Alice Weingartner | YWCA Women of Excellence
Alice Weingartner
Director of Community Development
GraceMed Health Clinic
Alice moved to Kansas in 1991 to attend graduate school and coach the rowing team at Wichita State. She told family and friends she would be in Kansas for just two years and then return to the East Coast. Who knew she would meet a Kansas boy, get married, and have two amazing kids? They spent the first few years moving around for her husband Tony’s work. They settled in Topeka in 2001.
Alice’s first 15 years in Topeka were with the Shawnee County Health Agency in several roles including community relations and public information, emergency preparedness, operations and lastly, as the Community Health Center Director. In 2013, she became involved in an important change to the safety net system that she believed could have a positive impact on the community. There were unmet health care needs particularly for low-income and uninsured individuals and something needed to change.
Alice transitioned to GraceMed in July 2016 and assisted with bringing the clinics online with a new electronic medical record, hiring/training staff and implementing new workflows, as well as supporting patient and community education.
Following the transition, a capital campaign feasibility study to develop a hub clinic was done. Alice then became the Director of Community Development. While fundraising and development is a primary focus of her work, she also relies on her knowledge of the community to identify opportunities for future collaboration.
Alice also participates on the Shawnee County Chronic Pain Collaborative, is a member of Topeka South Rotary and serves on the Board of Directors for The Villages, Inc. She is a member of the Leadership Greater Topeka’s 2017 class. Alice received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Mass Communications from the University of Charleston in West Virginia and her Master’s in Education from Wichita State University.
TK: What inspires you?
ALICE: I am inspired when I can help people connect with services and programs to help them succeed and reach their personal goals. Seeing someone grow and mature into leaders is awesome to watch.
TK: What advice do you have for others?
ALICE: The answer will always be NO until you ask... Be brave! Try new things and take risks.
TK: What is the greatest lesson your have learned on your journey?
ALICE: The words patience, compromise and perseverance had significant meaning to me over last few years. Others may not be moving at the same speed as I am in the journey. I have learned that being patient and being open to compromise can result in a far better outcome than I even envisioned. Appreciate what others can bring to the table.
The YWCA is on a mission to empower women at all stages in their careers. Diversity in leadership is particularly vital to our vibrant business community in the Greater Topeka Area.
The YWCA is celebrating 31 years of recognizing Women of Excellence in our community with the theme “Dare to be Powerful.” We dare to be powerful, despite whatever obstacles may present themselves along the way.
“When I dare to be powerful, to use my strength in the service of my vision, then it becomes less and less important whether I am afraid.”
- Audre Lorde
