World Citizen 2025
John Phillips
For over three decades, John has devoted his time, talents, and personal resources – entirely as a volunteer—to advancing international understanding, cultural awareness, and community betterment in the greater Kansas City area and beyond. John’s commitment to global engagement is far-reaching and deeply impactful, embodying the mission and principles of the United Nations. He has promoted people-to-people friendships, cultural awareness, and international cooperation. John has served as Vice President of the Edgar Snow Memorial Foundation for over two decades, facilitating the visits of top international experts and scholars to Kansas City in the Snow Scholars Program and personally hosting and supporting international students, scholars, and visitors.
John has also promoted educational exchange through his long-time leadership in the UMKC School of Law, helping more than 100 law students travel to China over 15 years to gain global perspectives and understand diverse legal systems. In addition, he provided and raised funds for a 2025 UMKC School of Management Study Abroad program, continuing his commitment to global learning.
Merging his civic leadership with global health and legal advancement, John has served as a long-time board leader at Saint Luke’s Hospital where he facilitated and funded exchanges for hospital doctors and residents with institutions in China. This included sending medical professionals to engage in international research on equity in health outcomes, and supporting cross-cultural understanding of traditional Chinese medicine. As former chair of Alternative Dispute Resolution Committees for both the Missouri Bar Association and Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association, he led delegations to Thailand, Vietnam, Hong Kong, and China. He helped Vietnam codify its mediation law, advancing peaceful dispute resolution practices in Southeast Asia.
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As legal counsel for the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, John has demonstrated a commitment to cultural preservation and exchange. He helped mediate (pro bono) the return of a Native American artifact to its tribe, ensuring respectful and just cultural reconciliation. He also facilitated a strategic visit by the president of the Kansas City Art Institute to China, resulting in an expansion of the institute’s Asian art program.
John has never accepted payment for his work in international engagement. Instead, he has donated generously to internationally focused nonprofits in Kansas City. John has served in volunteer leadership roles, including:
Executive Vice President of the Society for Friendship with China, Board member of the International Relations Council of Kansas City, Member of the University of Missouri System Board of Curators, H&R Block Foundation, Boys & Girls Clubs,
Heart of America Boy Scouts Council, and many more civic organizations.
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His motivation, in his own words, is simple yet profound: “To bring people
together to do good for the community.” John believes that Kansas City’s
future depends on meaningful engagement with the world, especially with
Asian nations such as China. He has tirelessly worked toward this vision –
not as part of a career or paid position, but as a selfless citizen leader
driven by a desire to promote peace, mutual understanding, and global
citizenship.​ In every sense, John Phillips is a World Citizen.