Washington, D.C. — A new episode of the CitiesSpeak podcast from the National League of Cities (NLC) features Ayesha Rascoe, host of NPR’s Weekend Edition Sunday, in conversation with Vincent Evans, Executive Director of the Congressional Black Caucus, recorded live at the 2026 Congressional City Conference in Washington, D.C. The episode explores how local leaders can translate community priorities into national policy conversations while advancing equity, leadership and corporate accountability.
During the episode, Evans reflects on the critical role local leaders play in shaping federal policy, emphasizing that the most effective advocacy is grounded in the lived experiences of residents. The conversation highlights equity and inclusion, civic leadership and coordination across levels of government as essential to driving meaningful progress.
Highlights from the Conversation
On the role of local leaders in national policy:
“Cities, towns and villages are where policy becomes services, where ideas become actions and where progress becomes real in people’s lives — and that’s why local voices must shape national policy conversations.” — Vincent Evans, Executive Director of the Congressional Black Caucus.
On navigating equity in today’s political climate:
“We are in a time when even the word ‘equitable’ is a bad word in some places… so what does it mean to hold the line, and how do leaders continue to advocate for their communities in that environment?” — Ayesha Rascoe, Host, NPR’s Weekend Edition Sunday
On coordination between local and federal leaders:
“We can ill-afford blurry vision… we’ve got to get coordinated, stay aligned and make sure we’re saying the same thing across every level of government.” — Vincent Evans, Executive Director of the Congressional Black Caucus
The CitiesSpeak podcast features conversations with leaders and policy experts on the biggest issues facing America’s cities, towns and villages.
Listen to the full conversation, also available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube.
About CitiesSpeak
Each episode of NLC’s podcast, CitiesSpeak with Clarence Anthony, dives into a critical issue facing local leaders today, featuring conversations with elected leaders and policy experts from across the country. The podcast is a relaxed and entertaining resource for local policymakers looking for ideas and information to bring back to their communities. The podcast is hosted by NLC CEO and Executive Director Clarence Anthony, who previously served as mayor of South Bay, Florida for more than two decades.
New, episodes of CitiesSpeak are available on all major podcasting platforms and on YouTube. If you have feedback for the show or ideas for future guests, email us at citiesspeakpodcast@nlc.org. Happy listening!
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