Advisory Council Activities

Advisory Council Members are responsible for (along with the CityFutures Panels) the NLC CityFutures Program.  The Advisory Council's primary responsibility is to conduct assessments of trends and changes occurring in the nation's cities and towns. 

Please click here to learn more about the Advisory Council's Activities!

Advisory Council Futures Work - Trends and Changes Assessment

The Advisory Council's trends and changes work focuses on helping local elected officials recognize and understand the long term implications of trends and changes occurring around them so they can build better strategies for the future.

In July 2003, the NLC Advisory Council embraced a renewed charge by the Board of Directors to examine the major trends and changes affecting America’s cities and towns today and in years to come in order to 

• Gain a better understanding of trends and changes affecting America’s cities;  
• Help shape NLC activities and programs so they reflect members concerns, interests, and objectives;
• Produce real outcomes for cities and towns that affect federal policies, strengthen the ability of municipal officials to serve their communities, and inform and shape policy debates and public discussion.

An ongoing area of focus for the Advisory Council's trends and changes work revolves around the topic of Economic Vitality.  Recognizing that America's cities and towns operate on a different playing field than they did in the twentieth century, the Advisory Council's work on Economic Vitality is designed to help NLC members understand how they can play pivotal roles in helping their cities thrive and be resilient in the changing global economy.  To learn more about NLC's and the Advisory Council's work on Economic Vitality, click here.

Futures Reports 1992 -2006

NLC's Advisory Council's Futures Report aim to study the most significant trends and changes affecting the nation's cities and towns and to help local elected leaders anticipate and address the needs of their communities.

Below is a list of all past Advisory Council Future Reports, in pdf when available.  To obtain published copies of these reports contact Hope Hayes by phone at (202) 626-3030 or by email at hayes@nlc.org.