keynote speaker, Travanna Alexander-Toney, LCSW, LSCSW
Leader. Strategist. Educator. Clinician.

Travanna Alexander‑Toney is the Founder and President of Core Changing Concepts, a nonprofit organization dedicated to uplifting Kansas City’s urban core through professionals who live, learn, work, and play in the communities they serve. She also serves as the Director of Behavioral Health with Kansas City Public Schools, where she leads the districtwide Trauma Transformation initiative. Her leadership centers on cultivating environments of safety, belonging, and empathy that promote both academic excellence and mental well‑being.

Travanna earned her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with an emphasis in child development from Southeastern Louisiana University and a Master of Social Work from the University of Missouri–Kansas City. She later completed certification in instruction and curriculum. As a licensed clinical social worker, she brings extensive experience across clinical and administrative roles in child welfare, medical social work, academia, and private‑practice therapy.

Travanna previously served on the National Association of Social Workers–Missouri Chapter Board of Directors, representing the Kansas City region, where she co‑chaired the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging Committee. She also co‑chaired the Violence Free Kansas City Committee for four years.

Guided by her core belief that “Relationships are the drivers of change,” Travanna is committed to building authentic connections that inspire healing, foster resilience, and create meaningful, community‑centered transformation.

event chairs, Michelle and Phil Stabler

For Michelle Irwin Stabler and Phil Stabler, serving as Soirée Event Chairs is a natural extension of their shared connection to First Call.

Michelle is a person in long-term recovery, approaching 21 years, and her journey has shaped both her life and her career. After 16 years as Executive General Manager for Gilbert/Robinson, she spent another 16 years at First Call, where she built lasting relationships and helped educate individuals and families across Kansas City. She retired in 2025, leaving behind a legacy of compassion and connection. Michelle is a proud mother to her daughter, Dr. Taylor Irwin, PhD, and has recently returned to her passion for equestrian life, something she credits to her recovery. She holds a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Missouri.

Phil’s path to First Call began through Michelle, but it quickly became his own. A Kansas City native, Phil spent 35 years as an executive with the U.S. Postal Service before pursuing a second career as a psychotherapist at the VA Medical Center in Kansas City, where he worked with individuals facing co-occurring substance use and mental health disorders. He also introduced SMART Recovery, a cognitive behavioral-based recovery program, to the Kansas City community. Phil is the father of two sons and grandfather to four grandchildren. After being widowed in 2021, he and Michelle were married in 2025.

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