We are heartbroken to announce the passing of one of our team members, Kenneth Rhodes.

Kenneth was a son, uncle, brother, servant, thought leader, and friend.

Kenneth was part of our family. We want to celebrate his life by recognizing his contributions and remembering him with love. Kenneth touched many people who worked with him, whether in his hometown, Louisville, KY, our team or the Cities United Network. You could always feel his kindness, generosity, humility, and excitement for life. We all feel lucky to have had him as part of our team and in our lives.

Kenneth held both accomplishments and aspirations. After completing the THRIVE fellowship in Louisville, his passion for community building led him to Cities United. Though that's not where his ambitions stopped, he had big dreams for himself and the world he lived in. He had been working through beginning his own organization that mentored and coached young men of color to be leaders in their communities. He was passionate about helping others reach their full potential and planned to take his next step in reaching his by going back to school.

Those who knew Kenneth will attest to his ability to make people feel important, valued, and appreciated. He was a leader who lived by example and inspired those around him to do the same. Creative and always open to express himself. Kenneth will be greatly missed by all who knew him; however, his legacy will live on in our hearts. We ask that you keep his family in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.

While our work can push us to deal with grief in our own ways, this announcement is hard. Cities United is closed this week (11/21-11/25) to honor Kenneth's memory and reflect on how we can continue to create safe, healthy, and hopeful communities for everyone.

‍

Visit Kenneth's Memorial Page and leave a note, fond memory or best wishes for his family and loved ones.

‍