City Of Fort Worth: Mayor Parker Recognized As 40 Under 40 Alumnus Of The Year

Press release from City of Fort Worth:

July 30, 2021

Mayor Mattie Parker was named Alumnus of the Year as the latest generation of Fort Worth leaders were praised for their commitment to service as part of the Fort Worth Business Press’ 40 Under 40 Class of 2021.

Parker was a member of the 40 Under 40 Class of 2013.

View this year’s 40 Under 40 honorees. 

“When I ran for mayor, you can imagine, someone at my age with my family structure – three kids, two of them very young – a lot of questions were, ‘How are you going to do this at 37?’ But for those of you in the room that represent the 40 Under 40, how can you not do it for Fort Worth? Right?,” she said.

Parker drew cheers when she discussed her plans for a bright future for Fort Worth.

“You heard me use the expression that ‘It’s go time in Fort Worth, Texas’ and I believe that strongly, much because of the talent that sits in this room right now,” she said. “And it’s really critically important for those of us that are leading in the next generation, that are truly taking the proverbial torch, that we pay homage to our history and those that came before us, that have built Fort Worth, Texas, into what it is today … And it is time for us to harness, take the torch and run with it, and represent what it looks like to be a true large city that is outside the shadow of Dallas, Texas.”

Parker encouraged the group of leaders at the event to stay involved in the city.

“I accept this award humbly tonight. I just want to tell you, we’ve got big work to do, and it’s not just because I’m in the mayor’s office. We’re going to roll up our sleeves together, so I encourage you to be involved,” she said.

Parker told the crowd that – with their help – Fort Worth could be a city that people admire because of what has been accomplished.

“I understand what it looks like to build a community from the ground up, to recognize the things we’ve done wrong and where we want to go into the future. But I can promise you if we all adhere to the ‘go-time’ philosophy in the city, in a few years, there will be many, many folks – city leaders, business leaders across this country – that will turn around and ask the question, ‘What the hell are they doing in Fort Worth? Because I want to be a part of it.’”

Photo: Mayor Mattie Parker speaks to honorees at the Fort Worth Business Press 40 Under 40 event this week. Photo by Amber Shumake

Get articles like this in your inbox. Subscribe to City News.

This press release was produced by City of Fort Worth. The views expressed here are the author’s own.