Show Notes: De'Carlon Seewood: From Crisis to Community RenewalEpisode 155 of The HaltingWinter Podcast

Overview In this powerful episode of the HaltingWinter Podcast, Seth Winterhalter speaks with De'Carlon Seewood, City Manager of Columbia, Missouri. De'Carlon shares his extraordinary journey from witnessing urban decay in East St. Louis to leading Ferguson through national crisis, and finally revitalizing Columbia through innovative community engagement and employee investment. Their conversation explores the realities of municipal leadership during tumultuous times, rebuilding fractured community trust, and creating a sustainable culture of excellence in local government.

Episode Highlights:

• The Public Service Calling: How De'Carlon's childhood in East St. Louis and witnessing urban decline inspired his lifelong commitment to public service
• Hands-On Municipal Experience: The invaluable cross-functional knowledge gained through "assistant to" roles where De'Carlon served as interim department head in planning, parks, and finance
• Community Revitalization: Transforming the historically Black Carver neighborhood in Fulton by rehabilitating properties and creating innovative housing solutions
• Leading Through Crisis: De'Carlon's courageous decision to return to Ferguson after the Michael Brown shooting and the complex realities of managing a city under intense national scrutiny
• Navigating Federal Intervention: Practical insights on implementing a Department of Justice consent decree with limited resources in a small municipality
• Employee Investment Strategy: Columbia's $10 million initiative to properly value staff and address retention challenges in critical departments
• Innovative Engagement Approaches: Creating "Coffee with the City Manager," Citizen Academies, and Community Summits to rebuild trust between residents and local government
• Municipal Leadership Sustainability: Candid discussion about the personal toll of city management and practical advice for maintaining well-being in demanding leadership roles
• Communicating Municipal Value: Helping citizens understand the significance of local government services and the true nature of municipal budgets

Connect with De'Carlon Seewood:

• LinkedIn: Connect with De'Carlon Here

About HaltingWinter Municipal Solutions:

At HaltingWinter, our mission is to build stronger cities through stronger leaders by providing municipal leadership development services, rooted in the ABCs of Impactful Leadership framework. To explore how we can strengthen you and your municipality, visit haltingwinter.com.

Upcoming Events:

Don't miss Seth Winterhalter at the Missouri City and County Managers Association Spring Conference at the Margaritaville Resort, starting April 30th. Register now at www.momanagers.org/191/Spring-Conference.

Connect With Seth Winterhalter

• LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/sethwinterhalter
• Website: www.HaltingWinter.com

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