IN THE COUNTY LEGISLATURE OF JACKSON COUNTY, MISSOURI
Title
A RESOLUTION congratulating Chris Hernandez on the occasion of his retirement after 36 years of professional service to the Jackson County community.
Intro
RESOLUTION NO. 21433, October 16, 2023
INTRODUCED BY Manuel Abarca IV, Jalen Anderson, Venessa Huskey, Charlie Franklin, Jeanie Lauer, and Sean E. Smith, County Legislators
Body
WHEREAS, Chris Hernandez, known throughout the region for his unbiased and balanced reporting, is retiring after 36 years of professional experience, including 25 years as an Emmy Award winning television news reporter, and ten years in public sector service; and,
WHEREAS, Chris, a native of Shawnee, Kansas, earned a Bachelor of Science degree in journalism from the University of Kansas; and,
WHEREAS, for much of Chris’s career he covered politics and human life at two news stations in Kansas City, and at other stations in Texas, Cleveland, Ohio, and Chicago, Illinois; and,
WHEREAS, in August 2012, Chris transitioned to a marketing position at the Unicorn Theatre, showcasing his dedication to cultural enrichment; and,
WHEREAS, in 2013, Chris pivoted to a public sector leadership role as Communications Director for the City of Kansas City, where he skillfully managed a creative team working on community outreach and media events, including as facilitator for the Kansas City area Championship parades and celebrations; and,
WHEREAS, at KCMO, Chris advocated for equity and inclusion programs, working the past year in the City’s Civil Rights Department, and as a founding member of KC Proud, representing LGBTQ employees, and Vamos KC, representing Latino employees; and,
WHEREAS, Chris is also known for his community engagement and dedicated service on the board of directors of the Hispanic Development Fund, the AIDS Service Foundation, the Children’s Center for the Visually Impaired, the Mattie Rhodes Center, and the IDEA Committee for the Kansas City Repertory Theater, and his mentorships through Big Brothers/Big Sisters at Kauffman Scholars, and mentoring young entrepreneurs through the Metzler Mentoring Program of the Mid-American LGBT Chamber of Commerce; and,
WHEREAS, in addition to Chris’s trifecta of experience in news media, government, and non-profit communications, Chris has taken the stage more than 600 times to emcee fundraisers, galas, community discussions, forums and awards programs; now therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED by the County Legislature of Jackson County, Missouri that the Legislature hereby extends its heartfelt congratulations and best wishes to Chris Hernandez on the occasion of his well-deserved retirement, acknowledging his contributions to journalism, communications, and public service in our community.
Enacted and Approved
Effective Date: This Resolution shall be effective immediately upon its passage by a majority of the Legislature.
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
____________________________
County Counselor
Certificate of Passage
I hereby certify that the attached resolution, Resolution No. 21433 of October 16, 2023, was duly passed on October 16, 2023 by the Jackson County Legislature. The votes thereon were as follows:
Yeas ______9_________ Nays _____0_________
Abstaining ____0_____ Absent _____0_______
________________________ ____________________________
Date Mary Jo Spino, Clerk of Legislature