Women in Leadership Vital Voices

John Kennedy’s passion for public service and the community he loved were evident in all of John’s words and actions. John cared deeply about many causes, including equal opportunity for all people, education, fairness and justice. Most of all, John cared about people. He was instrumental in establishing policies and programs that benefited the people of Pasadena and surrounding communities. John was an avid supporter of Women in Leadership Vital Voices, whose mission is to educate its members on public policy issues and encourage them to help shape policy outcomes. To that end, WLVV provides opportunities to meet with local, state and national leaders. John was generous with his time and input to WLVV. He introduced local, state, and national leaders to our organization, who spoke to our members and listened to our voices. John was both a frequent speaker and guest at our WLVV events.

In partnership with WLVV, John hosted events at his home, including with Congressman Elijah Cummings and John Podesta, Hillary Clinton’s 2016 campaign chair. John assisted WLVV in hosting then-candidate and now President Joe Biden at Pasadena City College. He co-sponsored several events with WLVV for then-candidate and former President Barack Obama. John worked with WLVV to host events with numerous other presidential, senatorial, congressional and state and local candidates to provide WLVV members and others in the community forums at which to voice their opinions on policy issues and discuss them with our future leaders.

WLVV will miss John’s guidance and assistance in advancing our mission. We will also miss so many events that John sponsored for our local community, including his annual Christmas party at the Pasadena public library and his Thanksgiving turkey giveaways at local Pasadena public schools. Most of all, we will miss John’s commitment to public service, his genuine concern and compassion for all people and his infectious smile and beautiful laugh.

Janet Braun

Ellen Daigle

Yolanda Gorman

Sheila Grether Marion

Jihee Huh

Lena Louse Kennedy

Beverley Morgan-Sandoz

Doris Robinson

Carolyn Rose Williams