Kitty Harris has been with Minneapolis Public Housing Authority since December of 2007. In her 15 years, she has worked in various roles and special projects. Kitty has pulled from many of the amazing women that she has worked with throughout her career. Her bright, outgoing personality makes everyone around her feel comfortable being who they are. My time spent with Kitty was full of laughs and nuggets of knowledge. Below are the highlights from my time with her.
What does Women’s History Month mean to you?
Women do not get the recognition that they deserve. Women spend the majority of their lives focusing on the people around them and making sure they are all okay. Women’s History month give us the opportunity to look at all the powerful woman and the things we do to make the world go round. I appreciate the time we get this month to pause and look at all the amazing things women have done. We know our power, but it is great to recognize each other.
Is there a particular woman in your life that had an impact on you? If so who and why?
My mom. I was inspired by her going to work and coming home to do everything for our family. She always had homecooked meals for us every night and said, “You work hard and you make it nice.” This instilled a strong work ethic in me.
Is there a woman at MPHA that inspires you? If so, how, and why?
Cora McCorvey, Evelyn LaRue, and Tracy Scott. They are 3 strong, powerful black women that I got to work directly under and sowed into me. They always checked in on me professionally and as a mother. They gave me tips on how to handle being the youngest person in the room, holding my space, and using my voice.
What qualities make a great leader?
A great leader is someone who can listen and understands that the collective ideas of the team will move the mission forward.
What is something you wish you would have known early in your career?
Finances. I wish I would have known more about planning for retirement and had more education on financial literacy. I want to shout out Marci Holley-Bartlett for taking the time to teach me about my retirement and its importance for my future.
