WASHINGTON, D.C. — A new episode of the CitiesSpeak podcast from the National League of Cities (NLC) features Mayor Brandon Scott (Baltimore, Md.) and Council President Zeke Cohen (Baltimore, Md.) in conversation with National League of Cities CEO and Executive Director Clarence Anthony.
Released ahead of Father’s Day, the episode explores how fatherhood shapes public service, leadership and policymaking, while highlighting Baltimore’s investments in early childhood, families and community wellbeing.
Drawing from their experiences as fathers and public officials, Scott and Cohen discuss the importance of supporting children and families, strengthening early childhood systems, investing in community resources and creating opportunities for the next generation. The conversation also explores how local leaders can balance public service with family life and model healthy, engaged fatherhood in their communities.
Highlights from the Conversation
On how fatherhood influences leadership:
“There is nothing that you think about, no action that you take that you don’t think, how is this gonna impact my children. And I think personally, I think that helps us be better leaders and more well-rounded leaders because we’re thinking everything through, and we’re also thinking that through the lens of the best, most close-watching eyes, and that’s the lens of a parent.” — Mayor Brandon Scott (Baltimore, Md.)
On investing in children and families:
“For me, this is really personal, flipping on its head how the city operated when I was a young person, where I was seen as a problem to solve, not something to invest in. And now we flip that on its head and we’re gonna keep going that way because it builds a better, stronger community, more vibrant community when you invest in young people now. You can pay now or pay later.” — Mayor Brandon Scott (Baltimore, Md.)
On the importance of early childhood investment:
“Everything we know about human cognitive development is those first five years, zero through five, are critical. It is always good investment to invest early in early childhood education.” — Council President Zeke Cohen (Baltimore, Md.)
On modern fatherhood and public leadership:
“Doing the work of being a dad, of being a husband, not taking it for granted, not being the photo op dad that just pops in for the selfie and the gram and then pops on out and leaves it to your wife to do all the hard work I think is something we both take extremely seriously as we talk about what it means to be a good father in public.” — Council President Zeke Cohen (Baltimore, Md.)
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 E. 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.
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