Hi there! I’m Michael Kelley and I’m running for City Council in Kansas City.
I’m running because I believe we have an obligation to leave this world in a better place than we found it. It’s an important lesson my parents instilled in my brother and me, and it’s something my wife and I are working to instill in our girls today. When I look at Kansas City, it’s clear that there’s plenty to do to create a place where everyone can prosper.
With the help of scholarships for competitive speech, I was able to earn my associate’s degree from Kansas City Kansas Community College and my bachelor’s degree in political science and international studies from Kansas State University. I then came back to Kansas City, where I earned my master’s degree in public administration from the University of Missouri-Kansas City.
Today, I work as the policy director for BikeWalkKC.
In that role, I lead our efforts to advance policies at the intersection of equity, health, safety, the environment, and more. I’m proud of the work we’ve done in recent years, including:
Successful advocacy campaigns for Complete Streets and making a nationally-recognized model for other communities;
Building coalitions with residents, businesses, and organizations to push for a safer community;
Supporting legislative efforts on a host of pressing issues, from housing to the environment.
I’ve also been fortunate to take part in several great volunteer opportunities, such as:
Centurions Leadership Program (Class of 2020)
Board of Directors, InterUrban ArtHouse
Climate Protection Steering Committee
Environmental Management Commission
Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee
