About Kathleen

Kathleen Hicks is from here, and committed to bettering the lives of local residents and getting results for their communities.

Kathleen's family history is steeped in a legacy of trailblazers and advocates for justice. Her great Uncle, Attorney W.J. Durham, etched his name in history by leading the charge to integrate the University of Texas Law School and the State Fair of Texas. His unwavering dedication to equality and education left an indelible mark, inspiring Kathleen's mother, Maryellen W. Hicks, to follow in his footsteps and become a distinguished lawyer herself. Maryellen achieved the remarkable feat of becoming a judge at the remarkably young age of 27, a testament to her talent and commitment.

Kathleen has a degree in Politics and honors in African American History from Mount Holyoke College. She studied abroad at Oxford University and has a Master’s in International Relations from Nottingham University. Her first job after completing university studies was working at one of the largest refugee camps in the world in Kakuma, Kenya.

After serving as a district staff for 8 years with Council-member Ralph McCloud, Kathleen was elected to represent District 8 on the Fort Worth City Council, and served as the youngest Mayor Pro-Tem at the age of 32. Since her 8 years of elected service on the Fort Worth City Council, Kathleen has remained extremely committed to her family and community. She is the Executive Director of Tarrant County Peace and Justice which is working to honor Fred Rouse, a young Black man who was murdered by the Ku Klux Klan in the early part of the 20th century in downtown Fort Worth.

She is a member of numerous boards and organizations, including American Red Cross North Texas Chapter, James L. West for dementia care, the Modern Art Museum, Jordan Elizabeth Harris Foundation, Amon Carter Ambassador’s Council, Junior League of Fort Worth, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc and is a life member of the NAACP.

Kathleen’s family has been impacted by breast cancer and renal disease. Thus, preventive health care remains central to her mission in her life. She is a long-time member of the board of the Harris Hospital Kupferle Advisory Board which provides free mammograms all over North Texas.  Moreover, Kathleen lost a close cousin to suicide. She is committed to increasing mental health awareness in underserved communities through her work on the Jordan Elizabeth Harris Foundation board.

Kathleen is very thankful for all the many sacrifices her mother made to send her to top institutions of learning and thus enjoys volunteering at various Fort Worth ISD institutions to ensure the next generation has the very same opportunities.