With Ownership Wealth
In keeping with his commitment to community economic development, Councilman Riley partnered with Congressman Lacy Clay, 1st District - MO, Congresswoman Karen McCarthy, 5th District - MO, the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation and the National Congress for Community Economic Development to bring the With Ownership Wealth (WOW) initiative to Kansas City, Mo. WOW is a national awareness campaign designed to address the disparity of African-American home ownership through education and information. The purpose of the program is to increase the home ownership count by 1 million over the next five years. The Kansas City initiative, held on July 28, 2001, along with St. Louis, assisted more than 59 African-American Missourians in securing pre-approved mortgages in excess of $6 million.

Smart Home Communities
In addition, Riley is a Smart Home Communities advocate. During the 2001 Congressional Black Caucus Legislative Conference, Councilman Riley served as a panelist during "The Benefits and Challenges of Smart Home Development in Our Communities" panel discussion. The discussion focused on the concept of Smart Homes as a community connector and a basic home amenity in market rate multifamily and public housing.

Riley's Readers
A long-time advocate for youth and education, Councilman Riley has created Riley's Readers, a literacy and community service initiative for kindergarten through third-grade students. Riley believes the importance of sound reading skills should be advocated in all areas of society -- family, community, religion and vocation. As an elected official and long-time youth advocate, Mr. Riley is committed to partnering with area schools to improve the reading habits of youth. Riley's Readers mission is to ensure that every child is a good reader by the end of the third grade.