black person to be a department Director in Kansas City government history. In 1972 he was appointed Assistant City Manager. In 1977 he formed AdHoc Group Against Crime, a social intermediary nonprofit organization. He was elected to City Council in 1999, serving the 6th District At-Large. He was re-elected in 2003 and named Mayor Pro-Tem. In 2010 Brooks was appointed to the KCPD Board of Police Commissioners. For his work in public service, he has been honored by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), President George H.W. Bush, the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce, and others.
Mark Willens, Sid’s oldest child and lawyer Mark L. Willens is an experienced Attorney at Law, serving clients at the Law Office of Mark L. Willens since 1985. A dedicated legal professional, Mark has built a strong reputation in the field, with a particular focus on family law. He graduated from the University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC) in 1979, and has spent his entire career practicing law in his hometown of Kansas City, Missouri.
Outside of his legal career, Mark is passionate about biking, enjoying the freedom and adventure that comes with riding. He is a proud father of two daughters and values spending time with family. As someone with a deep appreciation for technology, Mark has a keen interest in all things high-tech, often keeping up with the latest innovations.
Mark’s work and personal passions keep him engaged and active in his community. His blend of professional expertise, love for family, and enthusiasm for technology make him a well-rounded and dynamic individual.
Malvin Warrick, long time family friend and son of Calvin Warrick, one of Sidney’s dear friends, mentors, and business partner. Malvin Warrick is an accomplished executive with a wealth of experience in personal and leadership development. He earned his Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Industrial Engineering from Iowa State University, where he was an active leader on the varsity basketball team, serving as Co-Captain, and involved in the National Society of Black Engineers and minority recruiting efforts. Prior to this, he attended Purdue University, earning his Bachelor of Engineering (B.E.) in Industrial Engineering and competing in varsity basketball. With a diverse skill set honed through years of experience, Malvin has made significant contributions in areas like capital planning, supply chain optimization, and leadership development. He has a passion for mentoring and helping others grow both professionally and personally. His career also includes expertise in business development, marketing strategy, public speaking, change management, and process improvement.
Outside of his professional life, Malvin is deeply committed to his family, spending quality time with his wife,, their three, and his granddaughter. He enjoys sports, music, ministry, and engaging in community service, all of which fuel his desire to make a positive impact on those around him. Malvin is also an experienced public speaker and dedicated coach, leveraging his leadership skills to inspire others to reach their full potential.