Maureen Coffey, Vice Chair of the Arlington County Board

“The Next Generation of Local Leadership”

Maureen Coffey, Vice Chair of the Arlington County Board

Generational Change Comes to Every Community

Season Three of Community Catalysts opens with a conversation that speaks directly to a question many civic leaders are facing right now: how new leaders step forward, and what it actually takes for them to be welcomed and trusted.

My guest is Maureen Coffey, Vice Chair of the Arlington County (VA) Board and the youngest person ever elected to that role. Arlington sits immediately next to Washington, DC, which means local leadership there often feels national decisions quickly and personally. The pressures are real, and the expectations are high.

In this episode, Maureen reflects on deciding to run in 2023 and taking office in January 2024 without assuming that trust would come automatically. As she puts it, “A lot of people say they want new leaders—but we don’t always make it easy for them to step in or be taken seriously.” That observation should resonate with anyone who has served long enough to see leadership change hands.

She also speaks plainly about what people now expect from those in public roles. “It’s not enough to make a decision,” she notes. “People want to know you’re accessible, that you’re listening, and that you’re willing to engage—even when it’s uncomfortable.”

This episode isn’t about age. Leadership turnover is constant. What’s changing is how trust is earned. Accessibility, authenticity, and presence are no longer optional. They are how civic trust is built and sustained—by new leaders and established ones alike.

If you care about who steps forward next in your community, and about the role you play in shaping that path, this conversation is worth your time.

Once a month, Community Catalysts features a Northern Virginia–focused episode sponsored by RELI – Regional Elected Leaders Initiative at the Schar School of Policy and Government. I’m grateful for RELI’s support in making these conversations possible.

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An Invitation to Share Your Leadership Story

Community Catalysts is built on the belief that some of the most valuable leadership insights are earned quietly, through real service in real communities.

If you serve in a civic leadership role—and you’d be open to sharing hard-won lessons from your own experience—I invite you to consider being a guest on a future episode.

You can learn more and volunteer by completing a brief guest questionnaire at: www.CatalystGuest.us 

Every submission is reviewed personally. Your story may help another leader see their own work more clearly, or feel less alone in the responsibilities they carry.

Thank you for the work you do—and for considering this invitation.