(COLORADO SPRINGS) — In a historic stride that reverberated across the city and beyond, Mayor Yemi Mobolade emerged as the first elected Black and immigrant mayor of Colorado Springs last year. As we are in Black History Month, Mobolade reflects on his journey and how his culture has shaped the way he leads the city today.
Blessing Adeyemi Mobolade, Mayor Yemi, as he is affectionately known, was born in Lagos, Nigeria. His earliest memories are steeped in his father’s mantra that, “the sky’s the limit.”
His journey to the mayoral office was far from conventional, as he became a U.S. citizen only six years ago. This transformation from an immigrant in Colorado Springs to the city’s mayor wasn’t just a political ascent; it was a testament to the resilience and determination inherent in the immigrant experience.
“I don’t think about being a Black mayor. I don’t think about being an immigrant mayor. But when I take a moment to stop and think, I remember how incredibly profound it is,” Mobolade shared, acknowledging the weight of his role.