Wendy Owens is the first out transgender board member on the GLO Center Board of Directors and is active with Greater Ozarks Pridefest. She has spoken about her personal story to City Council members, law enforcement, during LGBT cultural competency trainings for health care providers, and others. To support transgender and gender nonconforming individuals and their families in other areas of the Ozarks, Wendy also recently helped start Joplin Missouri Transgender Alliance, a support group for Joplin and the surrounding region.