All Influence Is Local | Building Stronger Communities with Clarence E. Anthony
Is all influence truly local?
Clarence Anthony, CEO of the National League of Cities and host of the City Speak podcast, discusses the importance of inclusive leadership, the lessons from his early mayoral career, and his strategies in navigating complex political landscapes. From inclusive leadership to the power of showing up, Clarence shares how meeting communities where they are—both literally and figuratively—has shaped his approach to leadership. We reflect on how trust is built block by block and why elevating local voices can lead to nationwide impact. Plus, a personal story about Clarence’s mom reminds us why leadership isn’t a solo act—it’s a community effort.
Takeaways:
- Step Up and Be Part of the Solution: Rather than focusing on complaints, individuals are encouraged to take initiative and contribute to solutions within their communities. This means being proactive, finding ways to give back, and remaining resilient through challenges.
- Engage Stakeholders Early: Effective leadership begins with early stakeholder engagement. Involving key voices from the start helps reduce opposition, save time, and build broader collaboration and support for initiatives.
- All Politics Is Local: As the saying goes, “all politics is local.” Local government remains the most trusted level of governance, and leaders who focus on the direct needs of their communities can leverage that trust to drive meaningful change.
- Humanize Local Leaders: Sharing the personal motivations, challenges, and stories of local leaders helps foster stronger connections with the public. This approach breaks down negative stereotypes and builds empathy and understanding within the community.
- Highlight Positive Stories: Uplifting positive stories and successful community projects fosters a sense of optimism and shared progress. Celebrating these wins can inspire others and promote the replication of effective practices across communities.
- Leverage Technology for Transparency—But Stay Vigilant: Technology can be a powerful tool to increase transparency and engagement. However, it must be used responsibly. Leaders should embrace digital tools while remaining alert to potential misuse or the spread of misinformation.
- Equip Leaders with the Right Tools: Access to tools, resources, and support is essential for effective governance. Providing training, technical assistance, federal advocacy, and best practices enables local governments to serve their communities more effectively.
Quote of the Show:
- "You have to focus on your own community first. I think most residents—no matter what’s happening in Washington, D.C.—tend to be most concerned about their local community. It's like looking at a map of your town: the first place your eyes go is your own street, your own home. That’s how our residents are, and surveys back that up. They show the most trusted level of government is the local level—the town and village level—because people see those leaders every day. There's trust in that closeness."
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Creators and Guests
Host
Anthony Shop
Anthony Shop believes in the power of people-centered branding and marketing to create a bright future. He chairs the National Digital Roundtable, the premier convener of digital innovators, leaders and policy shapers. Anthony also is the Co-Founder and Chief Strategy Officer of Social Driver, a digital services firm that helps companies and non-profits establish winning strategies with social media, websites, creative, and advertising. An enthusiastic presenter and teacher, he has led executive-level training for Amazon, PepsiCo, NASA, The British Embassy and the Bipartisan Policy Center. He has been recognized as an “OUTstanding LGBT Role Model” by The Financial Times, “40 Under 40” by The Washington Business Journal, and Business Leader of the Year by the DC Chamber of Commerce. A former newspaper reporter, Anthony was the first new media professional elected to the National Press Club’s Board of Governors. He currently serves on the boards of Leadership Greater Washington and LearnServe International. He earned his MBA from The George Washington University School of Business, where he teaches as an adjunct lecturer.
Producer
Robert Krueger
Robert is an Executive Director for The Communications Board, an organization with the mission of providing high-quality professional development for every communicator in every location. He is also the Global Lead for Partnership Communications at Gensler, the world’s largest architecture and design firm. Prior to his current role, he performed executive and CEO communications for Gensler, and was the senior director of public relations and social media at the Urban Land Institute. He obtained an MA in Communications and an MA in History from George Mason University. He did his undergraduate studies at the University of Missouri-Columbia. In addition, Robert has taught communications at universities including George Mason University, West Virginia University, and the University of Florida. Robert currently serves as Immediate-Past President for the Public Relations Society of America’s National Capital Chapter (PRSA-NCC) -- the nonprofit’s largest chapter.