She has big city ideas - Kentucky women on community service By Connie Pickett, Kentucky Women staff Standing at barely five feet, Sylvia Lovely is often dwarfed by the many people she comes in contact with on a daily basis. Her petite frame has been described by some as a ball of energy. Her pep and enthusiasm for her job as executive director of the Kentucky League of Cities is contagious and viewed by many as the glue that has bound the KLC for the past 15 years. A native of Frenchburg, Ky., Lovely smiles as she tells the story of being born for service to cities. The hospital in which Lovely was born was some years later converted into Frenchburg's city hall. Something she feels was a sign that her life and cities were sure to merge. "The story of my life almost leads to where I stand today," Lovely says. Shortly after her birth in the small town in the Appalachian foothills of eastern Kentucky her parents moved to Ohio. "My parents, who were poor and uneducated, were typical of their cohorts. They ended up where I was raised in Dayton, Ohio. I came home to Kentucky to graduate from Morehead State University and the UK School of Law." She landed her first job with KLC as a lobbyist and staff attorney in 1988. Lovely says over the years she has come to love her work, but it became her life's passion while sitting by her mother's bedside during her final illness, "I heard the stories of my parents' life. It became clear to me that my life's work lie in creating and nurturing safe and secure places for people like my parents. Thus, my work in and love of cities." As CEO of the Kentucky League of Cities, Lovely works with officials in 380 cities across the Commonwealth. She also serves as president of the NewCities Foundation, a national nonprofit organization that encourages citizens to get involved in helping their communities thrive in the rapid technological and global challenges of the 21st Century. As head of the KLC, Lovely feels that the increasing complexity of running a city in the 21st century (even small ones), and the growing apathy of citizens who are not connected to places in the same way they once were, are some of the biggest problems facing elected officials in 2005. "The first problem is compounded by the fact that we expect and believe in citizen democracy - in other words, that people from all walks of life should agree to largely volunteer to serve as our mayors and city council members. Because of the complexity of city government - from environmental regulation to financial transactions to finding sufficient revenue to fund important services demanded by citizens, fewer and fewer will have the time or resources to serve. The second - apathy - is a phenomenon of the 21st century, in a world where people are disconnected from place. In addition, grim images from a rapidly changing and "ever in your face" world cause citizens to retreat to their living rooms and shut out the world. We have also come to take our great democracy for granted. We should have watched Iraqi's turn out to vote with shame over our own lack of initiative." Getting people, both men and women, interested in serving their communities in official capacities fuels Lovely's passion for her work. "If I could help young people (and that is my most important goal at this point) I would say - find a passion. Find something that wakes you up in the middle of the night to make notes (can't say that it helps me out during those early morning meetings the next day). I pinch myself constantly how a girl from Frenchburg, born to people whose parents couldn't even afford shoes, can live such a wonderful life. It is a charmed life and I love it." What words of advice would Lovely give to other people, especially women who are interested in public service? "Go for it!" At no other time in our history is the cry louder for great people to take up the mantle of leadership in government, she says. "I would advise them to play smart. Learn good judgment and don't fall into the trap of thinking you always have to "be in charge" to be a leader. Women too often fear being branded as weak if they are not immediately decisive and aggressive. Hold your ground and find one or two trusted people in whom to confide and assist you. A mayor told me the other day that his secret to success was making sure he maneuvered around enough to get to the point where his great idea became that of someone else. He may not get the credit, he explained, but he gets his agenda advanced. I have a theory that citizens are hungrier for good solid humble leadership than at any time in our history. Women could fill the leadership void if only they would. Finally, like the song says - dance like no one is watching. In other words - don't run for office to be reelected, run to better the community and be willing to accept the consequences of leading. You might be pleasantly surprised." Some questions were posed to Lovely about her role as a female business executive in today's society and about her hopes and desires for the future: Q: Have your found it difficult at times, or been faced with obstacles in a world that, during the past decades, has consisted mostly of men? A: "Of course I have found that working as a female CEO has been difficult in a world largely inhabited by male figures. However, I am an optimist and see the best of the world around me. Early on I was admonished by a wonderful male mentor who was responding to my flippant remark at 23, that I had never experienced discrimination. He reminded me that many others had, even if I hadn't perceived that I had and that I should live my life to right those wrongs. Thus, I hope I have been a part of making the world a more hospitable world for female CEO's, executives, lobbyists and workers of every station in life. At the same time, the world is a more difficult place to make our way - no matter your gender. Thus, our male counterparts are also learning the "new" rules of the 21st century. As a mother of two sons, I am cognizant of this. I want to contribute to successful fulfillment of all lives, of both men and women, wherever I am." Q: In recent years more women are becoming more interested in civic affairs and public office. What do you feel the future holds for those women who want to serve in government? A: "I believe that the prospects are excellent for women who wish to serve. I once wrote an article that was noted by many for the interesting expression I used. I said that until we can talk with ease about the "mother" of our country and local communities just as we do the "fathers," we will not have arrived. We have had a wave of women serving in public office and in every other high profile way. We are also having our first wave where they are being swept out of office and out of the corporate world such as Carly Fiorina. Until we can lose with class and get back up and keep going, we still have much to learn as a gender. I am pleased to see so many young girls taking up sports. Sports teaches you to play your best and, at the end of the day, if you lose you get up and look to the next game. Those are valuable lessons." Q: What have you found to be the most rewarding part of your job? A: "I have written about what charges my batteries about my work. I believe my favorite way to celebrate whatever small contributions I make is to go to a pizza parlor or a park in a small town on a Friday night. Watching young families - mom, dad (sometimes with his name emblazoned on his shirt collar) and children - enjoy themselves and get a respite from the daily grind, reminds me constantly of what my work is all about. Families comfortable enough in their lives with jobs and opportunities for growth enjoying each other's company is just one way I measure my success." Q: What do you hope to accomplish in the coming years that you have not done to date? A: "I wish to develop the NewCities Foundation as a force in community development throughout the nation. If the KLC is about the hardware of cities - flipping the switch and the lights coming on and turning the faucet and the water coming out - then NewCities is about the new kind of citizenship that will be necessary for our communities and our country and indeed our world to be successful. It is about citizens intentionally taking their destiny in their hands and creating the best place - one community at a time - that they can. I'm selfish in that I wish for this success story to be told from Kentucky - some across the country might say it is an unlikely place of great creativity, but I believe it is possible in Kentucky." Q: What advice would you give local officials throughout the Commonwealth when facing problems in their particular communities? A: "I would give advice that is three fold and springs from our work with the NewCities Foundation: Citizens should be (1) informed and intentional in their actions to build great cities - the New Cities Foundation promotes 12 principles of city building; (2) should think outside their own corner of the world to advocate for better communities. In other words, don't just participate in a Habitat Build, get involved in getting better housing initiatives from Frankfort and Washington, and (3) engage in leadership that is 21st century in style. Someone once said the power of leadership was like holding a small bird in one's hand. Just the slightest pressure can kill that which is good. In other words, leadership is a delicate thing. It isn't enough to just have your voice be heard; you must at times be willing to follow, compromise and stand humbled in the face of the enormity of the job of leadership." Q: What are the biggest changes you have seen in the KLC during the past decade? A: "When my predecessor asked me to apply for the job at KLC, we had 14 employees. In face of my protest that I liked not having the pressure of being at the top - with 6- and 8-year-old sons - he assured me that in his belief the KLC had hit a plateau. I applied and got the job, and it has been nothing but a straight uphill climb. I now have 80 employees and three major organizations under roof. Thus, I would name growth as our biggest challenge - How to be lean and efficient and not bureaucratic in operation. The other challenge will be to grow the NewCities Foundation so that at some point it is fiscally able to stand on its own." Q: During the past years you have been involved in so many facets of government and civic service. Has this taken a toll on your personal life and how do you feel you have been able to balance being a public servant and having a private and personal life? A: "I believe in two things at this point: (1) you cannot have it all, and (2) that there are superwomen or men is a myth. I have had to work every single day at making sure I find balance in my life. I was blessed to have my parents watch after my boys so that I could do the things, work the long nights, and travel as I did for my job. I have regrets of course. I once missed Halloween and when I see pictures of my son in cowboy gear, I feel a small stirring of remorse. I don't remember to this day what I learned at whatever meeting I attended instead of being home. At the same time, I am forgiving of myself and try to help others realize that a life of self-examination, and at times doubt, is a good thing. My boys are great, my husband and I have been married for 32 years, we have started a new venture - a restaurant - and I am happy." Q: You have been described by many as a "ball of energy." How do you keep up the pace with a smile on your face with so many things to do? Do you have any advice or secrets that you might want to share with others? A: "I love my life and I have a passion for my work. If I could help young people (and that is my most important goal at this point) I would say - find a passion. Find something that wakes you up in the middle of the night to make notes (can't say that it helps me out during those early morning meetings the next day). I pinch myself constantly, how a girl from Frenchburg born to people whose parents couldn't even afford shoes can live such a wonderful life. It is a charmed life and I love it." Lovely is a regular contributor to a number of newspapers and publications and a featured commentator on various TV and radio programs. She recently appeared on the "Lou Dobbs Tonight" show on CNN, offering solutions to increase voter participation. She is publisher of City magazine, a quarterly community issues publication that has statewide distribution in Kentucky, and host of "City Voice," a public affairs TV program produced by the NewCities Foundation. She was named one of Kentucky's Powerful Elite, one of Kentucky's Movers and Shakers, one of Kentucky's Top Women of Influence and Appalachian Woman of the Year. Lovely participated in the Wye River Retreat, hosted by the MacNeil/Lehrer Group. Developed in the aftermath of 9/11, it brought together 60 national visionaries to discuss the goal of increasing citizen engagement in national and foreign policy issues. She was a keynote speaker in the Dominican Republic at an international conference of women leaders. Lovely currently serves on several boards and commissions, including Kentuckians for Better Transportation, Kentucky Habitat for Humanity and the Governor's Commission on Family Farms. She and her husband Bernie live in Lexington. They have been married for 32 years and have two sons, Ross and David. She is a graduate of Morehead State University, where she is a member of the board of regents. She graduated from the University of Kentucky College of Law and is an adjunct Faculty Member of the UK Martin School of Public Policy and Administration. For more information on the Kentucky League of Cities, call 1-859-977-3700 or 1-800-876-4552; email info@klc.org. For more information on the NewCities Foundation, call 1-859-977-3700 or 1-888-352-0922 or leave an email at http://www.newcities.org/contact.asp.