RESOLUTION NO. 230229

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Sponsors: Councilmembers Melissa Robinson and Brandon Ellington

RESOLUTION - Recognizing Essential Families for their efforts to reach, inform, and inspire the lives of children and families by providing crucial broadband and other services to below and slightly above poverty families in and around the greater Kansas City area.

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WHEREAS Terri English-Yancy BA, MA, MA, founder, and CEO of Essential Families has been a servant leader in Kansas City's not-for-profit community for two decades, and is supported by Jeremy Sander, CFO, Kenneth Yancy, Chief Digital Marketing and Business Development Officer, and Amy Fortney, COO and Program Management Officer, an assembly of enterprising, competent, and creative individuals; and

WHEREAS, by understanding the deficit and needs of digital access in Kansas City, using historic and real time data key indicators, Essential Families created "Essential Broadband Pilot Program", a digital equity, inclusion, and economic and service creation development plan; and

WHEREAS clients in the Essential Broadband Pilot receive assistance from a digital navigator (case manager), a laptop, computer and internet training, virtual parent education, virtual mental health support, childcare payment assistance, Z-Trip Transportation, and a host of other options to close the digital divide; and

WHEREAS, it has been said that if existing social service agencies are the "bricks" in the structure of Kansas City's social services, then Essential Families is the mortar; NOW, THEREFORE,

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF KANSAS CITY:

That the Mayor and Council hereby recognize Essential Families and support team, for their dedication to closing the digital divide in Kansas City and beyond; and for their fundamental approach believing "everything starts at home"; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this Resolution be spread upon the Minutes of the Council ...

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