A peer learning network for mayors and city leaders.
By Mary Carr Lee, Mayors Innovation Project Welcoming Week is more than a celebration—it’s a movement. It’s a call to action to build a nation of neighbors where all residents can embrace diversity, foster belonging, and shape a future where everyone feels at home. “Welcoming Week started in 2012 as a conversation between a number …
By Katya Spear, Managing Director, Mayors Innovation Project The panel The Right Response at the Right Time at the MIP Summer Meeting in Albuquerque, NM, brought together mayors, department heads, and national policy experts to discuss how cities are advancing public safety by establishing and expanding alternative response programs. The conversation highlighted a quiet but …
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 …
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 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 …
The Mayors Innovation Project is pleased to announce the third cohort of the Mayors Institute on Pedestrian Safety (MIPS). This year, supported by AARP and Smart Growth America, 12 mayors were selected through a national competitive application process to join this year’s cohort.
By Mary Carr Lee, Mayors Innovation Project As President Trump’s deportation plans begin to take shape, refugee and immigrant communities across the country face fear and uncertainty. Of the 30+ executive orders signed in the first week, ten are aimed at clamping down on immigration and ramping up fast-track deportation efforts. Among other cities, ICE …
By Stella D’Acquisto • Mayors Innovation Project Immigrants form an important and influential part of our cities and communities, yet American immigration governance is largely housed in the federal government. This can make it difficult for local elected officials to support immigrants, particularly those who may not be receiving the protection they need from the …
Everyday is Earth Day! At this perilous time on our fragile planet, all policy is climate policy – and cities, bolstered by an infusion of funding and climate prioritization from the Federal Government – are leading the way. Today, we celebrate mayors in our network leading on climate solutions: Are you a MIP member …
