Official Publication of the National League of Cities OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES
NATION’S CITIES WEEKLY
Volume 35, Number 14 | April 9, 2012
IN THIS ISSUE
www.nlc.org
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New Publication Highlights Positive Crossroads Between
Mexican Consulates and Immigrant Communities
PAGE 5
Emerging Issues: Mr. Murray and the Decay of
American Virtue: Inequality III
Partners Help Cities Serve Veterans, Military Families
Veterans of the U.S. armed
forces are returning home in
droves. Combat troops are
withdrawing from Iraq and
Afghanistan, and there are pro-
posed reductions in personnel
at overseas posts in Germany,
among other places.
For America’s cities and
towns this trend represents both
an opportunity and a challenge.
The opportunity is to attract
these mostly young, talented
and highly motivated individu-
als and their families to a partic-
ular community. The challenge
is to be aware of and sensitive
to the unique needs of return-
ing veterans, all of whom will
need access to employment and
housing and many of whom
will need health care and reha-
bilitative services and educa-
tional opportunities.
Likewise, for those service
members who remain on active
duty, their families continue
to face unique challenges due
to the stress of separation and
frequent moves.
Fortunately, the nation’s col-
lective attention is focusing on
Brad Cooper, executive director of First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill
Biden’s Joining Forces initiative, speaks to NLC members during a briefing held
at the White House in conjunction with the Congressional City Conference./
Photo by Steve Schneider
by James Brooks
group of veterans whose experi-
ence of war has no precedent
during the last 40 years. It is for
this reason that NLC entered
into a partnership with The
Home Depot Foundation in
support of the housing reha-
bilitation needs of disabled vet-
erans.
2012 are the resources of a
national “Repair Corps” pro-
gram. Pilot tested among 36
Habitat affiliates in 21 states,
this program provides up to
$800,000 to serve the needs of
U.S. veterans. In addition to
repairing roofing and weath-
erization, this program also
installs wheelchair ramps and
retrofits doorways and bath-
rooms to accommodate dis-
abled veterans.
Community Blueprint
Network
the sacrifices and dedication of
those who wear the uniforms of
the military services and their
families.
NLC’s leadership recently
met with White House officials
to talk about the ways that the
country, at both the nation-
al and community level, can
support veterans and military
families. At a briefing held dur-
ing NLC’s Congressional City
Conference in March, Brad
Cooper, executive director of
First Lady Michelle Obama and
Dr. Jill Biden’s Joining Forces
initiative, stressed that partner-
ships with municipal govern-
ments and community leaders
are needed.
Habitat for Humanity
In a focused observance
of Memorial Day (May 28)
Habitat for Humanity will
again channel the resources of
1,600 chapters in 2,000 cities
and towns on housing con-
struction and rehabilitation for
the nations’ veterans. New in
Drafted under the auspices
of the Points of Light Institute
and an advisory council of 55
veterans and military service
organizations, the network rep-
resents a needs assessment, a
pathway for collaboration and
decision making and an “idea
mart” for examples of promis-
ing practices across a set of eight
disciplines. (Those disciplines
include health and wellness,
employment, housing support
and education, among others).
see page 7, column 1
May LTI to Focus On Economic Development
by J. Katie McConnell
Newspaper Handling
Economic development is about jobs
and future prosperity — two things that
local elected officials take very seriously.
It is also a complex policy area that needs
long-term vision and commitment, but
is commonly subject to urgent calls for
results, often for understandable rea-
sons, such as high unemployment. To
do economic development well, cities
need strategic elected leaders to help
develop and communicate a common
vision, provide committed policy and
regulatory support and motivate stake-
holders to action.
The upcoming Leadership Training
Institute seminar “Formulating
Effective Economic Development
Policy, Marketing and Communication
Strategies,” to be held May 17-19 in
Manhattan Beach, Calif., will help local
elected officials develop their leadership
capacity in economic development.
City leaders will join colleagues to
hear from leading scholars, economic
development experts, business leaders
and trainers presenting an engaging
program that will examine workable
solutions for their community.
Reduced group rates (including
buy two, get one free) are available
to encourage cities to come as teams.
The seminar is an opportunity for city
officials and staff to learn together, get
on the same page about critical eco-
nomic development issues and be better
equipped to translate new ideas into
action back home.
Details: For a special team registra-
tion rate, please contact the Leadership
Training Institute at (202) 626-3170 or
lti@nlc.org.
