For Lori Curtis Luther, City Manager of Overland Park, leadership begins with refusing the status quo. “We aren’t happy with the status quo. We are always looking to learn from others and push ourselves,” she says. It’s a philosophy that has helped shape Overland Park into one of America’s most admired mid-sized cities, a community of more than 200,000 residents with a budget surpassing half a billion dollars.
That spirit of continual improvement is on full display as Overland Park prepares to unveil a transformational downtown farmers’ market. Not simply a place to buy produce, but “a gathering space for our entire community.”
What stands out most in Luther’s leadership is her insistence that real belonging can’t be manufactured by city hall alone. “It has to be true and coming from our community,” she says, pointing to generations of elected officials and professional staff who championed authentic engagement long before her arrival. These predecessors established a foundation that Luther now builds upon, one rooted in trust, transparency, and honoring the city’s diverse and evolving residents.
In an era when communities across the country are grappling with polarization, Overland Park models a willingness to listen, to learn from peers near and far, and to let residents guide the heart of local decision-making. Luther’s message is clear: great cities don’t happen accidentally. They are built by communities that show up for one another.
