RESOLUTION NO. 060860

Recognizing Donovan Mouton for his service to the Mayor and to Kansas City.

WHEREAS, Donovan Mouton was appointed Neighborhood Advocate by Mayor Kay Barnes in April, 1999 with a charge of being a voice for neighborhood concerns and a liaison between the Mayor and neighborhood leaders; and

WHEREAS, using experience he gained from serving as a City Plan Commission member, President of the Midtown Presidents Council, the Volker Neighborhood Association and the Mattie Rhodes Center, Donovan has served the Mayor for more than seven years while promoting her vision of strengthening neighborhoods throughout the City and helping resolve neighborhood problems by working as a liaison with City departments and outside agencies such as Housing and Community Development, Health, the Housing Authority of Kansas City, Missouri, the City Council Neighborhood Development and Housing Committee, and the Downtown Council. Donovan served as chair of the Mayors Unscrupulous Lending and Home Improvement Task Force and is a member of the Fannie Mae Housing Impact Advisory Council and the Affordable Housing Advisory Council of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines. In 2002, he participated in the John F. Kennedy School of Government Program at Harvard University on a fellowship provided by the Fannie Mae Foundation. He has also been honored as one of the Citys Black Achievers in Business and Industry by the Greater Kansas City Chapter of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference; and

WHEREAS, in 2003 Donovan became the Director of Urban Affairs and Public Advocacy in the Mayors Office to reflect his expanded job responsibilities. He has continued his involvement in improving the quality of life for Kansas City residents and in promoting social and economic equity among all segments of the community; and

WHEREAS, Donovan has announced his resignation from the Mayors Office to take a new position with One Economy Corporation, a national non-profit organization whose goal is to help low-income people improve their lives through Internet access. He will be program director for Kansas City, and will be responsible for building the program and developing local partnerships with the business, civic and non-profit communities; NOW, THEREFORE,

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF KANSAS CITY:

That the Mayor and Council hereby extend to Donovan Mouton congratulations and best wishes for success in his new position; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this resolution be spread among the minutes of the council in testimony thereof and that a copy hereof be presented to Donovan Mouton with appropriate recognition and appreciation for his contributions to the community.

______________________________________________