Building a new urban practice.

Living Cities works with cross-sector leaders in cities to build a new type of urban practice aimed at dramatically improving the economic well-being of low-income people. We believe that these four core elements of our work are key to these ends:

Open-Sourcing Social Change.

We work at the intersections of information, people, story, and technology to accelerate the uptake of promising solutions to social problems.

Collective Impact.

We support ambitious data-driven, results-oriented cross-sector tables who work together differently to achieve large-scale results and enduring change.

Capital Innovation.

We blend public, private and philanthropic financial resources in new ways to better meet the needs of cities and their residents.

Public Sector Innovation.

We work with public sector leaders to foster more nimble, collaborative, and data-driven local governments.

Explore the topics we address 

Where We Work

See all of the cities where we work. This map also features cities participating in our Integration Initiative, including highlighting our other work in those places.

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What We’re Thinking

Blog Post Kelli Cooper on Sep 11, 2018

Owning Our Future of “Tequity” in Albuquerque 

When entrepreneurs have a good idea, the skills to execute, and a strong work ethic, all arrows should point to success. Yet many entrepreneurs in Albuquerque—especially entrepreneurs of color from N…

Blog Post Ashleigh Gardere & Lynnette White-Colin on Aug 1, 2018

300 Years in the Making: Racial Equity, Entrepreneurship and Capital Innovation… 

In the first of a three-part series from cohort members, New Orleans discusses its rich history of entrepreneurship among people of color, and the gaps and biases inherent in its entrepreneurial ecos…

Resource on Mar 15, 2018

Operationalizing Racial Equity & Inclusion at Living Cities: Frequently Asked Questions 

What does it mean to operationalize racial equity in organizations? How does that change our day-to-day work? Why is it important to do internal racial equity work?

Blog Post Jen Mayer on Jun 19, 2018

P3s Can Be Bad for Racial Equity -- But They Don't Have to Be 

Governments can structure arrangements with private contractors that consider impacts on low-income individuals and people of color.

Blog Post on Jun 19, 2018

Government, Civic And Business Leaders Launch "Racial Equity Here" Commitment T… 

The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation

Safety and Justice Challenge 

Blog Post Matt Baer & Jen Mayer on Jun 18, 2018

Thinking About a P3? Better Ask These Questions First 

Washington, D.C.'s innovative Office of Public-Private Partnerships offers a good case study in to assess whether a P3 makes sense for a particular city project.

Blog Post Matt Baer & Jen Mayer on Jun 15, 2018

Which P3 Model Works Best For Your Project? 

With more than a dozen different ways to structure a public-private partnership, figuring out the most appropriate one for a given project can be hard. Here's a list of what's out there.

Explore the people who are creating change