Introducing our new series, By the Numbers!  Each month, we'll highlight one of our innovative projects and share the impressive numbers behind our work.

This month, in honor of Black History Month, the Mayors Innovation Project asked Black leaders in our network to share what Black History means to them and to share work they are doing in their communities to advance the rights, successes, and opportunities for Black individuals, families, and communities. Here are two highlights.

In January, the Mayors Innovation Project held our 19th annual Winter Meeting in Washington D.C. where mayors from all over the country came together to share high road policy solutions for some of the biggest challenges facing their communities.

One of the most exciting events during the meeting is the Innovation Showcase where city leaders have the opportunity to show off a successful project in their community in three minutes or less, and this year we had no shortage of good ideas. Highlights included Salisbury, NC’s Bell Tower Green, a project that transformed  an old city parking lot into a community park and has drastically increased the number of community events and Tigard, OR’s Opportunity Café, a business incubator program that helps aspiring entrepreneurs lease a space in the town’s public library for 2 years while providing them with business advising, credit building tools, and a savings account program that matches the amount invested.

Check out the full Innovation Showcase recap!

In 2023, ProGov21 published nine original roadmaps detailing best practices for local government on a range of topics including public finance, immigration, reproductive health, affordable housing, and more. Released monthly, these documents provide a cutting-edge survey of key issues for public officials, pointing to expert level resources, model legislation, and best practices for effective and equitable governance.

Check out the full compilation of roadmaps in our 2023 Year-In-Review publication featuring a special introduction by our Directors!

Last November, John Hopkins released a study that showed 9-foot traffic lanes are often safer than wider lanes while also promoting slower traffic and enhancing bike and pedestrian activity.  Despite these findings, most state DOT leaders still set the minimum width of lanes between 10-12 feet. This is due to several factors such as creating more space during snowy weather, accommodating larger emergency vehicles, and increasing traffic capacity in general — which is often a top priority for road designers. 

State Smart Transportation Initiative’s new blog post delves into this issue, including recommendations on how to make narrow lanes more viable in the right context. Check it out!

Tens of thousands of workers in Florida have just lost their labor unions. More is coming

Thousands of Californians got a shot at better careers through this program. Is it working?

What is Wisconsin’s minimum wage, and why hasn’t it changed when other states’ minimum wages have?

Based at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, the High Road Strategy Center is a national think-and-do tank that promotes “high road” solutions to social problems. Learn more here, or click below to learn about our projects housed at the High Road Strategy Center: