RESOLUTION NO. 241097

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Sponsor:  Councilmember Johnathan Duncan

RESOLUTION - Honoring Ursula Copeland on her retirement for her 24 years of dedicated service to the City of Kansas City with the Kansas City Health Department.

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WHEREAS, Ursula Copeland received her Master of Social Work degree from the University of Kansas, with an emphasis in Social Work Administration, and received her Bachelor of Science degree from Marymount College of Kansas, specializing in Physical Education, Recreation, and Special Education Certification; and

WHEREAS, in her 24-year career at the Kansas City Health Department, Ursula Copeland has been responsible for creating and leading many recognized programs at the Health Department including the Public Health Ambassadors Program which mobilized 200 community volunteers to address local health challenges and public health emergencies, and earned statewide recognition; and 

WHEREAS, in 2010, she became a certified Mental Health First Aid trainer, providing workshops to reduce mental health stigma and empower community members with crisis intervention skills, and from 2012 to 2018, she contributed to the Regional Equity Initiative which advanced community planning efforts that addressed health equity, transportation, and minority health disparities; and

WHEREAS, in 2017, Ursula Copeland developed a unified electronic application intake system for internships, acting as a liaison to universities and streamlining internship processes to enhance student learning experiences and in 2018, she organized a one-week summer camp for high school students, introducing them to careers in public health and inspiring the next generation of public health professionals; and

WHEREAS, Ursula Copeland has served the City of Kansas City Health Department since 2000, and will retire from the position of Academic Health Department Coordinator on December 31, 2024; NOW, THEREFORE,

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF KANSAS CITY:

That the Mayor and City Council hereby express their sincere appreciation to Ursula Copeland for her 24 years of dedicated and distinguished service to the City as the Academic Health Department Coordinator for the Kansas City Health Department; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this Resolution be spread upon the Minutes of the Council in testimony thereof and that a copy hereof be presented to Ursula Copeland with the best wishes of the Mayor and Council for her continued success in all her future endeavors, and our hope for her continued health, happiness and prosperity.

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