Celebration Features Artwork by Washington, DC-Based Artist Lea Craigie
Washington, DC – In celebration of its centennial milestone, the National League of Cities (NLC) has visited more than 115 municipalities on its Centennial Roadshow: 100 Years, 100 Cities. After a century of dedicated service to cities, towns and villages, NLC embarked on this journey to visit 100 cities across the nation to showcase the diversity, resilience and transformation of America’s local communities and has officially surpassed that goal. The roadshow kicked off in February in Lawrence, Kansas, where NLC was founded, before making its way coast to coast to tour cities of all sizes.
“NLC’s Centennial Roadshow has given us deeper insight into the lives of our local leaders and the communities they serve,” said Clarence E. Anthony, CEO and Executive Director of the National League of Cities. “We had a chance to visit prominent landmarks, new infrastructure projects supported by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, and an array of community development efforts made possible by funding from the American Rescue Plan Act. But most of all, we got to see our members at work in their communities and what drives them to serve their residents every day.”
The branded Roadshow bus made its way across the country, stopping in communities in every region to capture the unique stories and experiences of municipalities. Participating Roadshow cities were gifted with a commemorative piece of custom artwork created by Washington, DC-based artist Lea Craigie.
NLC will spotlight 15 more communities during its roadshow journey the week of November 4:
- Fuquay-Varina, NC
- Morrisville, NC
- High Point, NC
- Kingman, AZ
- Jamestown, ND
- Grandview, MO
- Tacoma, WA
- Lake City, SC
- Los Alamos, NM
- Ridgeland, MS
- Dubuque, IA
- Cedar Rapids, IA
- Centennial, CO
- Fort Collins, CO
- Brighton, CO
The next destination will be Tampa, Florida, for NLC’s Centennial City Summit Conference, where a record number of local elected leaders and municipal staff will gather to learn, lead and connect from November 13 to 16.
For more information about the NLC Centennial Roadshow and to track its journey, please visit https://nlc100.org/roadshow/.
For media interested in scheduling an interview, please email media@nlc.org.
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About Lea Craigie
Lea Craigie is a multidisciplinary, award-winning, contemporary designer, muralist, sculptor, and fine artist born in Falls Church Virginia. Growing up in both the mountains of West Virgina and our dynamic Nation’s Capital of Washington DC, you will see elements of both reflected in her work. She resides in Maryland and proudly works at one of Maryland’s most vibrant art studios: Artists and Makers of Bethesda. Lea is a community-minded muralist, sculptor and designer whose art is a fusion of community collaboration and nature-inspired creativity. She intertwines the spirit of local neighborhoods with the beauty of the natural world in her murals. Lea’s process involves engaging closely with residents and organizations, weaving their stories, cultural heritage, and the surrounding landscapes into vibrant and captivating artworks. Using a variety of artistic styles, techniques and mediums, Lea’s works not only celebrate community diversity, equity, and unity but also serve as reflections of the environment, fostering connections between people and the natural world. You can find more of Lea’s work on instagram @bluehuestudio and contact her at bluehuestudio@gmail.com
About the National League of Cities
National League of Cities (NLC) is the voice of America’s cities, towns and villages, representing more than 200 million people. NLC works to strengthen local leadership, influence federal policy and drive innovative solutions. Stay connected with NLC on Facebook, X, LinkedIn and Instagram.
Photo Above: Artist Lea Craigie (second from the right) presents a hand-painted rendering of the Centennial custom artwork to NLC Executive Director & CEO Clarence Anthony (center). The artwork is now on display in over 100 city halls across the country. Also pictured left to right: Senior Executive Jon Kuhl, Digital Engagement, Marketing & Communications; Senior Executive Seantae Byers, Membership, Partnerships & Engagement; and Program Director Meg Cohen, Digital Engagement.