“When did you first fall in love with hip-hop?” is a pivotal line from one of my favorite movies, Brown Sugar. After recording my GovLove episode with Ben Kittelson, “Managing a Small Town and Returnships,” I reflected on that line, but with a local government twist: When did I first fall in love with local government?

For me, a few moments stand out. As town manager of Colonial Beach, Virginia, I led an effort to preserve a local green space that had been a contentious issue for 30 years, split between those who wanted preservation versus development. After a successful grant application, we received nearly $400,000 to preserve the park. Its first official event was an inclusive gathering, where over 50 couples, including my husband and me, renewed their vows along the Potomac River at a ceremony called Love in the Park.

As an ICMA Local Government Management Fellow, I read Peter Kageyama’s Love Where You Live and For the Love of Cities. These works made me think about my unique role as a public administrator and how my efforts could foster a more loveable city. Kageyama shared that municipalities should embrace “the lovers” in their communities, as these passionate people are often catalysts for change. I realized local government leaders should also be “the lovers” in our communities and organizations. Beyond aiming for efficiency or innovation, perhaps we should focus more on making our communities more loveable.

As women in this profession, we may hold a competitive edge in cultivating love in our organizations and communities. At a time when many people are developing a hatred toward institutions, leading with love may be more crucial than ever. If you need to rekindle your passion for local government, consider these three approaches:

Learn

Read Gary Chapman’s The 5 Languages of Appreciation in the Workplace. (He also authored The 5 Love Languages ). Discover your employees’ workplace appreciation languages and incorporate them to build more cohesive teams.

Be Present

A resident texted me this holiday season to say that I was the only town manager ever to attend her Christmas event. Simply showing up can make a difference and foster meaningful relationships.

Build

“Virginia is for Lovers” is our state slogan. As part of a tourism campaign, localities statewide built LOVE signs. Now, as town manager in my hometown of Bowling Green, Virginia—the cradle of American horseracing—we have one of the best LOVE signs featuring our town’s historic highlights. Building on Kageyama’s concepts, I encourage you to create something that inspires deeper affection for your community this year.

This year, some of us feel newly motivated, while others are anxious about the future. I encourage you to ask yourself, “When did I first fall in love with local government?” Reflect on it. You might be surprised by the answer, and if you haven’t had that moment yet, ask someone who has.

The late poet Nikki Giovanni wrote, “We love because that is the only true adventure.” As you continue your local government adventure, share your love story whenever possible. As trust in institutions is waning, I believe that sharing our personal stories of love can rebuild trust and inspire others.

If you are still seeking that spark, consider connecting with colleagues who remain passionate about serving their communities. Invite them for coffee, lunch, or a video call to share experiences. Often, these small moments of collaboration reignite the love we once felt. Local government is not just about policies and budgets; it’s about people and their stories and our stories as leaders. Keeping that front and center can preserve our sense of purpose and spread “gov love,” this year and beyond.

INDIA ADAMS-JACOBS is town manager of Bowling Green, Virginia, USA.