On June 6, 2023, Blessing Yemi Mobolade was sworn in as the 42nd Mayor of Colorado Springs, beginning his first four-year term. His election is historic, marking him as the city’s first Black and immigrant mayor, as well as one of its youngest leaders.
Originally from Nigeria, Mobolade moved to the U.S. at the age of 17, following his brother’s footsteps in pursuit of the American Dream through education. He earned bachelor’s degrees in business administration and computer information systems from Bethel University in Mishawaka, Indiana. Mobolade furthered his education with master’s degrees in management and leadership from Indiana Wesleyan University, and in theology-intellectual leadership from the A.W. Tozer Theological Seminary at Simpson University in California.
After relocating to Colorado Springs from Indiana in 2010, Mobolade quickly immersed himself in the local community. He became actively involved with the Christian and Missionary Alliance and helped establish a church. Recognizing a gap in cultural spaces in downtown Colorado Springs, he co-founded The Wild Goose Meeting House in 2013, one of the first businesses to invest in the area after the Great Recession.
Mobolade’s passion for community collaboration led him to serve as the director of outreach and engagement at First Presbyterian Church, where he co-founded COSILoveYou—a nonprofit uniting over 100 local churches in service to the community. He also co-founded Good Neighbors Meeting House in 2017 in the Patty Jewett neighborhood, continuing his efforts to create inclusive spaces for gathering.
In addition to his community work, Mobolade served as vice president of business retention and expansion at the Colorado Springs Chamber & Economic Development Corporation. There, he played a crucial role in supporting local businesses and attracting new companies during a period of significant economic growth.
In 2019, Mobolade transitioned into the City of Colorado Springs as a small business development administrator, where he launched initiatives such as COSOpenForBiz.com and Permit Partner, and fostered collaboration between the public and private sectors.
In March 2022, Mobolade stepped down from his role to focus on his campaign for mayor.
