by Latricia Good

As community representatives, local leaders hear from citizens on a regular basis about what it takes to make their city a great place to live. And while most local leaders have an idea of what is needed to improve quality of life in their hometowns, fewer know exactly what it takes to get there.

At this year?s Congress of Cities and Exposition in Reno, Nev., Dec. 5-9, NLC will tackle this issue with the workshop series, ?How to Make Your City a Great Place to Live.?

From the quality of schools and recreation to safety and security, many factors contribute to a community?s quality of life. Local governments play a unique role in improving these factors, but with little resources, this task can be daunting. Through this workshop series, NLC will educate delegates about the array of programs and resources available to help them achieve economic and social success in their communities.

Delegates will learn how to effectively promote quality programs and build connections with community stakeholders to increase successful outcomes. Panelists will highlight unique opportunities to use city programs and partnerships to promote healthy lifestyles and address the diverse needs of citizens.

Those attending the workshops will also get an opportunity to learn how they can gain positive recognition for their city?s winning programs. Sample workshops in this series include:

? How to Get Your City Recognized as one of America?s Great Places To Live;

? Strategies for Building an Inclusive Community;

? Rediscovering America?s Urban Waterfronts;

? Municipal Leaders, Police and Youth Working Together to Keep Children Safe;

? Promoting Healthy Lifestyles While Combating Obesity; and

? Preparing Your City to Effectively Deal with an Aging Community.

Details: For more information on the Congress of Cities and to register online, visit www.nlc.org.