Municipal Leaders: Develop Faster, Lead Stronger, Build Better
This Is the Work That Builds Belonging
Every day, local government does the work to hold our communities together: quietly, faithfully, and without fanfare. Water flows. Parks open. Streets get cleared. Families are served.
But somewhere along the way, public service has lost its story.
The pride, purpose, and connection that once defined local leadership have been buried under politics, pressure, and burnout.
The HaltingWinter Project exists to change that by shining the spotlight on the extraordinary people behind America’s cities and counties.
And the Municipal Leadership Development Circle (MLDC) is how that movement grows.
This isn’t another leadership program.
It’s a nationwide network of city and county leaders learning, leading, and linking together to restore pride and purpose in local government.
Through the Municipal Minute, a quick 5-minute podcast and companion blog post, you’ll get daily, practical insights to keep your leadership blade sharp.
Each week, we unpack a best-selling leadership book through the lens of local government, connecting ideas that matter to the work you do every day.
These weekly deep dives align with our monthly themes in the Leadership & Culture Program:
Short, powerful lessons. Real-world application for the public sector.
Because great leadership isn’t built in a day; it’s forged through daily sharpening.
Each month, MLDC members connect through live webinars and mastermind sessions that turn ideas into action.
These sessions aren’t lectures; they’re conversations among people who get it.
You’ll learn from peers leading cities, counties, and departments across North America, each sharing practical tools and hard-earned lessons from the field.
It’s where leadership moves from theory to reality and from isolation to collaboration.
Because great leadership multiplies when we learn, share, and serve together.
“The MLDC’s weekly virtual meetup is the highlight of my week. The discussions are always engaging, and I’ve made some incredible friends over the past year.” — Bill Wagoner, City Administrator
Leadership in local government can feel isolating, but it doesn’t have to be.
The MLDC connects you with a growing network of city and county leaders who understand the weight and purpose of public service.
Each conversation, webinar, and mastermind session strengthens relationships that last well beyond the virtual screen. It’s where ideas turn into collaboration, and colleagues become allies.
Here, you’ll find the encouragement, perspective, and community that remind you why you lead.
Because great leadership doesn’t happen alone; it’s built together.
“We use the weekly Conversation Guides in our executive team meetings to keep us thinking and growing together. It’s been an incredible resource.” — David Dillner, City Manager
“Our executive team joined the MLDC six months ago, and we’ve been so impacted by the resources and community that we’ve now brought our entire organization into the Leadership & Culture Program.” — Laura Swain, County Administrative Officer
Every week, you’ll have a place to be seen, heard, and connected.
No lone rangers. Just a growing network of public servants leading with heart.
When you join the MLDC, you’re not just investing in your own growth.
You’re helping power The HaltingWinter Project, a national movement to restore pride, purpose, and participation in local government.
Your membership directly supports:
This is how we rebuild trust in government, not from the top down, but from the ground up.
One leader. One community. One story at a time.
| Tier | Includes | Annual Investment |
| MLDC Membership | Daily podcast/blog, book of the week, weekly live webinars or masterminds, and nationwide community access. | $1,000 per leader/year |
| Leadership & Culture Program | Everything in the MLDC plus monthly deep-dive leadership trainings, implementation tools, and coaching resources. | $2,500 per leader/year |
Interested in enrolling your city or department?
Contact us to customize access for your team.
Be part of the leadership movement changing the way America sees local government.
Because when local government thrives, communities thrive.
And when leaders grow together, everyone rises.
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to explore bringing your leadership team or organization into the MLDC.
Every MLDC membership helps fund The HaltingWinter Project: telling the stories, developing the leaders, and inspiring the next generation who will carry this work forward.
This is more than government.
This is the work that builds belonging.
