All-In Cities: Building the Equity Roadmap into 2019

Last month, we brought together policymakers and community coalitions from around the country to Austin, Texas to network, exchange ideas, and strengthen skills. Here is a recap with photos of our two days in Austin. The convening was the culmination of a busy year and underscored the fact that our work is not only about partnering with leaders to expand opportunity and inclusion in their respective cities; these leaders are part of a broader equitable cities movement that needs support.

The most recent evidence of this growing equitable cities movement was seen in the reaction to Amazon’s announcement of its second headquarters and the backlash from policymakers and residents alike to the large public incentives. Fortunately, there’s still time for policymakers in the communities where Amazon has selected its next headquarters to fight for equitable economies. In an op-ed from Next City, published last week, Angela Hanks of CLASP and I write, “While much of the public outrage has been focused on the tech giant, now is the time to hold public officials… accountable for what happens next.”

As 2018 comes to a close, the All-In Cities team remains committed to accelerating the work of our partners, while using our research, communications, and data tools to create the conditions necessary to enable change.

Highlights from the year include:

• In March, we announced the participants of the inaugural All-In Cities Anti-Displacement Policy Network, greatly expanding the number of cities where we are working.
• In April, we hosted a major session at the 2018 Equity Summit on “Reimagining Cities: Local Vanguards for National Change.” The panel featured history makers including Secretary Julián Castro, Philadelphia Councilmember Helen Gym, Minneapolis Councilmember Andrea Jenkins, and Mayor Mitch Landrieu of New Orleans.
• We have expanded the All-In Cities Policy Toolkit – including tools on community benefits agreements and reforming fines and fees – to help even more leaders understand and choose policy solutions that foster inclusive growth.
• In addition, we hosted a number of webinars to share how specific strategies – from growing good jobs to centering community in equitable development – are being successfully implemented across the country.
• We have supported important policy wins, such as the work our partners in Buffalo are doing to advance a community land trust in the historic Fruit Belt neighborhood.

Next year, we will be continuing much of the work that you all have found helpful from the All-In Cities team, beginning with an upcoming webinar on how to tailor economic development strategies to unique communities and their different needs. Join Chris Schilt of PolicyLink, Tony To of HomeSight, and Ubax Gardheere of the City of Seattle on Friday, January 18, 2019, noon – 1:00 p.m. PST/ 3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. EST for this discussion. REGISTER HERE.

But we are just getting started, and have big things planned for 2019. Building on the past year of work, we plan to build new alliances, champion the most innovative policy ideas, and foster the radical imagination of our partners to transform communities across the country.

Thank you for being part of our community this year, and we look forward to the work ahead!

Sincerely,

Tracey Ross
Associate Director, All-In Cities Initiative