After serving his country as a military police officer for four years in California, the Philippines, and Japan during the Vietnam War, Mayor James graduated cum laude from Rockhurst College. The mayor attended Bishop Hogan High School in Kansas City, graduating in 1969. In February, 2002, he started his own successful small business, The Sly James Firm, where he worked with victims to seek justice and positive outcomes to disputes. He joined Blackwell, Sanders, Matheny, Weary & Lombardi in 1983, and became the first African-American partner in the firmвЂ™s history in 1990. He developed a proven record of success as a leader, an effective coalition builder, and a fierce advocate. Prior to his election, Mayor James enjoyed a successful legal career which spanned almost three decades. The success of this event, and the spotlight it put on Kansas City, has led to numerous conventions, conferences, and events that continue to open the eyes of many crowds to all that the city has to offer. Mayor James also led the cityвЂ™s efforts to host Major League BaseballвЂ™s All-Star Game in the summer of 2012. Nationally, he is a member of Black Mayors for Education Reform, Mayors Against Illegal Guns, and was elected in June 2013 to the Advisory Board of the United States Conference of Mayors. At the state level, he has been a voice for commonsense gun control laws, economic development tools, and education reform. In addition, Mayor James has worked to raise Kansas CityвЂ™s statewide and national profile byВ highlighting the myriad cultural and human capital resources in our great city. Leading efforts for the installation of Google Fiber and promoting Kansas City as the first region in the nation to have such cutting-edge technology.Starting the road to a downtown streetcar system to continue revitalization efforts and.Investing in the CityвЂ™s water and street infrastructure after years of passing the buck.Capitalized on major investments in the arts by forming a task force to examine the publicвЂ™s role in arts and culture.AttorneyвЂ™s Office, Missouri Board of Probation and Parole, and theВ University of Missouri-Kansas City to launch KC NoVA, a community-based,В multidimensional approach to crime reduction Collaborating with the Kansas City Police Department, Jackson County ProsecutorвЂ™sВ Office, the U.S.Creating a culture of innovation in city government through the Chief Innovation OfficerВ and the Challenge Cabinet.Rallying community support around the goal of ensuring every child can read at gradeВ level by third grade.Implementing a WomenвЂ™s Empowerment (WE) initiative to help city government work better for the women who work with it and work for it.Providing safe activities for young people during summer break through MayorвЂ™s NightsВ and Club KC.Streamlining processes at City Hall to encourage small business development.Major accomplishments from his first years in office include: Mayor James focuses his efforts to make Kansas City best in 4 areas: Education, Employment, Efficiency, and Enforcement. This laid the foundation for Mayor JamesвЂ™ commitment to education and ensuring every child receives a high-quality education regardless of where they live or their socio-economic background. Despite the challenges they faced, SlyвЂ™s father, a chef, janitor, and small business owner and his stepmother, who helped manage their business, still made sure that Sly and his brothers had the opportunity to go to a good school and follow their dreams. He was born and raised in Kansas City and learned valuable lessons about resiliency and dedication watching his parents work hard to take care of their family. Mayor Sly James was elected on Maand sworn in on May 1, 2011. Additional meetings and events are held as directed by the Conference leadership.ДЇor more information on the USCM,В click here. and an Annual Meeting each June in a different U.S. The Conference holds its Winter Meeting each January in Washington, D.C. Create a forum in which mayors can share ideas and information.Provide mayors with leadership and management tools and.Ensure that federal policy meets urban needs.Promote the development of effective national urban/suburban policy.Each city is represented in the Conference by its chief elected official, the mayor. There are 1,302 such cities in the country today. The United States Conference of Mayors (USCM) is the official non-partisan organization of cities with populations of 30,000 or more. Mayor Sly James was appointed to the Unites States Conference of Mayors Advisory Board on June 24, 2013, at the 81st Annual Meeting in Las Vegas, NV.

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