Community Catalysts

Milton Brown never planned on serving on a school board. His first career was in law enforcement, where he survived multiple life-threatening encounters—including one that ended his service with the Florida Highway Patrol. Returning home to Washington County, Florida, he became a pastor and eventually stepped into education leadership.

His election c...

What does it take to transform a small-town community theater into a thriving cultural force? For Pamme Jones, Executive and Artistic Director of the Ridgefield Theater Barn, it started not with a budget or a building plan—but with a conversation about values. In this episode, Pamme shares the remarkable 15-year journey that began with a micromanaging board and a debate over light bulbs, and evolved into a bold, inclus...

Dr. Peter Noonan has served in senior education leadership roles across Northern Virginia, including assistant superintendent in Fairfax County, superintendent of City of Fairfax Schools, and superintendent of Falls Church City Public Schools. Now, as Executive Director of the Washington Area Schools Study Council, he's focused on two urgent challenges: building pipelines to prepare the next generation of superintenden...

When Dr. Karen Barber became superintendent in 2020, she faced a pandemic and a financial crisis all at once. In this episode, she shares how a clear mission—to love, educate, and prepare all students for graduation and a successful future—helped guide her district through uncertainty. From asking staff "What's your superpower?" to building trust one relationship at a time, Dr. Barber reflects on leadership grounded in...

What does it take to bring a community together around an issue as painful and polarizing as the overdose crisis?

For Marissa Knapp, Director of Overdose Prevention for Broome County, New York, it means leading with empathy, persistence, and a deep commitment to meeting people where they are. In this episode, she shares how she builds trust across difference, navigates stigma, and keeps momentum in a field...

What does it take to stand firm in the face of outrage—even when it costs you friendships, safety, and peace of mind?

Rebecca StClair, Vice Mayor and Commissioner at Large for Muskegon, Michigan, shares what it's like to step into local leadership and almost immediately face protests, national scrutiny, and personal attacks over a deeply controversial land sale. But this isn't just a story of conflict—it's...

Public schools are no longer the default—and that means they must no longer assume that their value speaks for itself. In this episode, Brian Stephens, CEO of Caissa K12, joins Community Catalysts with a clear call to action: if districts want families to choose them, they must speak up with purpose, clarity, and conviction.

Brian shares what it takes for school leaders to break out of a compliance mindset...

What does collaborative leadership really look like? David Tarter shares lessons from five terms as Mayor of Falls Church, Virginia—including leading a major high school redevelopment and coordinating Northern Virginia's COVID response. Now at George Mason University, he's helping shape the next generation of community builders. In this episode, David reflects on the power of patience, vision, and public engagement to ...

This special episode of Community Catalysts offers something different: no guest, no interview—just a moment of pause. As Labor Day approaches and a new school year begins, host Matt Lehrman shares a personal essay honoring the burdens school leaders carry every day. From public scrutiny to policy strain, from emotional fatigue to civic responsibility, this reflection speaks not only to school board members and adminis...

On March 14, 2025, an EF-3 tornado tore through Cave City, Arkansas, devastating homes, businesses, and infrastructure. But recovery didn't begin in offices or press briefings—it began in the dark, with neighbors wielding chainsaws and community leaders figuring it out in real time.

Now, just over four months later, Mayor Jonas Anderson offers a thorough and candid debrief of what it took to lead through c...

In the very first episode of Community Catalysts, Audrey Hartness-Reese—who serves both as a City Councilmember and as Pastor of Westminster Presbyterian Church in Westminster, South Carolina—shared how her calling to ministry led her into civic leadership.

Today, she returns to the podcast with a deeply personal update, recorded live and in person at the annual conference of the Municipal Association of S...

Former Arlington County Board member, Virginia Secretary of Transportation, and lifelong public servant John Milliken reflects on five decades of civic leadership—from shaping transit-oriented development to forging regional collaboration. With wisdom earned across local, regional, and state government, he shares lessons on navigating uncertainty, moral decision-making, and staying engaged even when the road ahead is u...

Concord, NH City Councilor Jennifer Kretovic reflects on two decades of local leadership—from a downtown revitalization shaped by 70 community meetings to a recent golf course upgrade that sparked sharp online opposition in the post-COVID climate.

She shares what's changed in public discourse, how personal attacks have become more common, and why staying grounded in purpose matters more...

You want to make a difference. But in civic leadership, doing good isn't enough—it matters how you do it.

In this episode, John Scola—Senior VP of Advancement at Boys & Girls Clubs of the Valley and Chair of the Global Ethics Committee for the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP)—shares real-world insights on leading with integrity.

What does it mean to act ethically under pressure? And how do you build trust when doi...

What happens when someone walks into City Hall, starts filming, and refuses to explain why? For many local officials, that's the reality of so-called "First Amendment audits." In this timely episode, Wade Beltramo, General Counsel of NYCOM, helps us navigate the legal and emotional challenges behind these confrontational encounters.

Wade explains the strong deference courts give to First Amendment rights—e...

Leadership doesn't always begin with a plan. For Mayor Deborah Hudson of Wilton, Alabama, it began with a simple errand—paying her water bill—and turned into a moment of truth for her town. With the mayor, clerk, utility staff, and most of the council gone, Wilton was in chaos. She could have walked away. Instead, she stepped up.

In this episode, Mayor Hudson shares how she took the reins in a time of diso...

Recorded live for the Regional Elected Leaders Initiative (RELI), this episode features a dialogue with Speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates Don Scott on the statewide impacts of shifting federal policy. Speaking to local leaders across Northern Virginia, the Speaker outlines the work of the Emergency Committee on the Impacts of Federal Workforce and Funding Reductions and discusses the need for fact-based, bipar...

"Leading with Cariño" with Barbara Bencomo, Chief Administrative Officer, Las Cruces, New Mexico

Description:

What does it look like when a city builds compassion into its culture—not as sentiment, but as strategy? Barbara Bencomo, Chief Administrative Officer of Las Cruces, New Mexico, shares how the city's philosophy of Cariño—a Spanish word for care and kindness—guides b...

In this extended episode recorded live for the Regional Elected Leaders Initiative (RELI), former Alexandria Mayor Justin Wilson offers a candid look at what it means to govern through complexity. Reflecting on his years in office—and on the pressures facing today's local leaders—Wilson shares insights on public trust, political risk, and the essential role of local government in times of national uncertainty. From man...