Public schools are no longer the default. They must no longer assume that their value speaks for itself. If districts want families to choose them, they must speak up with purpose, clarity, and conviction.
What Rebuilding a High School Teaches Us About Civic Leadership. When David Tarter became Mayor of Falls Church, Virginia, he faced a daunting challenge: how could a small city afford to rebuild its crumbling high school without overburdening taxpayers?
As we head into the Labor Day weekend, I want to offer something different—a short podcast episode, no guest this time, just a moment to pause and reflect.
In this instructive and candid conversation, Mayor Anderson shares what it took to lead through crisis: the urgency of coordinating volunteers, the scramble to restore communication, and the realities of local, state, and federal response.
When people help shape the future, abundance gains a soul—and communities thrive.
Reverend Audrey Hartness-Reese holds dual roles: she’s the Reverend at Westminster Presbyterian Church and—until recently—a councilmember in her small South Carolina town. But in this conversation, she opens up about the decision to step away from public office.
From his early days in Arlington civic life to serving as Virginia’s Secretary of Transportation, John Milliken shares what it really takes to lead through uncertainty—and how collaboration, clarity, and character make all the difference.
It’s no secret that public meetings have changed. What once came through face-to-face dialogue now too often shows up as sharp online opposition—frequently anonymous, often personal, and increasingly disconnected from the full context of the work.
What does leadership look like when simply serving your community carries real risk? How do local leaders stay focused, stay visible, and stay true to their purpose when threats—both direct and ambient—keep rising?
In the worlds of local government and community service, we’re constantly trying to do good. We serve missions, constituents, and causes that matter. But here’s the harder question: What happens when doing good comes into conflict with doing right?
What happens when someone walks into City Hall with a camera, refuses to explain why they’re filming, and later posts the footage online—framing the interaction as evidence of government secrecy or misconduct?
The prior mayor had just resigned. So had the clerk, utility staff, and most of the council. With too few members to form a quorum, Wilton was frozen. And then Ms. Hudson walked in to pay her water bill. What happened next is the heart of this week’s Community Catalysts.
Join Speaker Don Scott of Virginia on Community Catalysts for a deep and necessary reflection on what leadership looks like when everything feels like it’s in flux.
What happens when a city weaves care and compassion into the very fabric of government operations? In the latest episode of Community Catalysts, Barbara Bencomo, Chief Administrative Officer of Las Cruces, New Mexico, offers a compelling answer.
What does it really take to lead a community through uncertainty, when resources are tight, trust is fraying, and the political climate feels like a minefield? In our newest Community Catalysts episode, we go deep with Justin Wilson, former Mayor of Alexandria, Virginia. In a candid conversation, Wilson speaks with rare openness about what local leadership looks like in this volatile moment—not in theory, but in practice.