Washington, D.C. — A new episode of the CitiesSpeak podcast from the National League of Cities (NLC) features Ashley Harpstreith, Executive Director of the Wyoming Association of Municipalities (WAM), discussing the critical role small cities and towns play in strengthening local government and shaping communities across America. Released as part of NLC’s Small Cities Month celebration, the episode highlights how collaboration, partnership and local leadership help small communities navigate major challenges while delivering results for residents.
Hosted by Seantae Byers, Senior Executive and Director for Member and Partner Engagement at NLC, the conversation explores Wyoming’s new affiliate partnership with NLC, the unique strengths of small communities and the importance of national collaboration for local leaders. Harpstreith also reflects on the challenges facing municipalities today, including housing affordability, workforce shortages, infrastructure needs and limited local resources.
Highlights from the Conversation
On the strength of Wyoming’s small communities:
“We say in Wyoming, it is just one small town with one very long Main Street. Even our big first-class cities and our more metropolitan areas would qualify as small towns with less than 50,000 in population. The beauty of that quaint feeling is connectivity and the ability to get things done.” — Ashley Harpstreith, Executive Director, Wyoming Association of Municipalities
On why Wyoming strengthened its partnership with NLC:
“This is a no-brainer as 95 of our 99 communities meet that requirement. Out of all the states, we’re probably getting the best bang for our buck for what NLC has to offer, coupled with the representation in D.C. on issues that represent all of our communities.” — Ashley Harpstreith, Executive Director, Wyoming Association of Municipalities
On collaboration among local governments:
“It seems like we get a lot more done when we’re all kind of rowing in the same direction and idea sharing and streamlining that cost together. The collaboration, the idea sharing, resource sharing is invaluable when working on hard problems that require a lot of brain power and connectivity.” — Ashley Harpstreith, Executive Director, Wyoming Association of Municipalities
On the value of local leadership in small communities:
“To all the local leaders in small towns and rural communities across the country: thank you for your tireless service, your commitment to family and community and for strengthening our shared future.” — Ashley Harpstreith, Executive Director, Wyoming Association of Municipalities
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. Happy listening!
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