A peer learning network for mayors and city leaders.
By Quincy Midthun • Mayors Innovation Project Across the country, cities are heating up. Extreme heat not only creates extreme discomfort, it strains the grid and endangers the health and safety of residents, particularly in neighborhoods that lack greenery, which are disproportionately home to communities of color and low income communities. At the Summer 2025 …
Nonprofits are critical partners for local government. They often serve as the first line of support for individuals and families in need, and they help local governments fill gaps and build trust with its most vulnerable communities. However, to be successful long-term, nonprofits need business expertise and education. Today, we bring you our latest Member …
As a mother, former school board member, and Vice-Chair of the Mayors Alliance to End Childhood Hunger, it is critical to ensure that no child in our country experiences hunger while school is out. As Mayor, you may know that summer can be the hungriest time of the year for millions of kids when school …
By Mary Carr Lee, Mayors Innovation Project This year’s Juneteenth celebration in Woodmere, Ohio, will be special for several reasons. The event is expanding to four days, beginning on Thursday, June 19, and will include an art exhibit by Black artists at Woodmere’s upscale Eaton Mall. The celebration also marks a significant moment for Mayor …
By Katya Spear, Mayors Innovation Project It’s a well worn adage that culture eats policy for lunch. No matter how long you’ve served in office, how you, your council, and staff work together will drive your local government’s ability to advance your greatest priorities regardless of your city’s size or form of government. Why? For …
By Michael Roth, Next Street I was asked to give a presentation to the leadership of one of our Fortune 500 clients recently on a simple topic: What is the current state of small business in America? My first thought: Everything Everywhere All at Once. The current macroeconomic trends and our shifting policy landscape are …
By Bianca Clarke, Trust for Public Land Parks are Smart City Strategy Parks play an essential role in addressing some of the most pressing issues facing our communities today. When thoughtfully designed, built and activated, parks improve public health, foster social connections, protect cities from heat and floods , and boost local economies. Investing in parks …
By Quincy Midthun and Eric Murphy This blog post is a collaboration between the State Smart Transportation Initiative and the Mayors Innovation Project, both programs of the High Road Strategy Center at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. Climate change threatens livelihoods, infrastructure, and local finances More frequent severe weather continues to devastate cities and states across …
Williamsport Mayor Derek Slaughter will join 11 other mayors from cities around the nation, including Everett and Alameda, on the 2025 cohort of the Mayors Institute on Pedestrian Safety (MIPS).
The Mayors Innovation Project would like to wish you and your community a happy Earth Day! To celebrate, we’re lifting up the great work of one of our member cities, Somerville, MA, as they work to increase biodiversity and protect vulnerable species and habitats! Last year, the City of Somerville passed its Pollinator Action Plan, …
