Read about how Kansas City’s Mayor Quinton Lucas is joining the U.S. Department of State’s Local Diplomat Program to strengthen global relations and build direct-to-city relationships with countries around the world.
Image by Kyle Glenn
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) – A U.S. Department of State program to strengthen global relations will have participation from Kansas City’s Mayor’s Office.
Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas said Tuesday his office will join an inaugural cohort of cities participating in the Department of State’s new Reta Jo Lewis Local Diplomat Program. It’s supposed to help build direct-to-city relationships with countries across the world.
For the City of Kansas City, Lucas said his office hopes it can help the city ahead of 2026, when it will host games at Arrowhead Stadium for the FIFA World Cup.
“I am proud to participate in the U.S. Department of State’s inaugural Lewis Diplomat Program cohort to help Kansas City strengthen ties with our strong trade partners in Mexico and Canada, our twelve Sister Cities on four continents, and our business partners around the world,” Lucas said. “As Kansas City continues to build its reputation as a global leader on issues related to transit, sustainability and climate resiliency efforts, and equity in women’s and men’s sports, my office will continue to be deliberate in our efforts to share and receive best practices from peer cities around the world.”
n August, Lucas’s office will welcome a U.S. Department of State foreign service officer for a one-year assignment to guide the city on key international issues.
The foreign service officer will be a key advisor for Lucas and allow for more robust engagement with key leaders in the U.S. Department of State to highlight local issues to foreign policymakers.
