KC Common Good Names Barbara Anne Washington as New CEO

By Will Crow

Missouri State Senator Barbara Anne Washington succeeds Klassie Alcine as chief executive officer of KC Common Good. Photo credit: Will Crow.

Posted October 12, 2026

KC Common Good has named Missouri State Senator Barbara Anne Washington its new chief executive officer.

Washington has already begun leading the organization and advancing its work across the region, according to a release. Founded in 2018, KC Common Good is a nonprofit organization that addresses the root causes of violence and works to build a successful future for the greater Kansas City region and its people.

“Everyone deserves to feel safe in their neighborhoods and throughout our community,” Washington said in the release. “KC Common Good has built a powerful coalition focused on that goal, and I’m honored to help lead its next chapter.”

Washington succeeds Klassie Alcine, KC Common Good’s founding CEO.

Alcine helped advocate for the creation of the city’s $30 million Violence Prevention Fund, launched 5 programs, and mobilized more than 10,000 community actions. Under her leadership, KC Common Good established multiple public partnerships that contributed to Kansas City’s lowest homicide rate in nearly eight years.

Washington was elected to represent Missouri’s 9th Senatorial District in 2020 and 2024 after serving three years in the Missouri House. She holds degrees in journalism, business administration, and law.

Since being elected, Washington has raised the age for juvenile justice, passed the CROWN Act—a law that bans race-based hair discrimination in workplaces, schools, and public areas—established the Food Insecurity Task Force, and supported an urban-farming tax credit.

Throughout her time representing Kansas City, Washington has championed legislation focused on violence prevention, victim support, firearm safety, criminal justice reform and community-based public safety initiatives, according to the release.

“KC Common Good has transformed how community organizations, neighborhood leaders and businesses work together over the past eight years,” Jeff Simon, chairman of the board of directors, said in the release. “Barbara Anne’s leadership, public policy experience and deep community roots make her the right person to build on that momentum and lead the organization forward.”