Today marked a moment of celebration and reflection in the heart of Kansas City as city officials, community leaders, and citizens gathered to dedicate the Sylvester “Sly” James, Jr. Pavilion at the Kansas City Convention Center, a permanent tribute to the city’s 54th mayor. The event not only honored a man who led Kansas City through transformative years but also served as a testament to the legacy of leadership rooted in service, vision, and unwavering pride in the city he loved.
From 2011 to 2019, Sly James served as mayor of Kansas City with a distinct blend of charisma, boldness, and clarity of purpose. A former Marine and practicing attorney before entering public service, James brought an unmatched energy to City Hall. During his tenure, Kansas City not only saw measurable growth and revitalization but also emerged as a model for civic engagement, educational initiatives, and urban innovation.
As hundreds stood beneath the newly unveiled signage bearing James’ name, many reflected on the values he instilled throughout his time in office. The pavilion itself—open, inclusive, and centrally located—mirrors many of the qualities James demonstrated in office: transparency, accessibility, and a firm commitment to creating shared spaces for all Kansas Citians. Designed as a vibrant gathering place in one of the city’s most important civic hubs, the pavilion will now serve as a symbol of a mayor whose policies and principles echoed far beyond the confines of City Hall.
James’ focus on literacy was one of the cornerstones of his administration. Through his “Turn the Page KC” initiative, launched in the earliest days of his mayoralty, James prioritized childhood literacy as a crucial factor in the city’s future prosperity. Understanding that third-grade reading levels are a strong predictor of lifelong success, James rallied schools, libraries, nonprofits, and families around a shared mission. Turn the Page KC went on to become one of the most lauded literacy programs in the nation, earning the All-America City Award from the National Civic League in recognition of its impactful, collaborative work. Today, students across the city are reading at higher levels because of that effort—and that legacy lives on.
But James wasn’t only a mayor of policy—he was a mayor of people. Known for his approachable style, easy humor, and love for jazz and local culture, he infused civic life with energy that resonated across generations. From impromptu walks through neighborhoods to his annual “State of the City” addresses delivered in high schools to bring students into the civic conversation, James was a visible and vocal champion of youth and opportunity. He often said that cities belong to their future more than their past, and in that spirit, he worked to ensure that Kansas City remained a place where innovation thrived and dreams could be realized.
One of the many speakers at the dedication ceremony was current Mayor Quinton Lucas, who offered heartfelt remarks about his predecessor. Lucas, who served on the City Council during James’ administration, called him a “mentor, a force, and a man who never let a tough moment dull his commitment to progress.” Lucas also credited James with helping lay the groundwork for key infrastructure projects and modernization efforts that continue to benefit the city today.
Indeed, under James’ leadership, Kansas City underwent a kind of renaissance. From downtown revitalization and airport upgrades to streetcar expansion and cultural investment, the city experienced a period of bold transformation. The downtown streetcar, which now connects neighborhoods and drives economic growth, was a vision realized during his tenure, and the groundbreaking on the new Kansas City International Airport terminal was made possible in large part due to his tireless advocacy.
James was also instrumental in promoting civic pride. He encouraged residents to get involved in local government, supported neighborhood beautification initiatives, and championed the arts. During his administration, Kansas City earned recognition not only as a hub for sports and barbecue but also as a center of technology, entrepreneurship, and creative excellence. These were not accidental developments but the result of deliberate strategy, public-private partnerships, and an administration that believed in the city’s potential.
Perhaps one of the most enduring aspects of the James legacy is the way he brought people together. As a biracial man who grew up in Kansas City during a time of racial division, James often spoke with personal insight about the importance of unity and inclusion. He led conversations about race, equity, and justice not with platitudes, but with honesty and resolve. In doing so, he laid the foundation for difficult, necessary progress and modeled how leaders could use their platforms for healing and hope.
The dedication of the pavilion was punctuated by emotional moments, including a powerful performance by a local children’s choir that sang “Lean on Me,” a nod to the kind of community-first leadership James embodied. Many attendees wiped away tears as former staffers, community organizers, and even young students who had met James during his years in office shared stories of his generosity, leadership, and sense of humor. One young boy recalled how James once visited his school and read aloud to his class—”He made us laugh, and he told us we were the future,” the boy said.
James himself spoke at the ceremony, offering a mixture of gratitude and reflection. Standing at the podium, his voice full of emotion, he thanked his family, his former colleagues, and the people of Kansas City. “To have my name on a place like this, in the heart of a city I love with all my heart—it’s more than an honor. It’s a reminder that service matters. That doing the work, every single day, matters,” James said. He urged young people in the audience to believe in their ability to shape the world around them. “Never let anyone tell you your voice doesn’t matter,” he added. “Because it does. It always has.”
There was an undeniable sense of civic pride in the air throughout the event. The pavilion dedication served as a culmination of not just a mayoral term, but of a movement—a cultural shift in how Kansas City viewed itself. Once considered a flyover city, Kansas City now stands as a bold, confident metropolis with a clear identity and a commitment to lifting every voice. That transformation was guided in large part by James’ leadership, and the crowd that gathered to honor him reflected the diverse, dynamic city he helped build.
The story of Sylvester “Sly” James, Jr. is the story of Kansas City’s own emergence—bold, resilient, and never content with the status quo. The pavilion now bearing his name will be a space for celebration, civic events, music, education, and gathering—a space as multifaceted as the man it honors. It is a physical and symbolic reminder that leadership is not about self-interest, but about stewardship. It reminds every visitor that vision and dedication can quite literally shape the landscape of a city.
As the sun set behind the glass walls of the convention center, casting long shadows across the newly named pavilion, there was a quiet sense of completion. But also, of continuation. For in honoring the past, Kansas City reaffirmed its commitment to the future—a future shaped by literacy, equity, and civic pride. A future that Mayor Sly James believed in deeply and worked tirelessly to bring into being.
The dedication ceremony may have ended, but the impact of Sylvester James’ leadership will echo through Kansas City’s streets, schools, and public spaces for generations to come. The Sylvester “Sly” James, Jr. Pavilion now stands not just as a tribute, but as an invitation—an invitation to gather, to dream, to lead, and to love one’s city as fiercely and selflessly as he did.
