Fort Worth's Mayor Pro Tem Gyna Bivens just bagged a big-time leadership spot. That's right, the influential Texan was voted onto the National League of Cities (NLC) Board of Directors, ready to make her mark on a national scale. This tidbit comes straight from the NLC's 2023 City Summit down in Atlanta, where city leaders are schmoozing and celebrating a full century of the NLC's good work.
Bivens, hailing from Council District 5, is slated to sit pretty on the board for a one-year term, and she's not shy about her ambitions. To directly quote from the bubbly politico, she's "delighted to be 'at the table' where strategies impacting cities like my hometown are crafted," according to an announcement from the City of Fort Worth. And why wouldn't she be? After all, Bivens has been a vocal advocate for development projects in her hood—from the posh Lakes of River Trails to the up-and-coming Stop Six neighborhood. She's psyched that NLC's workshops and trainings are already paying dividends back home.
Now, if you ain't up on the NLC, get this: it's not just any old club. The National League of Cities is the heavyweight champ of municipal advocacy, boasting a voice for urban, suburban, and rural beehives across the USA. With more than 200 million folks under its wing, the league ain't playing around when it comes to influencing federal policy and driving innovation at the city council level.
Bivens among four Texans to score a seat at this prestigious table, this election signifies more than just a nod to Fort Worth—it's a whole Lone Star salute from her peers. Back home, she's widely recognized for her knack to passionately and effectively work for her district's growth and advancement. What's more, she's ready to dive headlong into shaping the strategies that will ripple and resonate throughout cities nationwide. Bivens believes in the power of NLC's resources and network to elevate the game for Fort Worth, as she relayed in her gushing remarks, promising to leverage her new position to "craft" policies that spark change across urban landscapes.
So, here's to Gyna Bivens, powering through the political ranks. And with a century of city-slicking celebrations ahead, the NLC's next chapter is bound to be a page-turner—and Bivens is aiming to write herself into that history. Folks in Fort Worth and beyond, keep your eyes peeled. This Texan is on the move and ready to shake things up, from the dusty trails of her home turf to the marbled halls of national urban leadership.
