RESOLUTION NO. 240011
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Sponsor: Councilmember Melissa Patterson Hazley
RESOLUTION - Recognizing the service of Dr. Jumesha Shirvon Wade.
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WHEREAS, the children are our future and 90% of all human brain development happens before age 5. Early childhood development and education initiatives that are multifaceted and combine improvement efforts inside learning environments with extensive, holistic family engagement and comprehensive support for children and families, like the model utilized at Start at Zero, have been proven to be the most effective; and
WHEREAS, as the Executive Director of Start at Zero, Dr. Wade fostered a close, compelling working relationship with the Board of Directors to drive organizational mission fulfillment, leading mission-aligned growth strategies for long-term sustainability, elevated staff excellence with a transparent feedback model, yielding: a 10% bilingual staff increase, two additional director-level employees, and a $1M budget. Under her leadership, staff retention surged from 71% to 90% over two years; achieved inaugural six-figure, multi-year government grant; raised individual donors from 5 to 30+, securing funding for two leadership cohorts. Wade drove financial health through diversified revenue strategies for sustainability and growth and supported fundraising and expansion strategies crucial to maintaining Start at Zero's mission, including recruiting and retaining individual donors, corporate partnerships, and signature fundraising events; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Wade, an ardent and tenacious professional, has endeavored to leave a generational legacy by amplifying the voices of children, youth, and families in research, teaching, and practice. She is a master learner, thought leader, and seeker of diversity, equity, and inclusion; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF KANSAS CITY:
That the Mayor and Council hereby celebrate the achievements of Dr. Jumesha Shirvon Wade and Start at Zero; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this Resolution be spread upon the Minutes of the Council in testimony thereof and that a copy hereof be presented to Dr. Jumesha Shirvon Wade for her efforts with the Mayor and Council’s gratitude.
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