Northeast News
Jan. 30, 2015

KANSAS CITY, Missouri — Cokethea Hill was sworn in to the Kansas City, Mo. City Council as the interim Fifth District Council Representative (In-District) during the council’s Business Session on Thursday, Jan. 29.

Hill joins Mayor Pro Tem Cindy Circo in service of Fifth District residents, and will serve until a new City Council takes office on Aug.1, 2015. Hill is not running for a seat for the next City Council term.

In a press release, Circo said she’s pleased to welcome Hill onto the council as Fifth District Council Representative.

“Her previous service to Kansas City and her commitment to responding to the needs of Fifth District residents are a great asset to our City” Circo said.

Hill’s previous employment with Mid America Regional Council’s Green Impact Zone helped provide an avenue to leverage her community organizing, grant writing, and strategic planning skills to secure a housing redevelopment project, lead energy efficiency Smart Grid efforts, and public infrastructure improvements within five neighborhoods in the urban core of Kansas City.

“I am honored to serve Kansas City and the 5th District,” Hill said. “My commitment is to be as responsive as possible to the issues and needs of the constituency.”

Hill has worked for the past two years as a research assistant on a federal grant from the Department of Education, Office of Special Education examining the impact of inclusive education. She has also served as an at-large board member for the Kansas City Public Schools, an ambassador for the Kauffman Center for Performing Arts and as a past Board Member of the Wildwood Outdoor Educational Facility. In her current role as the Vice President of Special Initiatives for the United Way of Greater Kansas City, Hill provides strategic direction and targeted outreach within the African American and Latino Communities, connecting their philanthropic interest to the community impact work of the United Way.