368: Women Speak — Gender Equity Task Force Chair Stresses Importance of Equity vs. Equality

On this week’s episode of Women Speak — a segment on Northeast Newscast — hosts Northeast News Editor-in-Chief, Julia Williams and former Missouri House Representative for District 19 Ingrid Burnett sat down with Chair of Gender Equity Task Force of Kansas City Human Rights Commission Alice Kitchen to wrap up our series on women who influence policy.

This marks the 10th and final episode of the women who influence policy series for Women Speak. Following this episode, this segment will introduce a new series where Burnett and Williams highlight the history of women in their fields.  

Throughout this episode, Kitchen delves into the Gender Equity Task Force Commission in Kansas City, how she got involved and how the commission has evolved over the years into what it is today. She discusses policies and resources the Task Force has worked on and is currently working on including hosting an upcoming listening session in October, which will include data collected from the Jackson County Prosecutor's Office on domestic violence prevention. Kitchen also shares important women in her life who have inspired and motivated her along the way. 

Burnett, Williams share final conversations on happenings in the Missouri State Capitol in Jefferson City. Burnett discusses the Missouri Ethics Commission and its lack of quorum, which has remained since January when former Missouri Gov. Mike Parsons withdrew two appointed Ethics Commission Members. Now Gov. Kehoe has yet to fill those vacancies, but has begun interviews with potential candidates. Kitchen goes on to mention that the Missouri Ethics Commission is not the only commission in Missouri that has vacant seats. This includes various spots in Kansas City to which many people have applied, but appointments have yet to be made. 

*This episode was recorded on June 24. The Missouri Ethics Commission has six seats, which are appointed by the Missouri Governor. To have a quorum, four of those six seats must be filled. While on June 16, 2025, Governor Mike Kehoe appointed five new members to various boards and commissions throughout Missouri, he has not yet appointed any additional members to the Missouri Ethics Commission.*

Music used within this Women Speak episode is a song called “I Wish I Knew You Then” by Kansas City local artist Honeybee and the group’s lead female vocalist, Makayla Scott. 

“I Wish I Knew You Then” is a recent single, which Honeybee released in March 2025.  Honeybee’s latest single “Lindenlure,” was released on May 30 and is now available on its streaming platforms. 2025 singles “I Wish I Knew You Then,” “Charmed Life” and “Lindenlure” as well as additional Honeybee tracks are available on Spotify, Apple Music, Youtube, TIDAL and Youtube Music. 

*Disclaimer* I Wish I Knew You Then and any previous or future Honeybee songs used by The Northeast News within the Women Speak podcasts are courtesy of and approved by Makayla Scott and Honeybee under proper copyright law. Honeybee songs are not royalty free nor subject to free use and should not be used by additional publications or organizations without proper consent. 

This podcast as well as all Women Speak episodes are made possible by The Northeast News, Northeast Kansas City Chamber of Commerce and Independence Avenue Community Improvement District.