Mayors Innovation Project

05/21/2026

Across the country, a new model is gaining momentum, and it's challenging cities to explore alternative approaches to community food access and economic opportunity.

From Atlanta's Azalea Market to Chicago's network of publicly-supported markets to New York City's La Marqueta and the Peninsula, public grocery is emerging as a real tool for cities serious about tackling food insecurity.

In partnership with HR&A Advisors, Local Progress, and Mayors for America, we're bringing together mayoral staff, advisors, and advocates to dig into what it actually takes to make this work — from quick-start interventions to long-term standalone stores. Whether your city is large or small, well-resourced or working with limited capacity, this conversation is designed to help you take the next step.

Register today 👉https://hraadvisors.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_D-_FCgGrRPSsNFx6aLvpGQ

05/19/2026

Today, as the third installment of our New Mayor Movement series, we bring you a feature on Mayor Adena Ishii - City of Berkeley!

Mayor Ishii is the first Asian American and first woman of color to serve as Mayor of Berkeley. Central to her administration’s agenda is the idea of building a “beloved community.” For Ishii, this means grounding city priorities and caring for community members by providing public safety, affordable housing, functional infrastructure, and responsive public services.

Read the full feature on our website to learn more about how Mayor Ishii is addressing homelessness and building a culture of transparency and trust 👉 https://mayorsinnovation.org/2026/05/19/from-community-roots-to-city-leadership-mayor-adena-ishiis-vision-to-build-a-stronger-more-equitable-berkeley/

05/15/2026

Across the country, a wave of newly elected mayors are stepping into office with fresh perspectives and high expectations.

Today, as the second installment of our New Mayor Movement series, we bring you a feature on Mayor Connie Boesen of Des Moines, IA. Elected in 2023, Boesen is the first woman to lead Iowa's capital city. Check out our feature to learn about how she's investing in neighborhoods and building civic spirit through initiatives like Invest DSM and the Improving Our Neighborhoods program 👉 https://mayorsinnovation.org/2026/05/06/a-historic-first-a-forward-vision-mayor-connie-boesen-on-the-future-of-des-moines/

05/14/2026

In May of 2022, the Mayors Innovation Project launched its “May is for Mayoral Safety” campaign to raise awareness of the rise in threats and harassment of US mayors, and to share resources to meet this challenge. Since that time, the challenge has only grown - but so have the number of allies, organizations, and resources to help mayors meet them.

👉 Our 2025 report (https://mayorsinnovation.org/under-pressure/) documents the rise and prevalence of threats and harassment that mayors are facing, especially women mayors and mayors of color.
👉 Organizations including the Democracy Security Project, the Democracy Protection Network, Public Service Alliance (PSA), the Institute for Strategic Dialogue, and the Bridging Divides Initiative offer resources, data, and services to strengthen mayoral security and protection in advance of or in response to threats and harassment.

At MIP, we're committed to shining a light on the growing threat and prevalence of harassment and violence towards elected officials, and its impact on local democracy and representation. We will continue to support mayors, engage the growing network of democracy supporters and allies, and share policy solutions and tools that protect local leaders.

05/12/2026

Across the country, a wave of newly elected mayors are stepping into office with fresh perspectives and high expectations. Our latest series, New Mayor Movement, delves into four mayors in their first term, going beyond campaign slogans to explore who they are, what drives them, and how they plan to shape the next chapter of their communities.

Today, as the first installment of our series, we bring you a feature on Mayor Michael Sutphin of Blacksburg, VA. Sutphin's journey began as a Virginia Tech student reporting on local government—now he's leading it. Check out our feature to learn about how he's addressing housing challenges and building a welcoming city for all 👉

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 …

05/05/2026

This , we want to take a moment to thank the hundreds of public servants in our network—from mayors to city staff to city councilmembers—thank you for your unwavering commitment to the communities and residents you serve. Our cities are safer, healthier, and stronger because of the work you do, and we are honored to work with you to share innovative ideas and policies that move cities forward. Thank you for your service and for building this network with us.

04/29/2026

Our 2026 Summer Meeting host city is Madison, WI, and we couldn’t be more excited to welcome you to MIP’s hometown! All mayors are invited to join us this July 22-24 as we explore housing 🏘️, complete streets 🚲, building decarbonization 🏙️, civic engagement 🤝, and more in Wisconsin's dynamic state capitol, hosted by the Honorable Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway!

Throughout the event, you’ll have plenty of time to step back from the daily grind, network with new and old peers and national experts, and explore a truly magical city.

We hope to see you there! Register today and view the draft agenda on our website 👉

Join us in Madison, WI for the Summer Meeting, hosted by Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway!

04/22/2026

Happy Earth Day 🌎 !

As we celebrate our planet’s natural beauty and resilience, we are also forced to reckon with the invisible infrastructure powering our digital lives. The rapid expansion of data centers presents a unique challenge for local governments. From staggering energy demands and high water consumption for cooling to public health harms and sustainable workforce debate, the footprint of these facilities is significant. Today, we bring you a feature with resources and considerations for your city's data center strategy.

Check it out on our website 👉

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 …

04/17/2026

This week is 🍎 , a time dedicated to recognizing the invaluable contributions of students who balance their academic ambitions with professional dedication. At MIP, students are critical to our operations and success. They help with meeting outreach, keep our lists of mayors current, write pieces for our newsletter, and so much more.

To celebrate this week, we're bringing you two new features from our student interns, on how local governments can better serve the students in their communities. Check them out below!

🔗 Beyond the Classroom: How Cities Can Support Students’ Needs: https://mayorsinnovation.org/2026/04/15/beyond-the-classroom-how-cities-can-support-students-needs/
🔗 Supporting Youth and Families with Public Summer Childcare and Afterschool Care: https://mayorsinnovation.org/2026/04/15/supporting-youth-and-families-with-public-summer-childcare-and-afterschool-care/

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 …

03/13/2026

Happy Women's History Month from the Mayors Innovation Project! The Mayors Innovation Project is honored to work with so many bold and visionary women mayors who work to make their cities more sustainable, safe, prosperous, and equitable.

Today, we’re sharing a feature from former Kankakee, IL Mayor Chasity Wells-Armstrong, who made history in her community as the second woman and first Black person ever to be elected. In the piece, Wells-Armstrong writes about two pressures that undermine women's executive power and Women’s History Month: civic intimidation and institutional obstruction. This is not only about the woman in office,” she writes. “It is about a woman considering a run. It is about shrinking the pipeline. It is also about the little girls watching and learning what leadership costs.”

🔗 Read the full feature:

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 …