A peer learning network for mayors and city leaders.
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 …
By: Mary Carr Lee, Mayors Innovation Project As Mayor Danene Sorace gets ready to step down at the end of the year, she’s reflecting on her time leading Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Sorace has been focused on some big things: connecting with neighbors, tackling the housing crisis, and making the city more sustainable. Right from the start …
By Mary Carr Lee, Mayors Innovation Project At the Mayors Innovation Project summer meeting, mayors and experts from cities across the country dug into the issue of homelessness, highlighting the urgent need for a shift away from crisis management to sustainable solutions that demonstrate measurable results. Featuring leaders from Takoma Park, MD; Albuquerque, NM; Newark, …
Today, the Mayors Innovation Project is pleased to announce that six US cities have been selected through a national competitive application process to join the Regulatory Justice Initiative: Expanding Access to Small Business Opportunity cohort (RJI). RJI is a partnership between the Mayors Innovation Project and Cities Work at the Institute for Justice that aims …
High-speed dependable internet is not a convenience or a luxury, but a critical tool for resilient, connected, and inclusive communities. Broadband ensures that residents have access to education, healthcare, and essential services. However, low-income neighborhoods, rural communities, and neighborhoods of color tend to have lower rates of internet access. Local governments can help close this …
By Mary Carr Lee • Mayors Innovation Project Across the country, cities are navigating a complex reality defined by two factors: the increasingly high needs of our most vulnerable residents and the persistent uncertainty of federal funding and municipal budgets. Simply put, the gap between what residents need and what public services can provide is …
Complete Streets is an approach to planning, designing, building, operating, and maintaining streets that enable safe access for all, regardless of mode of travel. Complete streets policies and practices improve safety, enhance public health, reduce pollution, and boost local economies by increasing property values and supporting local businesses. The City of Madison, WI has long …
By: Katya Spear, Managing Director • Mayors Innovation Project This Summer, the Mayors Innovation Project and the Water Center at Penn hosted a webinar featuring Mayor Danene Sorace of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, who offered a unique perspective on managing water affordability from the top. As the head of a city that owns and operates its water …
Since January, cities across the nation have been working to interpret a new, uncertain, and often overwhelming federal policy landscape. At the Summer 2025 Meeting, city leaders came together to discuss how they’re protecting the health and safety of their communities in the face of reduced federal support and rapidly changing federal guidance that often …
