NCLM.ORG It was a kind of leadership homecoming. CityVision 2022, the annual conference of the N.C. League of Municipalities, saw hundreds of elected and appointed leaders from cities and towns across North Carolina gather in Wilmington this past April for what was the League’s first in-person annual conference since the start of the pandemic. The packed event, held at the Wilmington Convention Center alongside the beautiful Cape Fear River, glowed with smiles, as this was in many cases the first time that attendees had seen one another since the last in-person conference, years before. The good spirit of togetherness that played out over the conference’s three days came to be just as important as the engaging programming in which conference-goers partook. That included convenings of several affiliate group meetings, like the N.C. Mayors Association, Black Elected Municipal Officials and N.C. Women in Municipal Government, along with interactive learning sessions on timely, vital topics like the American Rescue Plan, community development, climate resilience, and other key issues. “This was the most engaging CityVision in memory, and part of that was the fact that we could come together, as one,” said Rose Vaughn Williams, Executive Director of the League. After two previous years of conferences held over Zoom connection, 2022’s coming-together was thematic of the adaptability of local governments. “We have to adapt and change with the change that occurs around us. And it is only by leaning upon one another, by coming together through organizations like this one, that we can do that, and meet the challenges of a changing world,” said Salisbury Mayor Karen Alexander, who served as president of the League over the past year and was celebrated for her service during the conference. Mayor Alexander, in a high point of the event at the Wilmington Convention Center, passed the gavel to a new League president: Mayor Scott Neisler of Kings Mountain. “It is an honor to hold this office, and I look forward to continuing to assist this organization in serving each city and town in the best way possible,” Mayor Neisler told the conference crowd after his swearing-in. Neisler said his priority areas included broadband access. “We have to ensure that all cities and towns have great broadband, and cities should be playing a role in making that happen. It doesn’t make sense that we can’t use our assets to bring good broadband to our people and our residents.” CityVision also saw the swearing-in of a new League Board of Directors, with Fuquay-Varina Town Commissioner Bill Harris and Durham Mayor Pro Tem Mark-Anthony Middleton now serving as first and second vice presidents, respectively. Together Again: CityVision 2022 a Major Success in Wilmington BEN BROWN NCLM Communications and Multimedia Strategist continues on page 27 25 All photo credits: Ben Brown
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