Tuesday, April 14, 2015

Happy 80th Geraldine Strader, 14 Apr 2015


1935 - 2015

Today would have been your 80th! Geraldine Strader, I'm honored to call you my Mother. 
A life well lived.
If I can help somebody as I travel along

If I can help somebody with a word or song
If I can help somebody from doing wrong
My living shall not be in vain.

If I can do my duty as a Christian ought,
If I can bring back beauty to a world up-wrought,
If I can spread love’s message that the Master taught,
Then my living shall not be in vain

Missing you with a broken heart. 
Your forever daughter, Kathleen

Thursday, April 9, 2015

The Emporia Gazette Newspaper, 8 Aug 2015

Posted: Wednesday, April 8, 2015 1:21 pm

The life of Geraldine Strader, an esteemed alumna of both The Teachers College and the School of Library and Information Management at Emporia State University, will be celebrated with an 80th birthday reception on Friday, April 10.

The reception will be held from 2 to 3:30 p.m. in the Learning Commons of the William Allen White Library on the ESU campus. The community is invited.

While a student at The Teachers College, Strader was one of only eight African-American students enrolled at Emporia State and one of the first African-American women to live in Abigail Morse Hall. Graduating with a bachelor’s degree in foreign languages (French and Spanish) and home economics in 1957, Strader went on to earn a master’s in librarianship in 1967. As a life-long learner, she continued her studies at the University of Kansas in education, earning a specialist degree and completing all the necessary course work for a Ph.D.

Strader put all of this learning to work with USD 500 in Kansas City, Kansas, as a librarian at Northeast Junior High School, Washington High School and F.L. Schlagle High School, retiring in 1995. Before her 32 years in Kansas City, she taught Spanish and French at Topeka West High and library science at Emporia State, St. Mary’s College and Wichita State University.

In addition to her professional career, Strader was a world traveler, visiting Central and South America, Africa, Asia and Europe. After her retirement, she became an expert quilter. She was an active community advocate and taught quilting to the students of Oak Ridge Freedom School and at the KCK Shepherd’s Center. She was also a long-time member of the Pierian Literary Club, which was founded in 1894 and is one of the oldest African-American literary clubs.

Strader lived as a pioneer during the civil rights era and served as a role model for all who followed. As a high school librarian, she helped all students enjoy freedom of access to information, develop critical thinking skills and learn to use their education to add to their enjoyment of life.

The faculty and staff of the School of Library and Information Management and the William Allen White Library invite the community to join them in celebrating the extraordinary life of  Strader, who passed away in 2014.


Said Dr. Gwen Alexander, dean of the School of Library and Information Management: “We are remembering Geraldine’s many contributions to breaking barriers for African-American women and the role of the library in high school education at her 80th birthday party with music, refreshments, a quilt display of her work and memories of a life well-lived.

Saturday, March 21, 2015

80th Birthday Celebration - Emporia State University for Strader

As the children of Geraldine (Morris) Strader we became accustomed at a young age to sharing Mother with the various communities that she championed. She invoked change through excellence. So, we were not surprised, but yet honored, when Emporia State University, the Dean of the Library and Information Management School, Gwen Alexander; Dean of the Libraries, John Sheridan; and Director of Alumni Relations, Tyler Curtis, extended an invitation to her 80th birthday Tribute to the community.  This event was supported by Maurice Gray and Jason Brooks, the Director of Diversity and Inclusion, and planned by Angelica Hale. 

We thank all of you for your planning efforts and public acknowledgment of the positive influence Geraldine Strader had on the Library Science program of Emporia State University and in bridging racial barriers for future generations.  

We look forward to meeting all of the organizers and celebrating with  friends of Geraldine Strader at her 80th birthday Emporia State University Tribute. 

May we all celebrate the struggles and life of our ancestors. 

The Strader Children
John and Kathleen (Strader) Brandt
Todd Strader
Rhett Strader

Monday, March 9, 2015

Let's Not Ride In On the White Horse of Deceit


I love horses way too much to let them be a symbol of deceit. So If you wish to make false statements, let it not be from the back of a beautiful white horse while you give the illusion of riding in and saving the Strader Family. Matter of fact, get off the horse, walk in to work, and do a stellar job for what the citizens of Wyandotte County and the State of Kansas expect (and pay for) you to do.
If You See This Statement 
(or any variation of the message)

The assistant district attorney said they reached the plea agreement to avoid putting the family through a lengthy trial.  

Please Post This Answer
(or forward to me the link): 

At no time did the Strader Family request to avoid a lengthy trial. Nor was this solution palatable for the family. The plea agreement was presented to the family, and our concerns were not satisfactorily addressed by the District Attorney's Office. The family would have much preferred to have had this case go to trial, but that option was not presented. We are a strong family, and could have handled, with dignity, a fair trial vs. a failed backroom plea agreement, in which even Joshua Brazeal denied involvement. 

The Strader Family met with Asst. District Attorney Shawn Boyd for 48 minutes on 19 Dec 2014. A follow up phone call on 29 Jan 2015 provided details on additional dropped charges that were approved by the District Attorney's Office. 


Kathleen Strader
justice4Strader@gmail.com

Left With Questions by Those In Power - Questions from Todd Strader


With Great Power Comes Responsibilities 
On 6 March 2015 Todd Strader, son of Geraldine Strader, stood up and spoke to Judge Bill Klapper. He repeated the same questions he had posed just three months earlier on 19 Dec 2014 to Assistant District Prosecutor Shawn Boyd. He spoke for the family, for the community, for the friends of 79 year old Geraldine Strader. The unanswered questions are still nagging at all and Shawn Boyd and the District Attorney's office must know by now, that this group of educators, lawyers, entrepreneurs and the blue color working class and the unemployed voters are willing to fill another courtroom to get answers. We still want to know! But this time, we want the truth, not the hemming and hawing that has obviously worked for other victims and their families while trying to get  through the Wyandotte County judicial system;  not the blatant misstatements and quotes that are issued out as a final case dismissal to those without resources. These seekers of truth want real answers because underneath this truth,  we believe an inevitable change is waiting. 

What family and friends are living
with is what seemingly appears to be a
disregard for life for an underlying  purpose.

Todd Strader's Questions Are Our Questions? 
"I often ask myself and others how can one’s death not align with their life and their works on this earth? Then I catch myself and ask the real questions, How can one who doesn't have a valid drivers license kill my mother? How can one in possession of a stolen car not be charged? How can one who fails to yield to police not be charged with eluding? How can one who is seen speeding by police seconds before killing my mother not be charged with driving too fast for conditions? How does a convicted felon obtain a gun? How can one that entered my mom's designated lane to kill her not be charged with failure to maintain lane? How can one have the audacity to plea to 41 months for recklessly taking a life? "
Why was it so important to the
State to minimize the charges?

What Role Did Others Play
What family and friends are living with is what seemingly appears to be a disregard for life for an underlying  purpose. Todd's question gives us pause. Hmmmm?  It's not just about the crimes committed by Brazeal, but logical minds flirt with deeper meanings.  What roles did others at the scene play? What conflicting information has been disseminated between the family's first encounter with Men in Blue in the Trauma room to the Dec 19 meeting with the Shawn Boyd at the District Attorney's office? Why is it that the family and reporters were initially given one story with confidence, but were fed perpetual blatant versions of the story just weeks later. Changes that continued up to 29 January 2015.  

Joshua Brazeal admitted guilt to the 5 crimes committed, two of which were dropped (one a felon) as part of an aggressive his plea deal. Out of about 10 violations the Judge only received three final charges by the District Attorney's office, yielding Brazeal 78 months to concentrate on his efforts to changing his life from a criminal to an asset to the community. Lenient or not Brazeal has to live up to his responsibilities to serve time in exchange for his actions. And the Strader Family and friends will pray and encourage him for his success. We bid him well - that  he will leave the Kansas Correctional Facility as a renewed man with purpose. 

But what about the others involved?
What appears to be a disregard of justice by the District Attorney's office cannot be swept under the architecture of 710 N. 7th St.  Why did Shawn Boyd accept Brazeal's  inaccurate account of the incident at the Court Plea? If Boyd had done the most cursory of reading (even reviewed the police report) he would have known that there was no stop sign on 38th and Haskell going north/south as Brazeal had boldly stated in front of the Judge, in front of Boyd who was entering the charges.

Why is a disregard of truth to the Court
 acceptable by the District Attorney's office? 

A thorough District Attorney would have known the car used at the scene was stolen. A District Attorney would have known the car's owners had made a stolen vehicle claims, with a proper police report number filed. ( I have a copy, why didn't the District Attorney?) He would have had it in his file as evidence of correction when Brazeal falsely made these claims in front of the Judge on 29th of January. Why is a disregard of truth to the Court acceptable by the District Attorney's office? This is epidemic and must be addressed. 

As Todd gives us permission to question, we ask for the truth. Not the changing truths as have been issued  to the family from conversations with the Police Dept and the District Attoreny's office, but the actual events that happened that fatal day. We are asking for transparency, not answers to appease. Transparency is what Wyandotte County citizens and those across the nation are requesting. Transparency, responsibility and accountability especially from those who have the power to protect and serve. This is vital to protecting innocent citizens.  

  Transparency is what Wyandotte County citizens and those across the nation are requesting. 

And, in this case knowing what exactly happened from the initial Kansas City Kansas Police pursuit of Officer T. Bennett on 18th and Central Avenue to the fatal crash on 38th and Haskell is vital to properly assessing responsibility and accountability. It may even answer some of Todd's questions. 

We want to know all the officers who played a role, not just a few.  There was a city-wide effort to catch Joshua Brazeal. So we want to know why was there an even wider net cast in the effort to reduce his criminal's charges? Why was it so important to the State to minimize the charges? And, why was it so important to accept the most ridiculous leniency in a plea agreement? Who was really being protected?.

Kathleen Strader
justice4strader@gmail.com

Sunday, March 8, 2015

The Judicial Dial Inched Forward


As a review, here is the link to KCTV5 review. Here is also the link to the Kansas City Star newspaper that gives a great overview of court case. 

The courtroom, albeit was small, was packed. Family, friends, and community leaders to include Senator David Haley (a close family friend since 1964) was present. The Judge entered with the impressive stack of letters that were submitted from those who were confounded by the lenient 41 month plea deal made between the Defense Attorney and District Attorney's Office (Wyandotte County, KS.)

Many wrote on the loss of a community activist - their friend, their mentor - Geraldine Strader.  When I arrived, at the Courthouse, the local TV channels were already prepping for the coverage of the case. Emily Rittman, from KCTV5, was reading the We Care - Geraldine Strader blog set up to keep the citizens involved; to inform them of Joshua Brazeal’s prison records; to understand the dissatisfaction of lack of answers provided by the District Attorney’s office to the family.

During Court
Many in the court wanted to share who Geraldine was to them.  John Brandt, son-in-law, lead off by sharing his relationship with Geraldine, and purposefully and passionately moved to the untimely death and the expected accountability of Joshua Brazeal . Then son Todd Strader posed questions to the Court wondering how was it possible that there was a slew of violations and yet only 3 made it to the Judge's desk. Then Laura Brazeal, the older sister of Joshua, begged the Judge to assist her in helping her brother get out of the life of crime. “Make him accountable” was her message. She had not seen her brother in a year and a half. When Laura introduced herself, Brazeal never looked back, but his Defense Attorney did, the District Attorney did, but the Strader family just comforted her as she sobbed through her plea. A best friend, Melba Hall spoke of the loss to the community, Maggie Townsend, her 1st cousin spoke of the personal and family loss, Keith Jones III spoke of his "GranGran." Their non-bloodline bond was strong and Geraldine treated him as one of her own grandsons.  Senator David Haley, spoke of his Aunt Gerry, the love of her welcoming home and the community loss.  And lastly Mr. Wheeler, her neighbor for over 40 years tearfully shared his loss of a women he "loved", one who treated him like a brother.

The Judge, Defense Attorney and District Attorney
The Asst. District Attorney, Shawn Boyd, shockingly shared few words. This was the man who spent 48 minutes (I timed it with my LiveScribe pen) "babbling nonsensical to the family and failed to explain the possible charges that were ignored (at least one being the felony of elluding and or failing to yield to the police. The Prosecutor also failed to explain the reasoning of dropping additional charges to include the felony of leaving the scene of an accident and the repeat offense of driving with a suspended license as part of the rather generous plea deal.


The Strader Family met with
Asst. District Attorney, Shawn Boyd, 19 Dec 2014.
Notice of additional dropped
charges given by phone on 29 Jan 2015

The Defense Attorney performed an impressive speech of explaining how the letters, community and friends were insignificant, and demonstrated lack of knowledge of  how the law worked and how the 41 month plea agreement was perfectly fine for taking a life due to negligence. He downplayed Brazeal’s criminal history -the 15 pages of offenses that was circulating the courtroom in a manila folder.  It pays to be a Researcher/Private Investigator who knows the public records resources, or this expert performance would have been overshadowed by the truth.

I wonder if the Judge would have accepted the plea agreement if the courtroom were not filled, if the letters were not overflowing, if social media, Google+, Facebook and the blog was not readily available. But this was not an ignorant crowd, but a room filled with educators, some with resumes and CV’s filled of post graduate degrees. These observers well represented KCK, Wyandotte County. The audience had in it at least one millionaire and several concerned quilt students some from the poorest areas of KCK. There were those who are accomplished in their own field. There were young men in their 20’s and the a senior friend who could boast of her 83years.  The audience was half African American and half Caucasian.  Geraldine loved them all - young, old, rich, poor, black, white. Her only requirement was you must love food. 

The Ruling
To the Defense Attorney the Judge asked for final comments.
Answer: blah, blah, blah. But what did stand out was something that made a reference to Your Honor to not follow the plea agreement before you, is to change long standing practices.

"Shawn," (the Judge consistently called the Asst. District Attorney by first name, which may be normal due to the fact that they are both alums of Washburn and are practically neighbors in KCK), "do you have any comments?"
Answer: “No Your Honor”was the gist of the Prosecutor's response as he quickly lowered his head once again.

Mr. Brazeal, any optional comments?. The Defense Attorney shook his head in his stead, but Joshua Brazeal stood to speak. We thought he would apologize to the family, anything to get the lower plea. But shockingly, he stated that he did not think the plea bargain was fair. That 41 months for killing a woman was not fair. That he never asked for 41 months.  The District Attorney's face took on a Kodak moment (but no cameras allowed). Sister Laura sobbed openly with love. It was a step towards taking responsibility so quickly after she had requested it just a few minutes before. A sign of remorse, a sign of wanting to make personal changes. Perhaps a life to leave the criminal life he had known since the age of 16 (according to criminal history records). 

Then….a preamble by Judge Bill Klapper followed a low voice of something on the line of  "I am not going to follow the plea agreement." There was an audible sound of everyone moving to the edge of their seats. The Judge increased the sentence to maximum for involuntary manslaughter -  60 months, plus two other 9 month sentences for the other two charges one being the repeat offense of a felon having possession of a gun. All in all, the sentencing resulted in 78 month, plus the necessary completion of the current probation.

The Strader Family and Friends
Happy? Well, not happy but the attendees appreciated the movement toward justice. Was it really justice?” No…we know that instead of about 10 possible charges, some were never pursued by the District Attorney (some felonies) others were dropped as part of a plea (another dismissed felony). And it all appeared as a deliberate attempt to drop the maximum months possible before putting the case before Judge Klapper.  Only 3 charges made it to the Judge’s desk. Three!

Not the same as justice, but a significant introduction to the narrative of “normal practices” in the Wyandotte County District Court may need to be re-hauled.  We, the Strader Family,  not only hope Brazeal learns amd grows, but that the young Asst. D. A. Shawn Boyd and the District Attorney’s office learns that this type of laissez-faire practices can easily put a memorable blemish on a career.

The Strader Family appreciates all those that participated (small or large) towards justice for Geraldine. We appreciate the permanency of both the KC Star and TV stations' archives. We appreciate Judge Klapper's wisdom of recognizing that the case as presented did not tell a full story. We thank Laura Brazeal for the courage to ask for help for her younger brother. We encourage Joshua Brazeal to fight for his transition from a life of crime to being an asset to society.

Kathleen Strader
stradercom@aol.com

Thursday, March 5, 2015

Will You Be There?


Come Join Us At Sentencing:Joshua Jay Brazeal
for Geraldine Strader
6 March 2015, 3:45pm
Wyandotte County District Court
710 No. 7th St, KCK
Mezzanine Level
Court Division 8