These are essays about civic leadership in America (with a few comparisons to civic life in other countries). Cities are wonderfully complex environments, and I try never to think that local governments actually run them. Influence them, yes; but run them, no. So while you’ll find essays about government here, you’ll also find writings about the larger world of civic influence, which includes business leaders, nonprofits, philanthropists, special interests, neighborhood leaders, activists of all kinds, citizens . . . and crackpots (some of whom, it turns out, have something important to say.)
My hope is that these essays will help leaders in cities see problems and opportunities in more strategic ways, and show them how to use relationships, ideas, strategy, facilitation, and persuasion to resolve them.
I’ve written other articles and essays about cities over the years, sometimes for magazines and sometimes for newspapers like the New York Times. If you’d like to see some of those articles, please visit my firm’s website at www.civic-strategies.com. You can also find more biographical detail about me there.