IN THE COUNTY LEGISLATURE OF JACKSON COUNTY, MISSOURI
Title
A RESOLUTION honoring Ms. Gwendolyn Grant during Women's History Month.
Intro
RESOLUTION NO. 22185, March 2, 2026
INTRODUCED BY Donna Peyton, County Legislator
Body
WHEREAS, Gwendolyn Grant serves as President and CEO of the Urban League of Greater Kansas City, becoming the first woman to lead the organization in its more than 100-year history; and,
WHEREAS, Ms. Grant is a nationally respected civic leader whose commitment to civil rights, social justice, public safety, and equitable opportunity has strengthened the Urban League's role as a leading regional voice on workforce development, education equity, health disparities, and policing reform; and,
WHEREAS, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Ms. Grant mobilized public, private, and philanthropic partners to meet urgent community needs, expanding food access, digital connectivity, and support for Black-owned businesses; and,
WHEREAS, Ms. Grant led the Urban League Police Accountability Task Force,
exposing harmful policing practices within the Kansas City Police Department and prompting a formal request for a U.S. Department of Justice "patterns and practices" investigation; and,
WHEREAS, in 2022 Ms. Grant filed a landmark lawsuit challenging Missouri's mandate that Kansas City fund a state-controlled police department, elevating national attention to the city's lack of local control; and,
WHEREAS, her leadership was further affirmed when the Urban League received a $1 million unrestricted gift from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott, enabling expanded services and organizational stability; and,
WHEREAS, Ms. Grant continues to shape public safety and civic reform through her
service with the Urban Summit, SAVE-KC, the Urban Council, and national Urban League advisory bodies; and,
WHEREAS, she is also a respected columnist for The Call and Publisher of the Urban
League's State of Black Kansas City report, contributing vital analysis on issu...
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