Last week, the Kansas City council honored local activist Alvin Brooks and his commitment to justice and equality.
City council passed a resolution to dedicate the Civil Rights and Equal Opportunity Department board room to Brooks, who was the first director of the department, which was then called the Human Relations Department.
As the Human Relations Department director, Brooks led the city in its fight against discrimination in employment, promoted the end of redlining and the end of racial bias in policing.
Brooks was also a councilman, mayor pro tem, detective and founder of the AdHoc Group Against Crime.
“To have grown up in Kansas City is to have known about Mr. Brooks’ impacts,” said Mayor Quinton Lucas.
The dedication of the board room comes just in time for Brooks’ 90th birthday.
“Alvin Brooks is a mentor to many and a friend to us all,” said Councilman Lee Barnes.