“The fierce urgency of now,” as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. stated, “is long overdue. We are the ones who can forge real change in our own communities. As our cities, towns, and counties rebuild from the pandemic, we can create a new foundation that replaces white supremacy and racism with an aggressive respect for human rights.”

As a thought leader, ICMA is committed to creating and supporting thriving communities. As part of this commitment, ICMA has created—in partnership with the Kettering Foundation and the National Civic League—the Leadership Institute on Race, Equity, and Inclusion.

The institute supports the ICMA Executive Board’s statement regarding systemic racism, and more specifically the commitment to: “Engage our members and partners in a process of listening to understand what our profession needs in order to deliver on the work of our mission and vision through the lens of equity and inclusion.”

The institute will offer local government participants interactive learning, superlative instructors, networking with colleagues, and engaging discussions of the key leadership issues surrounding racial equity. Participants will embark on a 12- to 18-month journey to transform themselves, their community, and the local government profession into something greater than it was when they started.

Join us in welcoming the participants selected for the inaugural class of 2021–2022.

KRISTI ADAY |  Assistant City Manager | New Braunfels, Texas

LUNDA ASMANI |  Chief Financial Officer | New Canaan, Connecticut

JAMES BENNETT, ICMA-CM | City Manager | Biddeford, Maine

DAVID CLINE |  City Administrator | Tukwila, Washington

PAM DAVIS | Assistant City Manager | Boulder, Colorado

RAYMOND GONZALES JR. | County Manager | Adams County, Colorado

SARA HENSLEY | Deputy City Manager | Denton, Texas

MARIA V. KACHADOORIAN | City Manager | Chula Vista, California

LAUREN LAI | Finance Director | Monterey, California

ORYAN LOWRY | Town Administrator | Bladenboro, North Carolina

JAMES MALLOY, ICMA-CM | Town Manager | Lexington, Massachusetts

SARAH MEDARY, ICMA-CM | City Manager | Eugene, Oregon

MONA MIYASATO | County Executive Officer | Sacramento, California

TANET TAHARKA MYERS | Assistant City Manager | Brunswick, Georgia

KAREN PINKOS, ICMA-CM | City Manager | El Cerrito, California

VICKI RIOS | Assistant City Manager | Glendale, Arizona

STEPHEN (STEVE) RUGER | Deputy City Manager | Rio Rancho, New Mexico

MICHAEL SABLE, ICMA-CM | Assistant City Manager | Maplewood, Minnesota

TODD SCHMIDT, ICMA-CM | Village Administrator | Waunakee, Wisconsin

MAURA BLACK SULLIVAN, ICMA-CM | Chief Operating Officer | Chattanooga, Tennessee

DR. MARK WASHINGTON | City Manager | Grand Rapids, Michigan

PAMELA WIDEMAN | Director, Housing and Neighborhood Services | Charlotte, North Carolina