Why the Best Public Servants Start By Raising Their Hands: Questions, Curiosity, and Community Building
- Catherine Huckaby
- Nov 7
- 7 min read
When Andrea Duffie walked into her first pension meeting as a young communications professional at the City of Fort Worth, she was surrounded by directors and department heads discussing complex financial strategies that seemed light-years beyond her experience.
As the conversation grew increasingly technical, she faced a choice that would define her approach to public service: stay silent and pretend to understand, or risk looking foolish by asking the most basic question possible.
She chose courage over comfort.
"An assistant city manager asked, 'Are there any questions?' And I raised my hand and asked, 'What's a pension?’ "I was terrified but figured I needed to ask questions if I was going to effectively explain the topic to others."
That moment of vulnerability became a turning point—not just for Andrea, but for the entire pension reform communication campaign that would ultimately secure employee buy-in for critical changes to the city's retirement system.
Today, more than eleven years into her career with Fort Worth, she serves as a key player in the city's Economic Development department, where she supports her team and local partners through innovative marketing campaigns and strategic storytelling that promote Fort Worth as a place for businesses of all sizes to start, relocate, or expand. Her journey from nonprofit museum work to municipal government shows how diverse backgrounds can create unexpected strengths in public service.
Breaking Down Barriers Between Residents and City Hall
Fort Worth, now the 11th largest city in the United States, faces the complex challenge of managing rapid growth while maintaining the character that makes it special. For Andrea, this means translating complicated economic development concepts into language that resonates with everyday residents.
"A lot of the work that gets done within government is very nuanced and complex. For transparency and accountability, you have to be able to articulate your ideas in ways that make sense to as many people as possible."
This communication philosophy goes beyond simple translation. She has learned that effective community engagement requires meeting people where they are, rather than expecting them to climb the learning curve of government operations.
"Residents don’t have a lot of time to spend piecing together how their local government works. They're working their own jobs. They're taking care of their kids or their parents. And spending hours a week combing through the system to understand how it all fits together is a lot to ask. Good communication can help simplify some of that."
The Evans and Rosedale Project: Building Consensus in Historic Communities
Andrea's work supporting her team on the Evans and Rosedale project illustrates the delicate balance required in modern community development. "It's a community that is filled with so much history and pride, but it hasn't seen the same levels of growth that other areas of the city have," she explains. The challenge lies in honoring community desires while navigating market realities and financial constraints.
For her, this work requires a specific type of consensus building that goes beyond simple agreement. She clarifies the distinction:
"Two people can reasonably disagree about many things, but it's the act of coming together as people and finding common ground that’s important... It’s about building a working relationship, and making a commitment to find solutions together."
This understanding is essential when working with community members who have clear visions for their neighborhood's future.
From Museum Marketing to Municipal Campaigns: The Power of Strategic Storytelling
Andrea's background in art history and museum work initially seemed disconnected from economic development, but it provided unexpected advantages.
"I’ve always been fascinated by stories. Marketers can use them to promote products and encourage people to buy things, but they can also inspire people, drive public sentiment, and educate...at the end of the day, it’s the stories that stay with you."
This storytelling expertise became the foundation for the City of Fort Worth's first national business attraction campaign, a project that pushed her into uncharted professional territory. When her former director offered her the opportunity to lead this initiative, she was both excited and nervous, as she had never worked on a campaign like this before.
“The goal was really two-fold, First, to make people aware that Fort Worth exists as its own unique city within the DFW Metroplex. Second, to tell engaging stories that showcased the industries, innovations and business opportunities that set Fort Worth apart from other cities.”
The results spoke volumes: New projects brought over $2 billion in private investment to the city during each of the campaign's final two years in market, along with a 115% increase in year-to-year media coverage for economic development stories.
"It was one of the most difficult things I've ever done professionally, but also one of the most meaningful."
The campaign succeeded not just in attracting businesses, but in reshaping how Fort Worth presented itself to the world, building upon the foundations of its traditional western heritage to highlight its growing reputation as a modern, innovative business hub.
Mentorship and Professional Growth in Public Service Careers
Throughout her career, Andrea has benefited from supervisors willing to take chances on her potential rather than her proven experience. One recruited her from the nonprofit sector and taught her systems thinking, understanding how individual decisions ripple through interconnected municipal processes. Another colleague showed her the value of consensus building. And her most recent director trusted her with high-stakes marketing campaigns.
"The people offering these types of opportunities wouldn't give them to you if they didn't think you could do it," she notes about challenging assignments. But she also emphasizes the importance of supervisors making themselves available as resources:
"It can be really daunting to be told, 'There's your goal. Figure it out.’ Having someone who supports you, who gives you the tools and runway you need to succeed, and then trusts your expertise to take it the rest of the way...you may not know what you’re capable of until you’re given the opportunity to try it out for yourself."
Now in a position to mentor newer employees herself, she pays this support forward.
"I would not have known how to do that if I had not had people in my corner who believed in me and did that for me."
Five Essential Skills for Aspiring Public Servants
Based on her diverse experience across communications, community engagement, and economic development, Andrea offers specific guidance for those considering local government careers:
1. Master the Art of Clear Communication
"Being able to communicate well is key," she emphasizes. Public servants must translate complex policies and procedures for multiple audiences, from city council members to community residents to fellow staff members. This skill is essential regardless of your specific department or role.
2. Develop Systems Thinking Capabilities
Understanding how decisions affect multiple departments and stakeholders prevents unintended consequences. "You don't make a single decision in a vacuum," she explains. "You have to see the whole field to understand how those ripple effects happen."
3. Embrace Consensus Building Over Conflict Avoidance
Learn to facilitate productive disagreement rather than seeking universal agreement. “It’s important to figure out what you do agree on, and then you work from there," Andrea notes. This skill is vital during community meetings and cross-departmental projects.
4. Stay Open to New Ideas and Learning Opportunities
"If you're not growing, then you're at risk of becoming stagnant," she warns. The most successful public servants remain curious about new approaches, technologies, and perspectives.
5. Cultivate Genuine Care for Your Community
Technical skills matter, but passion for public service provides the motivation needed during challenging projects. "I'm a big believer in being part of the change that I want to see," she states. This intrinsic motivation helps sustain careers through difficult political climates and budget constraints.
Why Local Government Needs Fresh Perspectives Now
Fort Worth's rapid growth reflects trends across many American cities, creating both opportunities and challenges that require innovative approaches. Andrea sees this as an ideal time for people from a wide variety of backgrounds to enter public service.
"The face of government is changing. The face of the workforce is changing. And new people, new generations, are coming in with new ideas."
Rather than viewing this as disruptive, successful organizations embrace fresh perspectives and new tools.
For those considering whether their voice matters in local government, she offers direct encouragement: "Find a way to get involved. If you care about the issue, if it’s important to you, then find a way to be some small part of the solution." She reminds potential public servants that “someone will always be needed to tackle difficult community challenges – why not you?”
“If your goal is to create meaningful change in your neighborhood, in local business corridors, and in spaces where you spend your time, then local government makes the biggest impact on those things."
The Fulfilling Nature of Public Service
Despite the complexity, political challenges, and occasional frustrations of municipal work, Andrea describes public service as uniquely rewarding.
"It is very gratifying to work for local government, and to be part of our Economic Development team. Each day, inch by inch, you're working on things that make your city and your community just a little bit better."
This attraction comes from the tangible impact of local government work. Unlike federal policy that affects millions through broad strokes, municipal employees see direct results from their efforts—new businesses opening, infrastructure improvements moving forward, community partnerships forming.
The work also provides constant variety and learning opportunities. Even after more than a decade of experience, Andrea continues building new programs and initiatives within her own organization, keeping the role fresh and engaging.
For those ready to roll up their sleeves and tackle complex community challenges, local government offers a career path where individual contributions create measurable improvements in people's daily lives. As Andrea demonstrates through her own journey, success in public service comes not from having all the answers upfront, but from maintaining curiosity, building relationships, and staying committed to serving your community.
