Anita K. Parran

Anita, a native of St. Louis, makes her home in Kansas City, Missouri, where she is principal for KK Charles Communications, LLC, an international award-winning firm she founded in 1998 that specializes in public and media relations, professional writing and special events management. The company provides communications consultation services for a select clientele of small-to-medium size nonprofits and for-profit entities.

Anita earned a B.A. in Journalism from Stephens College and an M.A. in Business Management from Webster University in Webster Groves, Missouri. She also earned the Certified Communications Professional (CCP) designation from the Matrix Foundation University of Washington School of Communications.

An ardent and committed servant leader, Anita is the public member on the Missouri Board of Pharmacy. In 2018, she was elected co-chair of the Association for Women in Communications (AWC) Board of Directors and serves as the national membership committee co-chair. This year, Anita was elected president of the Board of Directors for the AWC Advancement Fund. She serves on the Board of Directors for the Urban League of Greater Kansas City, Southland Progress Committee, and Executive Committee/Secretary for the Kansas City Association of Black Journalists (KCABJ). Anita is a member of Public Relations Society of America (PRSA), Kansas City Press Club, National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ), Kansas City Freelance Exchange, American Association of University Women (AAUW), VIP member of the National Association of Professional Women (NAPW), and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. – Beta Omega Graduate Chapter.

Anita received the 2015 Velma E. Woodson Outstanding Leadership Award from the NAACP Kansas City, Missouri Branch for being a committed volunteer for government, civic and community entities. The same year, Anita was honored to join the Kansas City Globe’s Society of Influentials. In 2014, she was selected as one of City’s Most Influential Women by the KC Business Magazine, an honor she received in 2007 as a member of the magazine’s charter class. In 2006, she received the National Headliner Award from the Association for Women in Communications, and the same year was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Kansas City Association of Black Journalists.

Anita’s life partner is Clinton Adams, Jr., Esq. who has a daughter, Courtney M. Adams. Anita enjoys membership in two book clubs, Women of Words (WOW) and Characters; mentoring young women, traveling, and convening a networking group of women called The Usual Suspects.