Today’s Morning Buzz is brought to you by Ashley Bailey, senior communications associate for the Georgia Municipal Association in Atlanta, GA. Connect with Ashley on LinkedIn.
- What I’m reading: “Make Work Meaningful: Discover How to Ignite Passion and Performance in Every Employee” by Wes Adams and Tamara Myles
- What I’m listening to: Professional Troublemaker: The Fear-Fighter Manual with Luvvie Ajayi Jones
- What I’m watching: “The Real Housewives of Atlanta.” I love a good Bravo reality show!
Hey there, local government heroes —
Let me start by saying thank you. Like, the real from-the-bottom-of-my-heart kind of thank you — you’re the real MVP kind of thank you. Not just the polite, passing “thanks” we say out of habit — but the kind that’s soaked in gratitude for early mornings, late nights, hard decisions, community meetings, thoughtful planning, tough conversations, and heart-first work. Public service isn’t just a job. It’s a calling. And you answered it.
This week — Public Service Recognition Week — feels extra special to me. It’s a chance to pause, reflect, and celebrate the people who show up for their communities in ways big and small, visible and behind-the-scenes. It’s also personal, because this year marks five years of me serving in local government. Five years of learning, growing and listening, and doing my best to contribute to something bigger than myself. Five years of seeing up close and personal what it means to serve — and falling more in love with it every step of the way.
My work with the Georgia Municipal Association has been the ultimate connection point. Through my role, I get to meet, support, and learn from public servants across the State of Georgia — from big cities to small cities, from mayors and city managers to communicators, clerks, firefighters, and public works crews. These aren’t just titles. These are the humans behind the policies, the people behind the progress.
And for me, coming right off the energy of GMA’s Georgia Cities Week? I’m buzzing with pride. That initiative is all about lifting up the passion and purpose of local government — and let me tell you, there’s a lot to lift. I’ve seen cities roll out the red carpet for residents, host parades and clean-up days, spotlight their unsung heroes, and create magic in their hometowns — not for recognition, but because they care that deeply.
I wish the rest of the world could see what I see: the compassion, the creativity, the hustle. You take budgets and make them breathe. You take complaints and turn them into conversations. You take tough issues and chip away at them with persistence and hope. You build trust. You create spaces that feel like home. You are the beating heart of every community.
And if no one’s told you lately — I see you. I see your heart, your effort, and your belief in a better tomorrow. I also see the exhaustion sometimes. The burnout. The moments when it feels like no one notices or appreciates what you’re doing. But I promise you — we do. I do. So many of us do.
You’re not alone. You’re part of a big family of public servants — including so many amazing people in ELGL. Whether you’re navigating city planning in Oregon, youth programming in Georgia, or a communications manager or PIO in Colorado, your work is changing lives. Your voice matters. Your passion is contagious. And this week — and every week — I want you to feel the love and appreciation you so deeply deserve.
Public service isn’t glamorous. It doesn’t always make headlines. But it matters in ways that few other things do. It’s the neighbor helping a neighbor. It’s the city meeting where a resident finally feels heard. It’s the new sidewalk that makes a kid’s walk to school safer. It’s the newsletter, the policy rewrite, the emergency response plan. It’s all of it.
And if you ever forget how valued you are, I hope you’ll come back to this piece. Because even on the days that feel hard or thankless, you’re still making a difference. You’re still planting seeds. You’re still inspiring others — including me.
So, here’s to you — the doers, the dreamers, the difference-makers. Thank you for giving your time, talents, and your heart to the communities you serve. I’m proud to serve alongside you, grateful to be connected to you, and cheering for you always.
Happy Public Service Recognition Week. You deserve every bit of love coming your way.
With gratitude and joy,
Your Biggest Cheerleader — Ashley