In this session, Mayor Erin Joyce of Braintree, Massachusetts will share her firsthand experience running for office with a Strong Towns mindset and the complexities of governing from a top-down leadership position while fostering a bottom-up, community-driven movement. She'll candidly discuss the political, institutional, and cultural dynamics of trying to effect meaningful change from within city government, and how she balances long-term resilience with immediate pressures.
The session will also spotlight the practical use of the Strong Towns Finance Decoder tool—offering a behind-the-scenes look at how it helps elected leaders and staff visualize financial realities, assess development patterns, and determine whether their community is truly on track to deliver on promises of infrastructure, services, and growth. This session is also a chance to hear from an alum of the Strong Towns Cohort program. Whether you're an elected official, a civic leader, or a passionate citizen, this conversation will equip you with insights and tools to advance a Strong Towns approach in your own community.
This workshop is worth 1 AICP continuing education credit.
This session is FREE for Strong Towns Members!
- If you haven't already, become a Strong Towns member by making a donation of any amount.
- Your free coupon code will be emailed to you upon sign up for membership. If you're already a member and didn't receive your code, please contact [email protected]
- Once you have your code, click the Enroll Now button below this box and enter your free coupon code at checkout.
This session is part of our 2025 Fall Local-Motive Tour, which includes 8 action-oriented, short-form workshops featuring inspiring leaders in the Strong Towns movement.
Check out the Round-Trip Ticket to unlock all eight 2025 Spring Local-Motive sessions at an exclusive rate!
