Sylvester “Sly” James, Jr. is serving his second term as Mayor of Kansas City, Missouri after entering politics in 2011. His agenda focuses on four components: efficiency, employment, enforcement and education. James serves in a leadership capacity on various civic boards as well as the African American Mayors Association and the National Conference of Democratic Mayors. Following his service in the Marines, James practiced law for nearly 30 years. 

A new face to politics upon entering office, Mayor James emphasized principles that would guide policy: Use facts and data to make decisions. Tackle challenges ignored for too long. Plan for the future. After six years, he points to results that include the nation’s largest SMART City technology deployment, modernizing and expanding public transit including a downtown streetcar system, a 20 percent improvement in third grade reading proficiency, and a twenty-year infrastructure repair package. 

Fellowship Dates: November 13-15, 2017