The University of Missouri-Kansas City will honor former Kansas City Mayor and UMKC alumna Kay Barnes with the C. Stephen Metzler Pride Champion Award at the UMKC Pride Luncheon. Last year was the inaugural year for the award, presented to Donald J. Hall Jr., executive chairman of Hallmark Cards board of directors.
Barnes (M.A. '71, MPA '78) is Kansas City’s former mayor, serving from 1999 to 2007. She was one of two women in the Jackson County Legislature in 1974 and is the first – and so far, only – woman elected as mayor of Kansas City. Barnes is most known for spearheading the revitalization of downtown Kansas City through the construction of the T-Mobile (formerly Sprint) Center, the H&R Block headquarters and the Power and Light District.
The award recognizes an individual (LGBTQIA+ or ally) who embodies the legacy of Metzler (MBA ’76), who made Kansas City a better place for the LGBTQIA+ community through volunteerism, philanthropy and leading by example. Barnes was a fierce ally of the community, regardless of the political and business risks, when she was a county legislator, city council member, mayor and U.S. Congressional candidate.
As a trailblazer, Barnes is also a UMKC Starr Women’s Hall of Fame inductee. Her out-of-the-box thinking, assertiveness and devotion to public service led her to being nominated in 2014 and inducted in 2015. Barnes is senior director of university engagement at Park University.
“Kay Barnes is an inspirational figure in Kansas City, and we are excited to honor her with the C. Stephen Metzler Pride Champion Award,” said UMKC Chancellor Mauli Agrawal. “Her determination to strive for equality, inclusivity and justice while elevating the city amazes all of us. We are glad she is deeply connected to UMKC and our community.”
This year, another former Kansas City mayor also will be closely involved with the Pride Luncheon. Former Mayor Sly James, who served from 2011 to 2019, is an honorary co-chair along with his business partner and former chief of staff Joni Wickham of Wickham James Strategies & Solutions.
The event co-chairs are Casey Simmons and S. Sloane Simmons who own A Store Named Stuff in Brookside, and Jonathan Gregory, UnitedHealth Group, and Eric Thomas, Zurich Insurance.
The 2024 Pride Luncheon is 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 1 at the UMKC Swinney Center. This annual signature event, formerly a breakfast, became a luncheon this year. Visit umkc.edu/pride for ticket and sponsorship information.
The Pride Luncheon raises funds to support LGBTQIA+ students, allies, programs and scholarships. It has raised more than $650,000 since 2015, showing the university’s continuous support and commitment to inclusivity on campus.