The non-profit Uptown Dallas Inc. has hired Kelem Butts, whose background is in philanthropic programs and corporate social responsibility initiatives, as its new executive director, effective Tuesday, July 1.
Butts, an Uptown resident for nearly 25 years, has served on UDI’s board of directors as Public Safety Chair for the last five years.
“I am honored to be selected for this role, as it’s the intersection of everything that’s important to me — economic and urban development done strategically, a safe walkable community that feels like a small town, and being able to take an organization to new heights,” Butts said in a statement.
UDI Chairman Ramsey March said Butts stood out among other candidates for the post for his career experience, his board credentials and his love of Uptown.
“He starts at an exciting time for the district and will play a key role in finishing out and opening our recently announced Safety Headquarters,” March said in a statement.
Last month, the organization said it would open a new public safety hub in partnership with the Dallas Police Department. The location at McKinney Avenue and Pearl Street will include live dispatchers and a dedicated UDI security team.
Butts comes to UDI from the United Way of Metropolitan Dallas, where he served more than two years as vice president of CSR (corporate social responsibility) strategy. Before that he worked more than 21 years at AT&T, directing the company’s charitable operations and, earlier, orchestrating its CSR initiatives.
He also co-managed AT&T Connected Learning, which guides investments into connectivity and technology, digital literacy and digital learning solutions to support student success.
Butts holds a bachelor’s degree in American Studies from Wesleyan University and earned an MBA degree from The University of Texas at Dallas.
UDI, founded in 1993, is a 501(c)3 public improvement district spanning a one-mile area of Dallas that boasts 19,000 residents, hundreds of businesses and property owners and more than 50,000 workers.
* Photo courtesy of Andy Stauffer
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