April 2023: Celebrating City Successes

With the end of the pandemic, the state of the city functions have returned. These annual gatherings in cities across America provide an opportunity for the community to come together, residents to hear from their leaders and businesses to connect with local organizations. State of the cities are important aspects of building institutional credibility and local connections that make for a more functional society.?

The state of the city is often a chance for the mayor/city manager/school superintendent to have an audience of key residents. Businesses and nonprofits share a story about the city’s progress and the possibilities that lay ahead. Indeed, I'll give credit to the City of Lancaster for referring to their State of the City as the “Future of the City.” I like that. Civic leaders in a room breaking bread and shaking hands is a trust-building exercise that the state and federal government can rarely recreate. The state of the city is a part of building trust with and among institutions that is otherwise sorely lacking in our world.

It has been Tripepi Smith’s honor to work with several cities to produce their state of the city events.?Sometimes this means helping to write the mayor's script, producing video vignettes that highlight community accomplishments or providing A/V support for a positive broadcasting experience and a good record for posterity’s sake. Our team at Tripepi Smith enjoys helping cities execute these annual events consistent with our values of community building and trust creation.?

The state of the city is part of a healthy communications diet. Its significance warrants investment, strategic consideration and quality production.?This annual tradition serves not only as a way to reflect upon and celebrate the great work done by your city over the past year but also as a way to set a tone of hope and enthusiasm for what lies ahead.

To the future,