June 27, 2017
Reflections on Innovation
Some observations after nearly four years of reporting on the City Accelerator
June 20, 2017
The Perils of Procurement
Why things are not so simple in the world of government purchasing
June 13, 2017
The Transformation from Convict to Councilwoman
The story of Demetrus Coonrod reinforces the efforts of Baltimore to engage citizens returning from incarceration.
June 9, 2017
Civic Engagement Success
We revisit Atlanta’s efforts to include its low-income residents in a major capitol redevelopment project.
May 26, 2017
Innovation Stands the Test of Time
A look back at the three cities that started it all reveals ideas worth stealing and replicating.
May 18, 2017
Moving Forward Without the Feds
The infrastructure finance cohort convening in Washington, D.C., proved that local ingenuity combined with the right partners can push projects ahead.
May 8, 2017
How Roanoke Rocks Civic Engagement
The city proves that a “one-man show” mixed with a little creativity and innovation is sometimes all it takes to connect with the public.
May 2, 2017
Pittsburgh Steps Up
How the city turned adversity into advantage to help tackle a unique infrastructure challenge
April 25, 2017
Improving Water Quality Doesn’t Have to Wash Away Budgets
Saint Paul’s “shared and stacked” approach ensures its stormwater management projects reap multiple benefits for the community.
April 18, 2017
Bringing It Home
Even communities far away can face familiar challenges and offer replicable solutions.
April 11, 2017
Living in an Age of ‘What Ifs’
Cities in the infrastructure cohort get ready to reconvene to find innovative answers to pressing questions
January 23, 2017
What Does President Trump Mean for Our Nation's Infrastructure?
The infamous Wollman Rink project might provide a clue.
November 22, 2016
Tearing Down the 'Town and Gown' Divide
Relationships with academia are important in Baltimore's and Atlanta's City Accelerator programs.
October 12, 2016
New Ways of Thinking in Nashville
A special (but simple) bus pass helps homeless population get to shelter in extreme weather.
September 6, 2016
Reading Beyond the Headline: Why Seattle’s Ideas Are Worth Stealing
Mayor Murray ups the ante on inclusive citizen engagement -- and helps pave the way for the rest of us.
August 18, 2016
Broadband Equity Defines the Future of Communities
High-speed connectivity is no longer negotiable.
July 18, 2016
Is Keeping Innovation Going the Real Challenge?
The City Accelerator's Cohort I cities are meeting this week to discuss their progress, challenges and how they can sustain their momentum.
June 30, 2016
A Primer on Financing Infrastructure
Most city leaders are grappling with an important question: How do we pay for critical infrastructure improvements?
June 7, 2016
Infrastructure: A Problem That Must Be Solved
Lessons on taking the long view from former U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood.
May 24, 2016
Philadelphia’s Common Sense Approach to Helping the Working Poor
Can changing how you address an envelope improve communication with your constituents? Philadelphia aimed to find out.
April 27, 2016
Why Time Doesn’t Always Heal
A critical issue 25 years ago, our nation’s infrastructure remains in the same deteriorating state today.
March 29, 2016
The Road Ahead Is in Need of Repair
The future of our nation's infrastructure requires an innovation intervention.
March 7, 2016
6 Questions About Financing Infrastructure, Answered
Jennifer Mayer, leader of the City Accelerator’s cohort on financing municipal infrastructure, talks about her favorite projects, the Flint water crisis and more.
February 25, 2016
Let's Build Something Together: An Aspirational Infrastructure Tour of 5 Cities
Financing public improvements isn't easy -- but nothing is more important for cities to prosper.
February 8, 2016
In New Orleans, a Health Plan for the Poor Comes Together
Hurricane Katrina destroyed “Big Charity,” but the Big Easy has something better.
January 28, 2016
Change in Local Government: Moving Beyond Good Intentions
Programs to help the poor mean nothing if they don't work.
January 20, 2016
Rewriting the Rules of Public Engagement
Public meetings can be like purgatory. Cities are showing us there’s a better way.
January 11, 2016
A Philanthropic Nudge for Civic Innovation
Cities are doing it for themselves but not by themselves.
November 12, 2015
Crisis Meets Opportunity in Baltimore
Looking to curb violence, city leaders are charting a path for incarcerated people to successfully re-enter society.
November 2, 2015
Cities Marked by Devastation Rise Again
New Orleans and Detroit have little in common -- except their ability to persevere.
October 26, 2015
Economic Equality: A Nobel-Worthy Idea But a Long Way to Go
Angus Deaton's Nobel prize-winning work is inspiring, but will it solve poverty?
October 19, 2015
Being Local in an Interdependent World
Regional planning shows communities can be better, together.
October 12, 2015
Haunted by the Eternal Digital Record
The court of public opinion is ever-more swift and damning.
October 5, 2015
Taking the Long View
Civic innovation and investment will undoubtedly bring challenges and criticisms, but leaders are wise to stay the course.
September 28, 2015
And Divided We Fall
To prosper, cities must address their neighborhoods of neglect -- where poverty, unemployment and failing education is the status quo.
September 21, 2015
Lessons From One of America’s Most Inventive Cities
Seattle has a history of being a magnet for both entrepreneurial success and creative thinkers. What can we learn from it?
September 8, 2015
Albuquerque’s Driver for Economic Growth: Untapped Citizen Potential
New Mexico’s biggest city is supporting immigrant and indigenous populations in their business endeavors.
September 1, 2015
10 Years After Katrina, New Orleans’ Spirit Inspires
The disaster permanently altered lives, but the city continues to find innovative ways to rebuild.
August 25, 2015
A Year in the Life of the City Accelerator
It's time for a recap and review of this philanthropic, collaborative startup that has put down roots in eight cities so far.
August 18, 2015
The Electrifying Rhetoric of Election Season -- Or, the Trump Effect
Politics is a messy business, but fierce competition can fuel innovation.
August 11, 2015
Mayors Come and Go, But Good Ideas Should Stick
Upcoming elections will test the sustainability of mayors’ innovation initiatives.
July 28, 2015
Finding Answers to Housing Affordability Over Coffee
We have energetic citizens who want to help solve problems -- we just have to listen.
July 21, 2015
311: A New Use for a Not-So-New Tool
Sometimes engaging citizens is as simple as solving their problems.
July 14, 2015
If Civic Engagement Is Boring, You're Probably Doing It Wrong
History can provide some lessons in making it actually engaging.
July 7, 2015
4 Important Lessons From 40 Years of Civic Engagement
It doesn't have to be a hellish public process.
June 29, 2015
Can Cities Learn a Civic Engagement Lesson From the ‘Ice Bucket Challenge’?
Passionate public participation -- combined with technology -- can be powerful
June 22, 2015
Bringing Back ‘Baltimore is Best!’
No stranger to hard times, Baltimore looks to new ideas to rise from the ashes.
June 15, 2015
The Next Experiment in Urban Planning: Inclusive Engagement
Seattle is tapping technology to reach previously unheard from -- and often culturally diverse -- citizens.
June 8, 2015
From Popsicles to Pop Music: Albuquerque Bets on Small-Scale Entrepreneurs
Supporting diverse businesses is the cornerstone of the city’s plan to spark economic mobility.
June 1, 2015
A Laboratory for Social Change
After being devastated by Hurricane Katrina, New Orleans is creating a more effective, equitable health system and reinvigorating all segments of its community.
May 26, 2015
Building on a Proud History of City Planning and Civic Engagement
Atlanta faces the dynamics of development head on as one of the cities chosen in City Accelerator’s Cohort 2.
May 19, 2015
From Civic Engagement to Meaningful Engagement
City Accelerator’s Cohort 2 cities embark on their journeys to improve their citizens' quality of life.
May 11, 2015
The Role of Whimsy and the Rise of the Data Geek
Nashville's co-chief innovation officer on the city's key takeaways from the City Accelerator.
May 4, 2015
A Spotlight on Nashville's Serendipity Practice
City leaders spark innovation in creative ways in this country music community.
April 27, 2015
Understanding the Timing and Rhythm of Innovation
As a city with a big history, Louisville is building on its achievements to diminish the debilitating remnants of poverty in its community.
April 21, 2015
Want to Help People in Poverty? Meet Them Where They Are
To be successful in reaching the poor, common-sense communication often prevails.
April 14, 2015
Why Trauma-Informed Housing Is Key to Solving Homelessness
“Housing First” initiatives can fall short if other resources aren't in place for individuals suffering from complex problems.
April 6, 2015
The Fast and Fleeting Nature of the Digital Economy
When your city invests in technology, make the most of it -- and quickly. Today's new idea is tomorrow's old hat.
April 2, 2015
From the Big (and Small) Screen to Real Life
New Orleans, Los Angeles and Albuquerque are writing their own stories to improve citizens' lives.
March 30, 2015
Historic Cities Rally to Become Centers of Innovation
Watch and review cities’ plans to inspire citizen participation.
March 23, 2015
How Minneapolis and Seattle Hope to Be Places of Opportunity for All
Watch and review both cities' plans to increase citizen involvement and decrease income inequality through the City Accelerator.
March 16, 2015
Civic Engagement Expected to Shine in Round 2 of City Accelerator
The initiative's leader shares his aspirations as the next round kicks off this week.
February 27, 2015
Innovation in 140 Characters or Less
The Governing Summit in Louisville, Ky., provided unique ways for participants to share ideas.
February 12, 2015
The Challenge of Making Sure Innovation 'Sticks'
The original champions of change might move on, but their ideas don't have to leave with them.
February 5, 2015
An Interactive Gathering for City Leaders
The convening focuses on solving urban problems through synergy and innovation.
January 29, 2015
What the VW Beetle Can Teach Us About Housing
Is it time to “think small” to be more innovative and sustainable in our urban developments?
January 22, 2015
Innovation Guide Promotes New Culture of Civic Exploration
The guide's action-oriented framework supports a spirit of adventure and change in urban communities.
January 15, 2015
Small City, Big Innovations, Huge Progress
The community in Fitchburg, Mass., came together to solve youth crime and budget challenges.
January 8, 2015
True Resilience Means Cities Must Plan for Poverty-Stricken Citizens
Weather-related events are often catastrophic for urban poor.
December 19, 2014
Low-Income Citizens Can Benefit When Cities and Private Sector Partner
"Bank On" programs and other innovative initiatives reduce the victimization of poor individuals.
December 11, 2014
Want to Innovate? Determine Your City's Greatest Need and Get to Work
Governments must ask themselves critical questions before change can happen.
December 4, 2014
Where's Your Pothole?
Additional innovation is needed for infrastructure issues that aggravate the public.
November 19, 2014
Changes to Obamacare Could Bring Opportunity for Innovation
Low-income individuals can benefit from incremental improvements to the health care law.
November 13, 2014
No Simple Solutions to Immigration Reform
This controversial issue shouldn't be about politics -- it's about people.
November 6, 2014
Nashville and Louisville Use Innovation and Imagination in City Infrastructure
The City Accelerator communities are creating an environment of ingenuity.
October 31, 2014
Innovation Goes Beyond Buzzwords
Trends in management and change might come and go, but innovation remains a common thread.
October 22, 2014
Why Steve Jobs Might Have Failed at Government Innovation
Failure followed by success can make a legend in business, but second chances are hard to come by in the public sector.
October 15, 2014
Children Shine Light on Complexity of Homelessness
It may be easy to blame individuals for their plight -- until children are involved.
September 30, 2014
Homeless Veterans' Sacrifices Merit Special Attention
Mental trauma and emotional wounds mean many vets end up in the streets. They deserve better.
September 17, 2014
How the Shrinking Ozone Hole Is Like the War on Poverty
When we face reality, we take the first step to fixing a problem.
September 4, 2014
Similarities among the City Accelerator's Top 3 Plans
Each cities' innovative plan to help low-income residents seems so different at first glance.
August 27, 2014
Minimum-Wage Maximizing City Challenges
Federal government inaction is thrusting a tough issue on local jurisdictions.
August 19, 2014
Poverty Is a Multi-Pronged Problem
Solutions to helping the poor aren't simple, but we must press on.
August 12, 2014
Don’t Leave Poor Populations out of Internet Initiatives
Technology has the power to unite but also the potential to divide.
August 5, 2014
When Innovation Isn't Glamorous
We need to make the case for the glitzless but still innovative initiatives.
July 29, 2014
5 Themes in City Poverty Plans
City Accelerator finalists have commonalities in the problems they face and their proposed solutions.
July 23, 2014
Cities Ask Citizens for Poverty Solutions
San Jose and Nashville are planning to tap the talents of citizens for innovative solutions to their problems with poverty.
July 15, 2014
A Tale of Two Cities' Anti-Poverty Plans
Philadelphia and Denver are plotting different ways for their low-income residents to get out of poverty.
July 8, 2014
Innovation Profiles: Louisville and Albuquerque
Two former transportation hubs are bringing back economic vitality with a focus on their most vulnerable populations.
July 2, 2014
Innovation Needed to Finally Win War on Poverty
Fifty years after President Johnson declared war on poverty, we're facing the same battles.
June 23, 2014
Recreation as Innovation: San Antonio Rethinks a Public Good
Cities should strive to provide recreation for vulnerable populations.
June 13, 2014
The Art of Change
One way innovative cities helped curb homelessness? Parking meters.
June 10, 2014
Take the Shot, Get the Goal and Win the Game
Fear of failure can inhibit cities from innovating. It shouldn't.
June 3, 2014
Hard-Earned Lessons, Good Grounding for the City Accelerator
The former mayor of the “Most Transformed City” in America is going to help chronicle civic innovation through the City Accelerator.
June 3, 2014
When You're Out of Money, It's Time to Start Thinking
Innovative funding solutions can be born from bad times.
June 2, 2014
Gig City Is Proof Municipal Broadband Works
The FCC wants to prevent states from banning locally and publicly owned broadband. That plan is spot on -- and Chattanooga, Tenn., proves it.
May 30, 2014
VW, the UAW and the Re-Industrialization of America
The changing relationship between labor and business is important for communities hoping for a manufacturing comeback.