Virginia Takes Long Beach (and Brings Home a Few Lessons)
Friends, what a week! We flew 2,500 miles to the ICMA Annual Conference in Long Beach. I’m pretty sure we brought some Virginia warmth with us, and I know we came home with plenty of inspiration. If you couldn’t make the trip, don’t worry. The session content is waiting for you in the conference app, and no airport snacks are required.
I owe a big, heartfelt thank-you to the VLGMA members who took the stage and made us proud: Bonnie Svrcek, Monica Spells, Valmarie Turner, Amy Snider, Briana Evans, Sam Sanders, Aaron Grisdale, Shannon Flanagan-Watson, Dr. Ramia Gupta, Kirstyn Jovanich, and Dr. Stephanie Davis. You gave generously of your time and stories, and it showed.
Those sessions felt a little like a Virginia family reunion, with better slides. Our members walked us through how to build a Women’s Institute that lasts. Charlottesville shared its “On the Spot” communications work, which made me want to borrow every idea. Danville told the story of its national award-winning work on redevelopment and economic mobility. Loudoun reminded us to take care of ourselves and to practice “caring less, more.” Herndon and Harrisonburg made the case for strong Assistant CAOs and how they support the CAO. I could not have been prouder to call this team my colleagues.
The annual conference always gives me a chance to reconnect, recharge my sense of purpose, and sneak in a little rest. This year, we also heard Simon Sinek and Jon Meacham. I’m a Simon Sinek fan through and through, but I’ve been thinking about Jon Meacham comments since the conference.
Meacham reminded us that America is no stranger to hard times, and that local leaders can draw on that history to build trust and give our communities hope. Nearly a century ago, the country was finding its footing after the Spanish flu. Many of us in this profession steered our own communities through COVID-19, and we’re still a little tired. We’ve done hard things before, and we’ll do them again.
As you head into a busy season of supporting staff through elections, welcoming new faces to your councils and boards, and navigating some tough conversations about development and data centers, here are a few of his thoughts to take with you.
Won’t You Be My Neighbor?
“If we can’t see each other as neighbors, it doesn’t work,” Meacham said, and I felt that one. Some days, our communities, and honestly, sometimes we ourselves, could use a little Mr. Roger's energy. We are going to disagree, and that’s part of democracy. But at the end of the day, the person across the table at a public hearing is still our neighbor, not our opponent. (Cardigan optional. 🙂 )
Three Habits to Carry Into the New Year
Practice empathy. Try walking a mile in someone else’s shoes, especially when you don’t agree with where those shoes are headed.
Stay curious. Ask the “why,” question your assumptions, and stay a lifelong learner. The best leaders I know never stop asking questions.
Speak honestly. Trust grows when we tell the truth: about what’s hard and about what we’re doing to fix it. People can handle a hard truth far better than they can handle silence.
Thank you for all you do to keep your communities running, especially the parts nobody sees. I’m grateful to lead alongside you. Let’s be good neighbors this season, to our residents and to each other.
With gratitude and a little leftover West Coast sunshine,
India Adams-Jacobs, MPA, ICMA-CM
President, VLGMA