Bill Danielson never saw himself in politics. But after 35 years in business, he came into public office with a strong personality and a drive to get things done.
Some people carry a presence that immediately commands both respect and curiosity. Milton Brown is one of those people. Read more about his journey to public service
Highlights from the September 2025 Local Leadership Chat
How Do You Lead with Inclusion, Respect, and Joy? Fifteen years ago, a conversation about light bulbs led to a radical reimagining of what an organization could be.
What would be wonderful for your community to achieve?
Dr.Peter Noonan brings decades of leadership experience, but he’s not looking backward. He’s looking straight into two of the biggest challenges facing public education and civic life.
Policies, programs, and infrastructure matter, but they only succeed when people are willing to engage. This is where leadership becomes human work.
In this week’s Community Catalysts podcast, Dr. Karen Barber shares what it meant to step into leadership and the simple but powerful mission she returns to.
What does it take to lead on an issue that divides communities, breaks hearts, and rarely makes the evening news unless someone dies? In this week’s Community Catalysts, Marissa Knapp offers a rare glimpse into the front lines of local leadership in the face of the overdose crisis.
Highlights from the August 2025 Local Leadership Chat: Beyond Burnout: Leading When You’re Exhausted
Rebecca StClair, Vice Mayor and Commissioner at Large for Muskegon, Michigan, stepped into public office through a grassroots campaign, and almost immediately found herself in the center of a deeply controversial issue—facing protests, public backlash, and personal attacks that would shake even long-serving leaders.
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.