Last month, I was one of 500 women from 36 states that gathered for the She the People Summit, kicking off an initiative to mobilize a multiracial coalition of women "to influence media, policymakers, and the electoral base." During the Summit, leaders discussed the various progressive candidates of color who have been catapulted into the national spotlight by running on bold agendas that inspired and mobilized unlikely voters. As we enter the final stretch to November, our network must be prepared to support rising leaders in turning bold agendas into bold governance, and ensure residents remain at the center of the work.

Here is some of the work we've been doing to advance bold agendas, and upcoming opportunities to learn about effective policies:

• Congressional Black Caucus Annual Legislative Conference: I had the pleasure of participating on a panel on gentrification and displacement during the Congressional Black Caucus's Annual Legislative Conference in Washington DC Congresswoman Karen Bass and Los Angeles City Councilmember Marqueece Harris-Dawson convened over 200 community leaders for a discussion on how gentrification is impacting Black communities, and solutions for fighting displacement. Moderated by Councilmember Harris-Dawson, the discussion included Mayor Ras Baraka of Newark, New Jersey; Dr. Mindy Fullilove of The New School; and Nerfertiti Jackmon, executive director of Six Square in Austin, TX and a participant in our All-In Cities Anti-Displacement Policy Network. For more information on the panel, see coverage of the event here.
   
• Mapping the Presence and Potential of Gentrification in Austin: Next City spotlighted new research that will serve the Austin team in our All-In Cities Anti-Displacement Network. Researchers at the University of Texas released the report, "Uprooted: Residential Displacement in Austin's Gentrifying Neighborhoods and What Can Be Done About It." The report includes color-coded maps showing stages of gentrification, including 16 neighborhoods where gentrification is happening and 23 neighborhoods at risk of experiencing gentrification.
   
• Upcoming webinar: Community Benefits Agreements and Organizing for Equitable Development: Community benefits agreements (CBAs) provide a legal framework for community coalitions to organize and negotiate with developers around job access, wages, training, community oversight and other benefits a proposed development might bring to the surrounding neighborhood or city. As binding contracts that clarify and align the expectations of developers, community coalitions, and public officials, CBAs crafted with the core principles of just and fair inclusion can be powerful tools for spurring equitable, sustainable development in cities.
  
  Join experts Julian Gross of PolicyLink and Jennifer Martinez of PICO Bay Area for this important All-In Cities discussion on Wednesday, Oct 24, 2018 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. PT/ 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. ET. REGISTER HERE.
   
• Upcoming webinar: How to Resist Cultural Displacement in Changing Communities, October 15, 2018: The nation's housing affordability crisis doesn't just displace residents, it also disrupts and prices out the businesses and services that contribute to the vibrancy and character of neighborhoods. But there are organizations around the country working to not only ensure that residents are able to afford to stay in place, but that the artistic, cultural, and entrepreneurial expressions of vulnerable groups remain rooted in their communities.
  
  Join this PolicyLink webinar on Monday, October 15, 2018; 12:30 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. PT/ 3:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. ET as leaders from Kelly Strayhorn Theater, Mission Economic Development Agency, and Galería de la Raza discuss their arts, culture, and equitable development strategies in approaching real estate, community engagement, and public policy. REGISTER HERE.

Stay tuned as we will be having more webinars that explore key policies in the All-In Cities Policy Toolkit.

Tracey Ross
Associate Director, All-In Cities Initiative