As 2019 begins to wind down, I have been reflecting on what has been an important year for the growth of the All-In Cities Initiative. We saw policy wins from Portland to Pittsburgh. We expanded our policy toolkit and hosted a webinar series with local leaders championing these strategies across the country. We also forged innovative new partnerships, such as the ESSENCE-PolicyLink Mayors Roundtable, and we launched a first of its kind network for Chief Equity Officers with our friends at the Government Alliance on Race and Equity (GARE).

Despite the challenges facing our country, this year we have witnessed firsthand how local leaders are national leaders, and how the equity movement is only getting stronger. Heading into 2020, we plan to forge new alliances, champion the most innovative policy ideas, and foster the radical imagination of our partners to transform communities across the country. Check out our final update of the year below.

Chief Equity Officer Policy Network Convening

From November 18-19, 2018, PolicyLink and GARE brought together 11 chief equity officers to San Antonio, TX for the first in-person convening of the Chief Equity Officer Policy Network. The convening was meant to build community, exchange ideas, and lay the foundation for the next year of work together. You can find a full recap with photos here.

Fines and Fees

PolicyLink, The San Francisco Financial Justice Project, and the Fines and Fees Justice Center are excited to invite local leaders to apply for Cities & Counties for Fine and Fee Justice, a new national network of local officials committed to enacting equitable fine and fee reform. Through the network, city and county officials will lead local teams to assess and reform fines and fees that disproportionately impact low-income people and people of color in their jurisdictions. Participating localities will receive $50,000 in grant funding, individualized technical assistance, budgeting/revenue forecasting support, assistance with messaging and press outreach, and training on a range of tools, strategies, promising policies, and best practices. The deadline for submitting applications is 6:00 p.m. PT / 9:00 p.m. ET on February 14, 2020. Learn more by registering for an informational webinar, Tuesday, December 17, 2019 11:00 a.m. PT / 2:00 p.m. ET.

How Are Cities Fighting Displacement? Lessons from the All-In Cities Anti-Displacement Policy Network

Last month, the City of Seattle hosted a two-day Equitable Development Summit to strengthen community resilience against displacement. PolicyLink Senior Associate Chris Schildt moderated a panel with leaders from our All-In Cities Anti-Displacement Policy Network to discuss their efforts to fight displacement and build prosperous cities. Speakers from Portland, Minneapolis, Saint Paul, and Seattle talked candidly about their efforts to bring communities directly impacted by displacement into the center of decision-making processes, pass policies to protect people from displacement, and shape the narrative of what displacement means for communities. Watch a video recording of the event here.

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