Findlay mayor speaks at global leadership forum

Findlay Mayor Christina Muryn went worldwide as a featured speaker in the virtual U.S. Global Leadership Coalition Global Impact Forum, which was livestreamed Tuesday afternoon on the organization's website. Muryn presented in a segment called "Leading Globally Matters Locally: The Next Frontier for America's Mayors," and was joined by Deputy Mayor of International Affairs for the city of Los Angeles, Ambassador Nina Hachigian. The discussion was moderated by Michelle Bekkering, director of national engagement for the coalition. The goal of the forum was to bring together a nationwide audience of thousands of influential stakeholders from the business, nonprofit, military, faith and humanitarian communities from Washington, D.C., and across the country, alongside leaders from Capitol Hill and administration officials. Other speakers include U.S. Reps. Darrin LaHood (R-IL) and Michael Waltz (R-FL); Sundaa Bridgett-Jones, managing director of policy, coalitions, communications and advocacy for The Rockefeller Foundation; and retired Admiral James G. Stavridis, U.S. Navy and Supreme Allied Commander at NATO from 2009 to 2013. Bekkering said the nation's mayors are positioned to be "acutely aware" and to understand the impact that global issues have on their communities, something that was underscored the COVID-19 pandemic. Hachigian said many global issues have a significant impact on her city. Her most stark example was on the issue of climate change. "Our cities are flooding and catching on fire," she said. Muryn said the pandemic also underscored the need to improve data sharing, so it can be done "easily and expeditiously," and the importance of good communication. Muryn was asked specifically about her membership with the Ohio Mayors Alliance. The Mayors Alliance is a bipartisan coalition of mayors in Ohio's largest cities that has been working to strengthen the partnership between state and local leaders since its formation in 2016. She was also recently appointed to the advisory board of the United States Conference of Mayors. The United States Conference of Mayors is the official nonpartisan organization of cities with populations of 30,000 or more. There are over 1,400 such cities in the country today. Each city is represented in the conference by its chief elected official, the mayor. The Conference of Mayors works to advocate, promote best practices, build business connections, to promote cities and provide networking. Bekkering asked Muryn for insight about "working across the aisle" in the Mayors Alliance's bipartisan coalition. Muryn said it's important to work together to find common ground, decide what the next step is and then set aside the partisanship to make progress. She said the goal should be to build relationships and trust. For more information about the USGLC, visit www.usglc.org Grant: 419-427-8412