We Love Where You Live

Host: Lisa Donovan, Communications Specialist/Editor, Michigan Municipal League Guests: Municipal leaders from Muskegon, Owosso, and Saginaw Innovative projects from the cities of Muskegon, Owosso, and Saginaw were in the running for the League's 2018 Community Excellence Award. Learn how these communities brought new life to their downtown through the unique development of retail, office, and community space. Read more about each project on the Community Excellence Award website and in The Review magazine: Muskegon (Jan/Feb 2019), Owosso (March/April 2019), and Saginaw (May/June 2019).

Host: Matt Bach, Director of Communications, Michigan Municipal League Guests:Chris Hackbarth, Director, State & Federal Affairs, Michigan Municipal LeagueJohn LaMacchia, Asst. Director, State & Federal Affairs, Michigan Municipal LeagueJennifer Rigterink, Legislative Associate, Michigan Municipal League Activity was fast and furious during the Michigan Legislature's 2018 Lame Duck session. Matt Bach sits down with our Lansing team on our latest Monday Morning Live broadcast to try to corral some of the issues, find out which bills made it through to approval, and look ahead to the Legislature's new session. Tune in to Facebook for the next Monday Morning Live, Jan. 7, 10:30 am.

Host: Dan Gilmartin, CEO & Executive Director, Michigan Municipal League Guest: Patrice Frey, President & CEO, National Main Street Center Helping bring life back to downtowns has been the mission of the National Main Street Center for the past 40 years. Patrice Frey, the organization's president and CEO, sits down with Dan Gilmartin to discuss the successful 4-point process they've developed that helps cities identify their vision and assets and gets community members involved in moving a revitalization plan forward. She also talks about the effect of globalism on downtowns and how communities can use it to develop a more robust entrepreneurial landscape.

Host: Matt Bach, Director of Communications, Michigan Municipal League Guest: State Rep. Mary Whiteford (R-Casco Township) The Michigan Municipal League’s Matt Bach sits down with State Rep. Mary Whiteford, R-Casco Township, at a coffee shop in downtown Allegan. They cover everything from revenue sharing to auto insurance. They even get into the power of drag racing and the flute! It’s a fun, informal chat.

Host: Emily Kieliszewski, Membership Services Specialist, Michigan Municipal League Guests: Gisgie Gendreau, President, Michigan Municipal League Foundation Karen Lancaster, Finance Director, City of Ann Arbor This episode focuses on MML Foundation’s #GivingTuesday campaign, which is raising money for the League’s 16/50 Project. Emily chats with MML Foundation President Gisgie Gendreau on what #GivingTuesday is, why they chose the 16/50 Project for their campaign this year, and the positive things the Foundation does for our members and communities. Emily also talks with Karen Lancaster, finance director for the city of Ann Arbor, about her role in 16/50’s Women’s Municipal Leadership Program, some of the specifics the current class of women have learned to help them become successful managers, and why these trainings are critical for women looking to get into the field.

Host: Lisa Donovan, Communications Specialist/Editor, Michigan Municipal League Co-Host: Luke Forrest, Director, Civic Innovations, Michigan Municipal League Guest: Katharine Czarnecki, Senior Vice President, Community Development, Michigan Economic Development Corporation Michigan Municipal League partners with Michigan Economic Development Corporation on a variety of projects. MEDC's Katharine Czarnecki shares her thoughts on the Public Spaces Community Places crowdgranting program and Redevelopment Ready Communities, MEDC's flagship program to get communities in a good position to accept new development. 

Host: Matt Bach, Communications Director, Michigan Municipal League Guest: Phil Power, Founder and Chairman, The Center for Michigan Following a long career as owner of a variety of local newspapers in Michigan, Phil Power still wanted to make a difference in his state. Find out how he started and fostered The Center for Michigan based on sensible, rational, common sense political discussion.

Host: Anthony Minghine, Deputy Executive Director & COO, Michigan Municipal League Guest: Khalil Rahal, Executive Director, Economic Development Corporation, Office of the Wayne County Executive Michigan made a valiant effort to lure Amazon's second headquarters to our state, but we fell short. Khalil Rahal shares some of the reasons we lost out. Chief among them is the lack of a municipal finance structure that would enable us to provide adequate public transit, workforce development, and many of the other factors necessary to attract businesses and talent.

Host: Dan Gilmartin, CEO & Executive Director, Michigan Municipal League Guest: Bruce Katz, author, "The New Localism: How Cities Can Thrive in the Age of Populism" Bruce Katz believes that cities are the engines of the national economy, so he has long wondered why American cities can't fund valuable services like infrastructure and early childhood education. On this episode of the Economics of Place podcast - and in his new book - Katz shares some of the lessons he has learned from European countries about unlocking public wealth.

Host: Matt Bach, Director of Communications, Michigan Municipal League Guest: Charles Mitchell, Senior Assistant City Attorney, City Attorney's Office, City and County of Denver Colorado was the first state to legalize both medical and recreational marijuana. In this episode, attorney Charles Mitchell shares some of the benefits, challenges, and legal issues that have arisen in Colorado since marijuana legalization, and lessons learned along the way. Mitchell was also a speaker at the Michigan Municipal League's 2018 Convention. View his presentation, HR up in Smoke: The Intersectoin Between Marijuana Legalizaton and Employment Law.

Host: Emily Kielizewski, Membership Engagement Specialist, Michigan Municipal League Guest: Catherine Bostick-Tullius, 2017-18 Michigan Municipal League Board President; Councilmember, Lapeer Emily sits down with Catherine Bostick-Tullius, 2017-18 League Board President, to reflect on her experience as president and her hopes for the League moving forward.

Host: Lisa Donovan, Communications Specialist/Editor, Michigan Municipal League Guests:Michael Lesich, Fraser Councilmember and member of Fraser First Booster ClubChristina Woods, Director, Fraser Parks & Recreation DepartmentSherry Stein, President, Fraser First Booster Club The city of Fraser was honored with the League's 2018 Community Excellence Award at our annual Convention in Grand Rapids. They won for McKinley Barrier-Free Park and Playground. Hear how a 12-year volunteer effort led by the Fraser First Booster Club transformed an underused park into a place that children and adults of all abilities can enjoy. 

Host: Anthony Minghine, Deputy Executive Director & COO, Michigan Municipal League Guest: Congressman Dan Kildee (MI-05) Tony talks with Congressman Dan Kildee about his ideas for promoting a national agenda around strengthening communities. From the federal standpoint, we should plan for investment in communities and ensure less volatility as the economy goes through up and down cycles.

Host: Lisa Donovan, Communications Specialist/Editor, Michigan Municipal League Guests:Brian Ewanciw, Founder, Wayne Bicycle ClubJamie McCloskey Bicycling Means Business and Friendship in Wayne, Michigan was a finalist in Michigan Municipal League's 2017 Community Excellence Awards competition. Brian Ewanciw shares how the Wayne Bicycle Club got started and the benefits it has generated for participants and the city as a whole. Read more in the Sept/Oct 2018 issue of The Review.  

Host: Lisa Donovan, Communications Specialist/Editor, Michigan Municipal League Guest: Carla Filkins, Mayor, Cadillac The Plaza at Cadillac Commons was a finalist in Michigan Municipal League's 2017 Community Excellence Awards competition. Mayor Carla Filkins shares how the project got its start with the League's PlacePlans program and is now revitalizing a key area between downtown and the waterfront. Read more in the upcoming Nov/Dec 2018 issue of The Review.