City of Prairie Village
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The City of Prairie Village established a diversity task force in 2020 that became an official City Committee in 2021. The committee's mission is to develop a set of advisory recommendations for the governing body to attract and retain diverse residents in Prairie Village.
“In addition to racial diversity, that mission includes diversity of religion, sexual orientation, national origin, and more,” Mayor Eric Mikkelson said. “Its broad policy scope includes housing and development policy, the arts, sustainability, affordability, events, policing, infrastructure, recruiting and hiring, funding, communication and more.”
The group's initial goal is to develop a set of recommended, prioritized action steps and initiatives to make Prairie Village a more diverse and inclusive community. The committee also plans several community events throughout the year.
| Diversity Committee Members | Type of Appointment | Initial Appointment Date |
|---|---|---|
| Ron Nelson | Chair | 2026 |
| Shelby Bartelt | Vice Chair | 2026 |
| David Magariel | Co Vice Chair | 2021 |
| Dennis Solis | Resident | 2021 |
| Kevin Jay Kinsella | Resident | 2026 |
| Erin Martinez-Manning | Resident | 2026 |
| Lilian Valdez Shipps | Resident | 2024 |
| Kassie McClure | Resident | 2026 |
| Dr. Joe Pachman | Resident | 2025 |
| Anitha Patterson | Resident | 2025 |
| Meg Richardson | Resident | 2025 |
| Ed Stevenson | Resident | 2026 |
| Ken Sofer | Resident | 2026 |
| Niclo Hitchcock | Resident | 2026 |
| Anne Wisdom | Resident | 2026 |
Diversity and Inclusion Calendar
For a year-long diversity and inclusion calendar, including religious holidays, heritage months, and monthly diversity program themes, please visit https://www.diversityresources.com/diversity-calendar-2023/.
