IN THE COUNTY LEGISLATURE OF JACKSON COUNTY, MISSOURI
Title
A RESOLUTION honoring the life and legacy of Anita J. Dixon-Brown.
Intro
RESOLUTION NO. 22151, February 2, 2026
INTRODUCED BY Megan L. Smith, Donna Peyton and Venessa Huskey, County Legislators
Body
WHEREAS, Anita J. Dixon-Brown (September 26, 1956 - January 4, 2026) was a nationally and internationally respected educator, cultural advocate, preservationist, and visionary leader whose life's work was dedicated to sustaining and elevating the African American experience, particularly through music, history, education, and cultural tourism; and,
WHEREAS, Ms. Dixon-Brown was the founder of Creative City KC, Inc. and the principal architect behind Kansas City, Missouri becoming the first City of Music in the United States admitted into the UNESCO Creative Cities Network, a historic achievement that elevated Kansas City's cultural standing on the global stage; and,
WHEREAS, through her advocacy, Ms. Dixon-Brown preserved and promoted Kansas City's unique contributions to Black American music, illuminating the interconnected roots of gospel, blues, ragtime, and Kansas City Swing as foundational to global jazz, while championing both legendary musicians and emerging artists who sustained and evolved the Kansas City sound; and,
WHEREAS, Ms. Dixon-Brown began her career in cultural tourism in 1992 with the founding of Passage Unlimited, the Kansas City region's first full-time African American heritage tour company, and was widely recognized for advancing heritage tourism as a tool for economic independence, historical awareness, and cultural preservation; and,
WHEREAS, she played a pivotal role in the passage of H.R. 1635, the National Network to Freedom Act, helping preserve and interpret the sites and history of the Underground Railroad through her advocacy in Washington, D.C., and her work with national leaders and institutions; and,
WHEREAS, Ms. Dixon-Brown was a tireless advocate for equitabl...
Click here for full text