Mayors Innovation Project

Happy 🌈🏳️‍⚧️!

Often national debates dominate the conversation, but it is local leaders who shape the everyday experiences of residents—through city services, public spaces, partnerships, and the simple but powerful act of ensuring that everyone feels they belong. Thank you mayors for all you do to build welcoming, safe, and inclusive cities for all!

Data consistently shows that youth violence spikes as schools close and seasonal temperatures rise. As we mark National Gun Violence Prevention Month and observe National Gun Violence Awareness Day, municipal leaders across the country are facing one of the most critical challenges of the year: keeping our communities safe during the summer months.

Our latest feature examines how cities are successfully reducing youth violence by investing in robust summer enrichment and youth employment programs. From Durham, NC to Milwaukee, WI, cities are proactively keeping young people engaged and out of harm's way by transforming empty classrooms and community spaces into safe hubs for mentorship, learning, and paid work.

Read the full feature on our website 👉

Summer youth employment as a violence prevention strategy By Leslie Vasquez, Mayors Innovation Project While violent crime has declined recently in many cities, summer months can still bring seasonal spikes in violence that disproportionately affect young people. At the same time, summer school …

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

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/

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/

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.

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 👉

The Balancing Act: Mayor Michael Sutphin’s Vision for a Changing Blacksburg 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 …

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.

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 👉

Summer 2026 Meeting: Madison, WI! Join us in Madison, WI for the Summer Meeting, hosted by Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway!

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 👉

5 Considerations for Your City’s Data Center Strategy 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 …