A peer learning network for mayors and city leaders.
By: Mary Carr Lee, Mayors Innovation Project Blacksburg, Virginia, sits at a unique crossroads where a historic Appalachian town meets the fast growing influence of Virginia Tech. Guiding the community through this moment of change is Michel Sutphin, the town’s newly elected mayor. Mayor Sutphin’s connection to Blacksburg is deep-seated. He served as a student …
By Chloe Sieman and Katya Spear, Mayors Innovation Project As municipalities across the country are courted by tech giants promising innovation and investment, a growing body of data suggests the long-term reality may not match the pitch decks. Before breaking ground, local leaders must weigh these 5 Major Considerations regarding the rapid expansion of AI …
By Chloe Sieman, UW–Madison Senior, Major: International Studies and Public Policy Today, 4.2 million children nationwide lack access to child care, exacerbated in regions of low average property value and high rates of poverty, disparately affecting Black communities. Inaccessibility to high quality care leaves parents with the option of either jeopardizing income, or leaving children …
By Kylah Kehoe, UW–Madison Freshman, Major: Economics and Political Science Across the board, costs continue to rise for college students. As young people living away from home for the first time, college students may be more vulnerable to rising costs due to a lack of financial literacy and high tuition payments. The 2023-2024 Hope Center …
By Quincy Midthun, Mayors Innovation Project April marks Fair Housing Month, a time to celebrate the landmark passing of the Fair Housing Act which aimed to eliminate discrimination in the sale, rental, and financing of housing. Today, this month serves as a critical call to action to ensure that everyone has access to safe, affordable …
By Quincy Midthun, Mayors Innovation Project A recent report from the Institute for Local Self-Reliance (ILSR) found that municipalities have increased their spending with Amazon nearly fourfold since 2016. From standard office supplies like pens and paper to tools and parts for repairing municipal vehicles, corporate giants like Amazon have quietly become a default purchasing …
By Chasity Wells-Armstrong Chasity Wells-Armstrong is the Founder of Catalyst Coaching & Transformation and Creator of the SCALE™ Framework for Public Sector Leadership, which she uses to support mayors and municipal teams with strategies and resources. Wells-Armstrong is the former Mayor of Kankakee, IL and has served on the Mayors Innovation Project Steering Committee since …
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 …
