A peer learning network for mayors and city leaders.
By Quincy Midthun & Katya Spear, Mayors Innovation Project Violence and harassment against local public officials in the United States is on the rise. In 2024, the Bridging Divides Initiative saw a 14% increase in threats and harassment against local elected officials from 2023 and a 74% increase from 2022. Our own data, shared and …
By Katya Spear, Mayors Innovation Project In an era defined by a “collision of crises”—aging infrastructure, climate volatility, and the disappearance of federal safety nets—city leaders are facing a stark financial reality. The old playbook of incremental budgeting and relying on federal bailouts is no longer sufficient. MIP’s 2026 Winter Meeting hosted a panel focused …
Across the country, communities are facing a quiet but profound challenge. Rates of loneliness and social isolation are rising. Fewer residents are participating in civic life. Trust in institutions is fragile. While these issues often surface as concerns about engagement, public safety, or civic trust, they are symptoms of something deeper: weakened community connection. Mayors …
By Quincy Midthun and Katya Spear, Mayors Innovation Project The Mayors Innovation Project Innovation Showcase is a lightning round session where mayors get just three minutes to share an innovative policy, program, or practice that they have implemented or are working to implement. The Winter 2026 Showcase offered many great ideas for mayors to take …
By Mary Carr Lee Census data shows that between 2010 and 2020, the population of people 65 and older in the US grew more than five times faster than the total US population. By 2030, older adults are expected to comprise 18% of the total US population. This demographic shift is playing out in cities …
By Quincy Midthun Childcare is the invisible backbone of a thriving city. When high-quality care is affordable and accessible, parents can go to work, businesses can grow, and children can thrive. But for so many Americans, this is not the reality. The lack of available care for infants and toddlers costs an estimated $122 billion …
By Mary Carr Lee, Mayors Innovation Project During her two terms in office, Mayor Katjana Ballantyne helped steer Somerville through rapid change while keeping equity and inclusion at the center of city decision making. Drawing on her immigrant background and city council experience, she focused on ensuring Sommerville’s growth benefits long-time residents, low-income families, and …
By Mary Carr Lee, Mayors Innovation Project As Leslie Hager-Smith’s tenure as Mayor of Blacksburg winds down, she leaves behind a town that feels both fundamentally transformed and fiercely protected. After eight years of public service, Hager-Smith is preparing to step down on December 31st, marking the end of an era defined by a delicate …
By Mary Carr Lee, Mayors Innovation Project The tenure of Mayor Victoria Woodards in Tacoma, Washington, will stand out less for conventional projects and more for the philosophy of service she brought to the office. Her leadership, a clear departure from traditional politics, is rooted deeply in empathy, equity, and a profound commitment to listening …
By: Mary Carr Lee, Mayors Innovation Project When Brian Kulpa leaves office at the end of this year, he’ll be remembered as a pragmatic leader who steered the Town of Amherst through a period of progressive urban development while managing fiscal responsibility with innovative cost management. Recently he sat down with the Mayors Innovation Project …
