NLC kicks off roadshow celebrating organization’s 100th anniversary

A delegation from the MMA attended the NLC’s Congressional City Conference in Washington D.C. in March. Pictured are (l-r) Legislative Director Dave Koffman, MMA President & Waltham Councillor John McLaughlin, Executive Director Adam Chapdelaine and Deputy Legislative Director Jackie Lavender Bird.

The National League of Cities is marking its 100th anniversary this year with a nationwide roadshow that will include stops at 100 cities in every region of the country.

The roadshow began in late February in Lawrence, Kansas, where the NLC was founded in 1924 at the University of Kansas. The roadshow, which aims to spotlight the diversity, resilience and transformation of America’s communities, will culminate at the NLC’s City Summit conference in Tampa, Florida, in November.

In Lawrence, NLC Executive Director and CEO Clarence Anthony said the opportunity to gather at the University of Kansas “allows us to reflect on NLC’s history and look ahead to the opportunities the next 100 years will bring for America’s cities, towns, and villages.”

“We’ll be traveling from coast-to-coast,” he added, “visiting cities of all sizes to celebrate all that local governments and their residents have given to our country over the last century.”

Lawrence Mayor Bart Littlejohn said he was “thrilled” to welcome the roadshow, adding that the NLC’s 100th anniversary is “a testament to the enduring spirit of community and collaboration that defines our nation’s municipalities.”

Nathan Eberline, executive director of the League of Kansas Municipalities, said his organization, likewise, has “always prioritized serving our members by listening well and responding to local needs.”

“As cities face challenges like infrastructure renewal, affordable housing, and other critical issues, NLC remains an invaluable resource — connecting local leaders and amplifying their voices on the national stage,” he said.

The Lawrence event included a panel discussion about the founding of the NLC, what cities were experiencing during the early part of the last century that led to the creation of the organization, and the myriad ways the NLC has helped shape national policy on behalf of local governments over the last 100 years.

The panel included former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Henry Cisneros, who is also a former mayor of San Antonio, Texas, and a former president of the NLC.

In 1924, 10 state municipal leagues came together at the University of Kansas to create a new, national organization to serve as a clearinghouse for information about municipal government. Over the next 100 years, the nonpartisan National League of Cities has grown in size and influence, serving as a trusted resource for local leaders and municipal government staff.

Now based in Washington, D.C., the NLC serves as an advocate for the nation’s cities, towns and villages, and has played a historic role in shaping some of the country’s most significant pieces of public policy, including the creation of the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and the passage of the Clean Air and Clean Water Acts, the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act, the American Rescue Plan Act, and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.