First elected to City Commission in 2025. Current term expires November 2029.
Jae Slaby is a lifelong organizer and public servant whose commitment to community began at eight years old, when she rallied neighbors to support 9/11 first responders. Raised in Battle Creek, she grew up deeply engaged in civic life, later carrying that commitment to Bryn Mawr College and the University of Pennsylvania, where she earned a Master of City Planning in Sustainable Transportation and Infrastructure.
Returning to Southwest Michigan, Slaby became the youngest trustee elected to the Battle Creek Public Schools Board of Education, leading the successful passage of a $44.8 million bond by rebuilding trust and mobilizing community support. She went on to serve as Neighborhood Activator for the City of Kalamazoo, revitalizing the city’s neighborhood partnership model, expanding project implementation from a few per year to more than 60, writing the Stuart and Westwood neighborhood plans, and fostering cross-departmental collaboration to address resident needs.
A connector at her core, Slaby is known for turning breakdowns into breakthroughs and helping government serve people with care. Now elected to the Kalamazoo City Commission, she continues her work to build a City Hall that is responsive, accessible, and powered by the people.