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Congress of Cities to Focus on Thriving in Tough Economic Times
by Cyndy Liedtke Hogan
Thousands of local officials will gather in San Antonio for the Congress of Cities and Exposition this week to focus on how cities can navigate through, and thrive, during the economic downturn.
The conference, being held November 10-14, will feature general sessions, workshops, Leadership Training Institute seminars, an Exhibit Hall full of municipal vendors, a new Member Services area, a City Showcase and mobile workshops.
Key topics to be addressed at the conference during policy meetings, general sessions and workshops include building a partnership with the federal government, economic development, implementing policies and programs, infrastructure, public finance, public safety and sustainability. The conference program can be viewed at here.
The conference will conclude with the NLC Annual Business Meeting, where the membership will elect NLC’s Officers and Board of Directors for the upcoming year and vote on policy issues.
General Session Speakers
Michael Strautmanis, chief of staff to Valerie Jarrett, the senior advisor and assistant to the President for intergovernmental relations and public engagement, will be the speaker for the opening general session on Thursday. He will represent the Obama Administration and speak about NLC’s partnership with the President and the White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs.
NLC President Kathleen Novak, mayor, Northglenn, Colo., will also speak at the Thursday general session. She will reflect on her time as president, focusing on the partnerships she has built over the past year on behalf of NLC.
The Friday general session will feature, William Freund, chief economist emeritus of the New York Stock Exchange. Freund, who served as the Stock Exchange’s chief economist for 18 years, will speak to delegates about economic recovery and the state of the economy.
Ed Begley Jr., actor, author, long-time environmental activist and host of “Living with Ed” on HGTV, will focus on sustainability during the Saturday, November 14, morning general session.
Influential political author and historian Doris Kearns Goodwin will speak at the final general session, the Delegates Luncheon, on Saturday afternoon. She will talk about leadership in times of crisis.
Conference general sessions will be webcast live on NLC TV, which will also provide taped coverage of many other conference activities, including selected workshops.
Other Activities
New NLC members and first-time Congress of Cities attendees can learn how to make the most of the conference, and NLC membership, at the New Member and First Time Attendee Welcome, which will take place Wednesday at 5:15 p.m. This session will include an opportunity to participate in small group discussions led by seasoned NLC members and show how members can be involved in different NLC groups.
The conference also includes a community service project, a KaBOOM! Playground build. Conference attendees will build a playground in just one day at San Antonio’s West End Park. To register and for more information, visit the KaBOOM! Playground Build Information desk in the registration area of the convention center.
The final conference activity will give attendees an opportunity to experience true Texas culture with a closing event to be held at the Institute of Texan Cultures. The event will take place the evening of November 14 from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m.; shuttle service will be available from conference hotels to the nearby museum.
Details: For more information on the Congress of Cities, visit www.nlc.org. Online registration for the conference is closed, therefore all adjustments and additional registrations will need to be made onsite during the registration hours at the conference.
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