Kansas City Initiative to Appoint more Women to Boards and Commissions 

Problem

In partnership with United WE, the Institute for Leadership Studies at the University of Kansas, identified that women are marginalized on numerous civic boards and commissions. Across 164 towns and cities in Kansas, women were equally represented in only two boards or commissions on libraries and housing, and underrepresented in parks and recreation, zoning boards, and planning boards, making up 38 percent of the appointees for parks and recreation, 25 percent of zoning boards, and 24 percent of planning boards.

Solution

In partnership with the National League of Cities, Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas reveals their intention to expand the number of women on boards and commissions through United WE’s Appointments Project. The Appointments Project assists women to acquire positions on civic boards and commissions at the city, county, and state level and, so far, has helped more than 180 women be voted onto civic boards and commissions. Moreover, the project also highlights the expanding racial equity on civic boards and commissions among women, with women of color representing 37% of applicants. Today, women’s representation on Kansas City boards and commissions is higher than 51 percent.