Ken Bacchus is the Chief Operating Officer for the Afrikan Centered Education Taskforce, Inc. (ACETI) in Kansas City, MO. ACETI is a non-profit education management organization serving the educational needs of Kansa City Missouri residents residing in the school district. Our specialty includes partnering with the local school district, the urban neighborhoods in the vicinity of the campus, private and non-profit businesses and service providers and the parents, grandparents of school age children.
Bacchus, an urban planner by profession, has experience that spans over thirty years in a broad range of redevelopment planning, management of economic development projects, non-profit corporations and analysis of changing market conditions. Prior to operations management at ACETI, Bacchus was Principal with the Urban Initiatives Group and served as President of HEDFC, a local non-profit finance and development organization where his expertise in managing complex projects, analysis of changing market conditions, populations shifts from the urban core, tiered project financing, interpreting public policy, managing multiple project staff, managing projects with multiple public agency involvement and governments were necessary.
In addition, Bacchus served two terms as an At-large member of the Kansas City, Missouri City Council (1991-99). Bacchus was Executive Director of a community development corporation (CDC) in the mid 1980’s.
While in the City Council, Bacchus was Chairman of the Plans, Zoning, and Economic Development Committee for both terms where his expertise in understanding dynamic urban changes were critical to a city with major population shifts were occurring. In addition to the zoning and strategic planning efforts, Bacchus negotiated many of the financing and development packages for new job development, business retention and expansion, and community economic development policies throughout Kansas City.
Bacchus served as Chairman of the Community Economic Development Committee of the National League of Cities and member of its Board of Directors. Bacchus also served as a Commissioner for the Redevelopment Authority and the Tax Increment Financing Commissions of Kansas City for fifteen years. Bacchus is a member of the Urban Land Institute (served as an Adviser to the Affordable Housing Council from 2001-‘05) and is a Charter Member of the American Planning Association.
Why I am running and priorities
"The disinvested areas are where a disproportionate number of vacant lots are, where foreclosures are highest and vacancy rates are staggering. This is where the unemployment rates are twice the City’s rate, where crime is higher and health care is most in need. The City has failed to act strategically in ways that includes the hopes and goals of the people who live there. The 5th Council District is a microcosm of the City as a whole and includes the most densely developed areas of the urban core to ecological havens and vast suburban estates.
I am running for Council again because the plight and threats Kansas City’s future hangs in the balance of decisions that will be made over the next few months. The delivery of basic services to all citizens are currently threatened by possible losses in general revenue coupled with dwindling federal resources that are being reduced or withheld because of current poor programming strategies. These conditions exist because of a lack of leadership and experience in City Hall. My return to the City Council would bring more than 30 years of community service, civic involvement and experience back to our district."
---- Ken Bacchus
