Building Connections Between Neighbors and Neighborhoods with Mayor Yemi Mobolade
Social isolation and loneliness were issues that really came to the forefront during the pandemic. When everything shut down five years ago, Colorado Springs Mayor Yemi took it upon himself to look for creative ways to grow connections between residents and build a sense of community, which is how the One Thousand Gatherings initiative was created.For more information, visit us at nlc.org.
--------
30:24
Accelerating America's Housing Comeback with DC Mayor Muriel Bowser
When Mayor Muriel Bowser began her second term in 2019, she set an ambitious goal of creating 36,000 new housing units in Washington, DC by 2025. Six years later, the city has exceeded that goal, and today, Mayor Bowser co-chairs NLC's America's Housing Comeback Advisory Group: a leadership table for housing policy leaders and innovators in the public and private sectors to meet the moment for housing together. In this episode, Mayor Bowser explains why the moment to address housing in America is now and how her hometown is leading the charge.For more information, visit us at nlc.org.
--------
22:54
Elevating the Perspective of Local Leadership in Congress with Rep. Greg Stanton
Rep. Greg Stanton represents Arizona's 4th District in Congress, and as a former Phoenix councilmember and mayor, he co-chairs the Former Local Elected Leaders Caucus in the House of Representatives. Rep. Stanton joined the main stage at the 2025 Congressional City Conference for a conversation with Clarence Anthony about infrastructure, federal funding and why local leaders bring an especially important voice to Congress.For more information, visit us at nlc.org.
--------
17:43
Examining the Past & Present of America's Cities with Former NLC Presidents
As the National League of Cities begins its second century of service to America's cities, towns and villages, in this episode, we share a conversation with three former NLC leaders about their unique perspectives on municipal leadership and NLC's impact over the years. This conversation was recorded at NLC's Centennial City Summit in Tampa, Florida in November 2024.For more information, visit us at nlc.org.
--------
17:44
Building Ready & Resilient Cities with NLC President Mayor Steve Patterson
NLC President Mayor Steve Patterson of Athens, Ohio, joins Clarence Anthony live in the studio to talk about his vision as NLC president for the year ahead. They discuss how his background as a Major in the Air Force and a former college professor has influenced his leadership as mayor, and how he thinks cities can better collaborate across borders.For more information, visit us at nlc.org.
CitiesSpeak with Clarence Anthony, a podcast from the National League of Cities, gives listeners an insider’s view of what local leadership in America means today. Featuring conversations between NLC CEO and Executive Director Clarence Anthony and city leaders, policy experts and other guests, the show gets into the biggest issues, challenges and topics facing America’s cities, towns and villages today. Whether it’s talking about what it’s like to have residents protesting on their front lawn or discussing the creative things local governments are doing with their infrastructure dollars, CitiesSpeak gives listeners insight into what’s on the minds of mayors and council members across the country.