When Ed Bell stepped into the role of president of the Blue Hills Neighborhood Association in 2023, it was not because he was looking for the spotlight. Quite the opposite, actually.
“My elders told me to do it,” Bell said. “I just wanted to help in the background.”
But when longtime community leader Linda Brown – affectionately known as “Mama” – asked him to take the helm, he could not say no. The neighborhood needed new energy, fresh ideas and someone willing to carry the torch forward.
Bell was already deeply involved. He has lived in the Blue Hills neighborhood for about 20 years, has been active in community service since high school and serves as a vice principal with Kansas City Public Schools. Leadership for him has always been about responsibility and showing up.
That mindset translated quickly into action. One of Bell’s early initiatives was managing a half-million-dollar minor home repair program funded through a city grant. He personally oversaw the program vetting contractors, managing payments and ensuring repairs were completed smoothly with zero issues.
“It’s about trust,” he said. “And being accountable to your neighbors.”
Another hallmark of his leadership has been the launch of Blue Hills Park Day each June – a large, successful event that brings residents together for music, food resources and fun. With partners like the Kansas City Jazz Academy, DJs, food trucks and city and county service providers, the event runs all day and, notably, has been without violence or disruption.
“I want to highlight the assets we have and give people a reason to come together, and strengthen relationships,” Bell said.
Bell also has reinforced partnerships for Blue Hills Neighborhood Association with organizations like the Salvation Army helping deliver food, clothing, toiletries utilities assistance and mental health resources – all while leading by example, explaining that he participates in volunteering done by the association and its residences.
“I was nurtured,” he said, “and I want to show the elders that their investment wasn’t in vain. And show the younger generation what responsibility looks like.”
Bell credits much of his approach to strong role models. His mother has been a nurse for more than 50 years, including in the military. His father served as a Green Beret and paratrooper. Service, discipline and care for others were foundational lessons at home and at church. Bell has been a member of St. James Methodist since his pre-teen years.
Another strong role model for Bell has been Emmet Pierson, Jr., president and CEO of Community Builders of Kansas City (CBKC). Bell’s professional journey began at CBKC. Bell earned his bachelor’s degree in public administration and political science from Park University, an executive MBA from Benedictine and a certificate in management and school leadership from Harvard. Afterward, he interned with Swope Community Builders under Pierson. He credits Pierson as a guiding presence over the past 20 plus years.
“Emmet to me is a combination of mentor and big brother and yes, sometimes he’s had to scold me,” Bell laughed. “But he’s always been there for me.”
Those “elders” of the neighborhood Bell refers to are additional role models, especially Linda Brown. When asked a key lesson he learned from Brown, Bell noted placing a high priority on responsiveness and communication.
The Blue Hills Neighborhood Association serves nearly 20,000 residents in zip code 64130, so staying connected is critical. Communication is carried out through monthly board meetings, regular Community Action Network gatherings, committee work, social media updates, phone blasts and sometimes by Bell just walking through the door to talk with neighbors.
“The association has to be a resource hub,” Bell said. “There’s a lot happening at City Hall – grants, programs and services – that people don’t always know about.”
The neighborhood’s Community Action Network buildings also help bridge that gap. City staff are present in some of the buildings, bringing city services to the residents literally where they live.
One of the buildings houses the office of the neighborhood association that is staffed by one full-time business office manager, volunteers like Bell himself and a dedicated board that Bell describes as amazing – diverse, engaged and deeply committed.
Looking ahead, Bell’s vision is both practical and aspirational. He sums up his priorities in five words: life, and life more abundant. That means expanding neighborhood programming, tackling blight through partnerships and creating sustainable revenue streams so the association isn’t always chasing grants. It also means changing the narrative.
“I want to change the public perception about this area,” Bell said.
He plans to connect Blue Hills’ parks through trails and markers, creating QR codes that tell the story of each space and positioning the neighborhood as a destination eligible for neighborhood development and tourism funding.
Recently reelected to a four-year term as Blue Hills president, Bell remains focused on what matters most: relationships, trust and creating space for people to thrive.
Taking a page from Pierson’s playbook, Bell said, “Emmet empowers you to let your light shine, and if you need it, he’ll give you his kerosene, and that’s how I try to lead.”
To Bell, success in his role is simple but profound: a neighborhood that is safe, healthy and vibrant, in both its buildings and its people – a place where you can plant roots and where people work together for positive change.