Kansas City, UNESCO, and the United Nations

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By Dr. Jacob A. Wagner

Several events globally and locally in the last week have provided the opportunity to look at Kansas City’s connection with cities around the world—through the lens of the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Created in the wake of World War II, UNESCO’s mission is to build peace in the hearts and minds of women and men. On October 31, 2017, the City of Kansas City, Missouri joined the UNESCO Creative Cities Network as a member city, and as the first, and only, UNESCO City of Music in the United States.

The Faculty of Architecture, Urban Planning and Design (AUPD) at UMKC have had more than a little to do with the successful City of Music application, and the Center for Neighborhoods (CFN) has been a supporter of UNESCO Creative City KC from day one. Over the past five years, the CFN has worked with Anita Dixon-Brown, founder of Creative City KC, to support and elevate the work of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network through research, outreach, conference presentations, and numerous events.

The City of Kansas City’s return to the United Nations via UNESCO is not an isolated or unparalleled event. In fact, key leaders from both sides of our state line played an influential role in development of the post-war framework for social, cultural, economic, and political recovery and rebuilding.

President Harry S. Truman (born in Independence, Missouri and raised—politically speaking—in Kansas City) played a critical and persuasive role in the founding of the United Nations after WWII. President Dwight D. Eisenhower (raised in Abilene, Kansas) addressed the General Assembly multiple times during his time in office raising some memorable issues that still concern us today including the preservation of monuments and cultural heritage of European Cities during and after the war—in the face of Nazi destruction.

After the war, President Eisenhower partnered with Joyce Hall of Hallmark to encourage the establishment of sister cities around the world. It was Hall who went on to support the formation of People to People International with 100 leaders supporting the international initiative.