Shanelle Dupree is a Strategic Connector with deep Midwestern roots. She is an author, speaker, attorney, executive director, course creator, adjunct law professor, wife, and mother of four.
She is the creator and course instructor of SKIN DEEP: The History of Child Welfare by Race and serves as the Executive Director of the Racial Equity Collaborative, a nonprofit organization focused on eliminating racial disparities within helping systems.
Shanelle is a trusted advisor who was selected to serve on the Governor’s Transition Team to assess the social services system in the state of Kansas. She has served as a campaign director, advisor, and copywriter for multiple political campaigns and has delivered testimony before legislative committees on issues related to child welfare and juvenile justice.
She is also a Bible Study Teacher and Adjunct Law Professor, creatively engaging audiences while teaching topics such as foster care, diversity, equity, and inclusion. Shanelle has taught CINC 101: Parents for over five years, helping families understand the foster care system with clarity, compassion, and hope.
As a former Social Service Administrator for five years, Shanelle believes strongly in community service and board leadership. She currently serves on the Oak Ridge Youth Development School Board, the Kansas Bar Association Board of Trustees, is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., and participates in several local legal bar associations.
How can racial equity move beyond aspiration and become part of an organization’s culture? The answer is I.R.A. Just like financial investing, racial equity requires a clear strategy. In this keynote, Shanelle shares practical ways to lay the foundation for meaningful conversations about race, outcomes, and connection.
Racial harm impacts the mind, body, and spirit. In this session, Attorney Shanelle Dupree outlines three common harmful mindsets surrounding race and provides strategies to overcome them, helping individuals and organizations choose healing and growth.
SKIN DEEP is a professionally produced online course that explores the history of child welfare through a racial lens. The course fills critical gaps in cultural understanding and provides an accessible explanation of how families of color have historically interacted with the American child welfare system.
This course creates a respectful foundation for learning and inspires individuals and organizations to drive meaningful change for families.
Mark A. Dupree, Sr. has never accepted “no” for an answer and has fought for justice his entire life. Known as the “preacher man,” Mark prayed for and served the community he loves. His faith in Christ has guided his life and leadership.
At the age of 14, Mark was inspired by the late Judge Cordell Meeks, Jr., the first Black lawyer and judge to ever cross his path. This exposure solidified his decision to pursue a legal career, driven by a desire to help people receive justice—something he witnessed firsthand from a young age.
Despite being told not to run for District Attorney, Mark trusted his calling and defeated a 12-year incumbent, proving that timing aligned with purpose.
Once in office, Mark focused on smart and holistic prosecution, supporting initiatives such as Behavioral Health Court, Drug Court, and Veterans Court. Under his leadership, diversion programs expanded, and annual expungement fairs were introduced to help individuals rebuild their lives.
He also created a Victims Liaison Board, allowing victims to directly share feedback and improve their experience within the justice system.
Mark fought alongside the community to establish a Public Defender’s Office in Wyandotte County and is proud to lead one of the most culturally diverse and collaborative District Attorney offices in Kansas.
Mark A. Dupree, Sr. is the District Attorney of Wyandotte County, the fourth-largest county in Kansas. He leads an office of over 60 employees and manages a significant fiscal budget.
Since taking office in 2017, his administration has focused on equitable charging, proactive crime prevention, and addressing violent crime while maintaining public trust.
He successfully created Kansas’ first Conviction Integrity Unit, now known as the Community Integrity Unit, which ensures the integrity of convictions and addresses police misconduct.
His work has received national recognition, including features in The New York Times and USA Today, involvement in the prosecution reform book Charged, collaboration with WNBA and NBA players on criminal justice reform, and appearances on national and international radio shows.
Mark is a holistic justice advocate, committed to equal treatment for all, especially historically marginalized communities. He has implemented implicit bias training, served on the Governor’s Task Force on Racial Equity and Justice, and is a member of the Kansas Sentencing Commission.
He has fostered a culture of community involvement, with staff actively participating in neighborhood meetings, churches, schools, and civic organizations.
Mark attended the University of Kansas and Washburn University School of Law. He is married to Attorney Shanelle Dupree, and they are the proud parents of four active teenagers. Mark also serves as Senior Pastor of a local church in Wyandotte County, Kansas.
