James Anderson oversees Bloomberg Philanthropies’ government innovation programs, focused on building problem-solving capacity within local governments and spreading innovations that work. Current programs include Cities of Service, CityLab, the India Smart Cities Challenge, Innovation Teams, the Mayors Challenges, and What Works Cities. He led the Foundation’s efforts to establish the nation’s first social impact bond in partnership with Goldman Sachs and the City of New York.

Before joining Bloomberg Philanthropies, James served as communications director to New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg. During that time, he was the chief architect of NYC Service, the City’s high impact citizen service strategy, and Cities of Service, a bipartisan coalition that now includes over 160 mayors representing more than 55 million Americans. Previously, he served as senior advisor to the commissioner of the City’s homeless services agency, and as communications director for the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network, a national advocacy organization.

James grew up in Montana. He and his husband live in Brooklyn, New York. Follow James on twitter @jmsndrsn

Mayor Sly James was born and raised in Kansas City, where as Mayor since 2011 he focuses his efforts to make Kansas City best in four areas: Education, Employment, Efficiency and Enforcement. Major accomplishments:
● Streamlining processes at City Hall to encourage small business development;
● Providing safe activities for young people during summer break through Mayor’s Nights and Club KC;
● Implementing a Women’s Empowerment (WE) initiative to help city government work better for the women who work with it and work for it.
● Rallying community support around the goal of ensuring every child can read at grade level by third grade;
● Creating a culture of innovation in city government through the Chief Innovation Officer.
● Collaborating with the Kansas City Police Department and other county, state and federal agencies to launch No Violence Alliance, a forced-deterrence approach to crime reduction;
● Capitalized on major investments in the arts by forming a task force to examine the public’s role in arts and culture;
● Investing in the City’s water and street infrastructure after years of passing the buck;
● Starting the road to a downtown streetcar system to continue revitalization efforts; and
● Leading efforts for the installation of Google Fiber and promoting Kansas City as the first region in the nation to have such cutting-edge technology.

James is a member of the African American Mayors Association, of which he is First Vice President; Black Mayors for Education Reform and Mayors Against Illegal Guns. He was elected in June 2013 to the Advisory Board of the United States Conference of Mayors.

James in 1990 became the first African American partner in the law firm of Blackwell, Sanders, Matheny, Weary & Lombardi. In February 2002, he formed The Sly James Firm, where he worked with victims to seek justice and positive outcomes to disputes.

James has been married to Licia Clifton-James since 1981 and is the proud father of four children.