TOPEKA, Kan. – Legendary Kansas City civil rights leader and advocate Alvin Brooks will be a special guest on the latest episode in KTWU’s “Minds That Matter” series that will be filmed on May 22, 2025, in Washburn University’s Andrew J. and Georgia Neese Gray Theatre. Academy Award-winning American film director and screenwriter Kevin Willmott will host the free event, which will include a preview of his latest film, a conversation with Brooks, Q&A with members of the audience and a book signing of Brooks’ autobiography.
Brooks is well known in the Kansas City area for being a life-long civil servant who has been dedicated to making Kansas City a better place for more than six decades. In the documentary, Willmott examines Brooks’ many lives: a child who faced adversity in Arkansas, one of the first Black police officers in Kansas City, an advocate, councilman, civil rights leader, mayor pro tem, founder of the AdHoc Group Against Crime, and others.
The evening begins at 5:30 p.m. when Brooks will sign copies of his autobiography, “Binding Us Together: A Civil Rights Activist Reflects On A Lifetime Of Community And Public Service.” Copies of the book will be available.
At 6 p.m., Willmott will share a preview of his latest film, “The Heroic True-Life Adventures of Alvin Brooks,” followed up by a conversation with Brooks and an audience Q&A.
“The Heroic True-Life Adventures of Alvin Brooks,” will air at 8 p.m. Monday, June 9 on KTWU Channel 11.1.
“Alvin Brooks: A Minds that Matter Presentation” will premiere on KTWU in September 2025. KTWU’s "Minds That Matter" series is dedicated to highlighting notable public figures. Each program incorporates an interview and audience Q&A.
The Center for Peace and Justice, founded in 1985 as the Topeka Peace Resource Center, promotes justice and peace through education and action for social change by working with individuals and organizations in Topeka
KTWU is an Emmy award-winning public television station that provides unique content about Kansas, its people, history and spirit, as well as national PBS content. KTWU, the first public television station in Kansas, has been broadcasting in eastern Kansas and portions of Missouri, Nebraska and Oklahoma since 1965. KTWU is also broadcast on K30AL-LD translator channel in southeast Kansas. Through over-the-air broadcast and carriage on cable and satellite companies, KTWU reaches approximately 1.6 million viewers. The station license is held by Washburn University.
KTWU is a member of PBS (The Public Broadcasting Service), NETA (National Educational Telecommunications Association), the PTPA (Public Television Programming Association), APT (American Public Television) and EPS (Executive Program Services).
For more information about KTWU, see KTWU.ORG, or follow us on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. To watch the livestreams of KTWU Channel 11.1, 11.2 or 11.3, visit ktwu.tv.
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KTWU · 1700 SW College · Topeka, KS · 66621 · 785.670.1111
Media Contact: Shelia A. Summers, Director of Marketing & Promotions
785.670.1111 or shelia.summers@washburn.edu
