Kansas City Earns Highest Number Of Black Women To Serve On Council At Same Time

Don't be a hater . . . Even amid lower turnout this is a VERY IMPORTANT ACHIEVEMENT for all of Kansas City. 

In fact . . .

THIS KIND OF REPRESENTATION PROVES KANSAS CITY IS DEDICATED TO PROGRESS AND NOT 'RACIST' AS CYNICS CLAIM!!!

Here's the word from an important local political group . . .

Shirley’s Kitchen Cabinet Applauds Historic General Election

Shirley’s KC applauds the election of three black women to city council, the highest number of Black women elected to serve on the city council at the same time.

Kansas City, Mo. — Shirley's Kitchen Cabinet (Shirley’s KC), a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to amplifying the voices and power of Black women, applauds the election of three black women to Kansas City Council. With incumbent Councilwoman Melissa Robinson winning re-election, Councilwoman Ryana Parks-Shaw running unopposed and Dr. Melissa Patterson-Hazley winning the 3rd District at large race, this is the highest number of Black women elected to serve on the city council during the same council term.

"The election of a record number of black women to the city council is a significant milestone in our city’s history, a testament to the untiring efforts of those who fought for equal representation and a beacon of hope for those who continue to strive for a more just and equitable Kansas City," Parks-Shaw said.

“Janey Manley’s ability to close a double digit vote gap in the Northland as a first-time candidate vying to be the first Black woman to hold that seat is evidence of voter alignment with the issues she ran on and voter support for her candidacy. And Sheri Hall’s race gave 3rd District voters a chance to vote for the greater of two amazing candidates, a rare opportunity for Black voters and all voters,” said Michele L. Watley, Shirley’s Kitchen Cabinet founder. “We are immensely proud of all of these women and we are excited to see what they do next.”

Black women currently serving on city council have championed impactful policies - from the multi-million dollar allocation of funding to combat violence through the KC Blueprint for Violence Prevention and A Safe and Healthy Community, the historic passage of the Crown ACT, the creation of the first Office of Racial Equity and Reconciliation, appointing Black women to city boards and commissions, recognition of the disparities in Black maternal healthcare, establishment of the Commission on Reparations, to naming racism as a public health crisis. In advancing policies that directly address systemic inequities, Park-Shaw and Robinson illustrate what’s possible when Black women have a seat at the table.

“I am ready to get to work by contributing my skills and experience, and working with two experienced (Parks-Shaw and Robinson) councilwomen will help me hit the ground running,” said Dr. Patterson-Hazley, councilwoman elect. It is important that we work together to meet this historic moment to move Kansas City forward.”

“Hopefully the newly elected and current council members can craft a shared policy agenda to continue to drive dynamic change for Kansas City’s Black community and other communities that have historically gone unrepresented in city leadership,” Watley said.

# # #

Developing . . .