Board of Directors

Meet the Board

Brandi Finocchario

Immediate Past Chair
Brandi Finocchario

After earning her Masters of Public Policy from George Mason University in 2011, Ms. Finocchario transitioned from Education to Healthcare to explore her newfound passion.  Through that, she has had the opportunity to work for various non-profits in roles surrounding process and quality improvement, safety, compliance, and risk management.  Though she works in healthcare, she has never lost her passion for her first love – education.

Selina Rios

Board Chair
Selina Rios

Selina Rios is a certified racial equity strategist & educational equity advocate who believes in the power of young people.  In her 14 years with City Year, Selina has led and supported teams of young people working in schools to support and mentor students in Cleveland, Tulsa, & Kansas City.  In her current role as Director of Equity Strategy & Operations with City Year’s Office of Equity, she is primarily responsible for developing and implementing City Year’s internal DEI strategy to deliver an integrated approach aligned with the mission and values.

Selina is a 2019 Surge Academy Fellow and a 2024 Cambiar Catalyst Fellow.  She enjoys photography, gardening, and spending time with her 10-year-old rescue pup, Benjamin.

Jim MacDonald

Board Member
Jim MacDonald
Jim MacDonald is the Senior Vice-President for Community Investment and Agency Relations at United Way of Greater Kansas City.  In his role with United Way, Jim is responsible for managing a portfolio of $15 million worth of annual investments in health and human service programs throughout Greater Kansas City.  Jim also oversees a range of projects and initiatives aimed at combating poverty and building financial stability among low-income families.  Jim has worked for United Way in various capacities for 29 years, having served with the United Ways in Kansas City and Jacksonville, Florida.  Jim holds a BA from the University of Notre Dame.  Jim and his husband Andy are actively involved in efforts to promote LBGT equality in Kansas City, particularly on behalf of LGBT youth and families.  Jim is a long-standing member of the City of Kansas City’s Public Improvements Advisory Committee and a 25-year resident of midtown Kansas City.  Jim and Andy are proud parents of a CWCKC student.  They live with their daughter in the Volker neighborhood.

Hon. Ardie Bland

Board Secretary
Hon. Ardie Bland
Judge Ardie Bland is a Municipal Court Judge for the 16th Judicial Circuit Court of Missouri – Kansas City Municipal Division. Judge Bland is a native of Kansas City, Missouri and graduated from Lincoln College Preparatory Academy in 1988. Bland attended and graduated from Truman State University with a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Economics.  After graduation, he attended Drake University Law School in Des Moines, IA, where he worked in the law clinic for the indigent and the Trial Advocacy Team.  In 1995, he returned home to Kansas City, MO to practice law.  While working at the Social Security Administration, he became extremely passionate and knowledgeable of the physical and mental health diagnoses and their impacts on an individual’s ability to function in society.

After later representing clients for a number of years in his law firm, Ardie Bland wanted to have a bigger impact on his community, and he sought the position of Judge to try to make a difference from the bench.  In 2008, Judge Ardie A. Bland was appointed by Mayor Mark Funkhouser and the Kansas City Council, Division 205, for the 16th Judicial Circuit Court of Missouri.  In 2009, Judge Bland presided over the first Veteran’s Treatment Court in the State of Missouri which has worked in conjunction with the Veterans Administration to help hundreds of veterans in the greater Kanas City metropolitan area to deal with issues of substance abuse, homelessness, unemployment and mental health issues such as PTSD.

Judge Bland continued to make an impact throughout the community by also presiding over the Truancy Court from 2012 to 2015.  Under his direction, more than 400 students from the various school districts serving Kansas City, Missouri successfully completed the intervention program which reports a 3 percent recidivism rate.  Attendance rates for students completing Truancy Court increased between 5 to 25 percent.  In 2015, he became presiding judge over the Kansas City, Missouri, Mental Health Court, where he was able to help individuals with mental illness connect with mental health service providers, obtain treatment, and stay medicated without being incarcerated in an attempt to reduce police interaction and harm to the individual or the community.  Judge Bland enjoys his current work with both courts because he is able to focus on treatment and rehabilitation rather than punishment.

Lydia Butler

Board Treasurer
Lydia Butler
Lydia is a CFO Consultant with e2E – entrepreneur to Enterprise.  In this role, she serves as a fractional Chief Financial Officer for multiple local non-profit organizations and small businesses.   Lydia began her career in public accounting, later moving into corporate finance and executive leadership roles in industries ranging from telecommunications to financials services to natural foods.  She has been an active community volunteer her entire adult life, serving on boards of directors for non-profits in performing arts and health and social services organizations.

Angela DeWilde

Board Vice-Chair
Angela DeWilde

Angela DeWilde (“duh-WILL-dee”) (she/her) is committed to lifting Parent voice and power, strengthening the early childhood and K-12 education ecosystem, and promoting racial and economic equity.

Angela began her career as a teacher before founding an organization called Start at Zero, a Kansas City nonprofit with the mission of partnering with parents and caregivers to promote healthy early childhood development.  After growing the organization and serving as the Executive Director for 7 years, she briefly served as the Interim Executive Director of Show Me KC Schools before becoming an education consultant for SchoolSmartKC.  Angela is currently working on an initiative that strengthens the connection between schools and social service agencies in the areas of food security, housing stability, and mental health.

Angela grew up in rural southeast Missouri, attended college at Webster University in St. Louis, and has been honored to call Kansas City, Missouri home since 2006.  Angela lives with her husband Anthony and their two children, who were past students at CWCKC and are growing up much too quickly. 🙂

Roosevelt Lyons

Board Member
Roosevelt Lyons
In addition to serving as a part-time instructor for KU’s Public Management Center, Roosevelt is the Vice-President of Advocacy for Quality Schools Coalition.  In that role, he helps engage stakeholders and mobilize community members to improve Missouri’s public education system.  Prior to joining Quality Schools Coalition, Roosevelt was the Chief Operating Officer at a local charter school, where he provided oversight of financials, human resources, school compliance, and school operations.  Previously, Roosevelt worked for the City of Kansas City, MO.  During his 10-year career with the City, Roosevelt held a number of titles including Interim Director of KC Parks and Senior Advisor in the Office of Mayor Sly James.  Roosevelt served as the Regional Field Director for the Democratic National Committee in Kansas City.  He holds a BS in Liberal Studies and Masters of Public Administration.  Roosevelt has two daughters and resides in Kansas City.

Sophia Bond

Board Member
Sophia Bond
Ms. Bond is a Kansas City, Kansas native and has spent most of her life continuously falling in love with the Kansas City metro.  Sophia attended Saint Louis University where she received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and African American Studies.  Sophia attended law school at the University of Missouri- Kansas City School of Law, and took several courses focused on litigation and family law.  Currently, Sophia is a supervising attorney with the federal government, where she specializes in civil rights, the Freedom of Information Act, contracts, grants, ethics, and employment.  Additionally, Sophia is a former Attorney with the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Civil Rights and former Supervising Attorney for the Juvenile Officer at the Jackson County, Missouri Family Court.  Sophia has also practiced social security law, disability law, and criminal defense.  Further, Sophia is an Assistant Adjunct Professor at the Johnson County Community College, Guardian Ad Litem for abused and neglected children in Jackson County, Missouri, and Missouri Rule 17 mediator.  In Sophia’s free time she enjoys traveling, spending time with her family, and reading crime dramas.

James Brown

Board Member
James Brown
Mr. Brown was born and raised in Kansas City, MO and graduated from a local charter school.  He attended the University of Missouri – Columbia, earning a Bachelor’s degree in Parks, Recreation, and Tourism focused in Sport Management with a minor in Business.  His education career started at another charter school and coached football at a district school.  He returned to his own education to pursue his masters degree, obtaining a Masters of Science in Finance from the University of Missouri – Kansas City.  Mr. Brown currently works as an investment professional at a local asset management company.

Board Committees

In addition to these nine Board Members, CWC Kansas City is fortunate to have additional community members serving on focused committees to aid in our operation. They are:

Academic Excellence Committee

Oversight and guidance in the area of annual academic performance goals, organizational culture, and accountability of diversity and inclusion issues within the school.

  • Dr. Sarah Hicks, Co-Chair
  • Selina Rios, Co-Chair
  • Dr. Danielle Miles, Staff
  • Johanna Chambers, Staff
  • Sara Nelson, Staff
  • Dominique Betts, Staff

Audit Committee

Oversight and guidance in the area of our annual audit and financial reporting.

  • Ryan Brennan, Staff

Brand Identity Committee

Oversight and guidance in the area of our national partnership.

  • Angela DeWilde, Chair
  • Ardie Bland
  • Roosevelt Lyons
  • Jim MacDonald
  • Dr. Danielle Miles, Staff

Executive Committee

Oversight and guidance in the area of Board governance, policy, strategic planning, and Committee coordination.

  • Brandi Finocharrio, Chair
  • Dr. Sarah Hicks
  • Selina Rios
  • Dr. Danielle Miles, Staff
  • Ryan Brennan, Staff

Finance & Operations Committee

Oversight and guidance in the area of fiscal sustainability and responsibility.

  • Lydia Butler, Chair
  • Brandi Finocchario
  • Dr. Danielle Miles, Staff
  • Ryan Brennan, Staff
  • Dede Palmer
  • Jeff Phillips

Financial Audits

CWC Kansas City is committed to financial transparency and as such, we have our financial statements independently audited.

  • Our auditor’s report for the Fiscal Year ending June 30, 2016 can be found here.
  • Our auditor’s report for the Fiscal Year ending June 30, 2017 can be found here.
  • Our auditor’s report for the Fiscal Year ending June 30, 2018 can be found here.
  • Our auditor’s report for the Fiscal Year ending June 30, 2019 can be found here.
  • Our auditor’s report for the Fiscal Year ending June 30, 2020 can be found here.
  • Our auditor’s report for the Fiscal Year ending June 30, 2021 can be found here.
  • Our auditor’s report for the Fiscal Year ending June 30, 2022 can be found here.
  • Our auditor’s report for the Fiscal Year ending June 30, 2023 can be found here.
  • Our auditor’s report for the Fiscal Year ending June 30, 2024 can be found here.

Our organization earned a 2021 Gold Seal of Transparency! Now, everyone can view our financial details and learn about the people at our organization. Check out our updated #NonprofitProfile on Candid.

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