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Today is World Drowning Prevention Day, when Bloomberg Philanthropies, the World Health Organization, and our partners around the globe raise awareness about an under-addressed issue that claims hundreds of thousands of lives each year — many of them young people and children. Mike recorded a brief message about the need for increased drowning prevention work and Bloomberg Philanthropies' investments in proven solutions and partnerships that can save lives. Take a moment to watch and share for World Drowning Prevention Day.

Bloomberg Philanthropies' Innovation Teams have reached more than 80 cities representing over 65 million people around the world, and they've inspired thousands of public sector organizations to embrace innovative systems and practices. Now, for the first time ever, we're taking that proven formula to the state level — working alongside Maryland Governor Wes Moore and his team to fight childhood poverty.

Announced at the recent City Data Alliance convening, the new partnership will establish a chief innovation officer and a team charged with working across State agencies and sectors, seeking new and improved solutions, and incubating and scaling initiatives, particularly those that will reverse the rise of young people experiencing poverty statewide. The effort will also bring to the State a boost of expertise in data analysis, insight development, rapid prototyping, robust delivery, and project management. "We're going to be data-driven and heart-led," said Governor Moore at the summit. "We lead with our heart on our sleeve… but we don't move without data."

In an opinion piece for Le Figaro, Mike wrote about the recent French elections, Paris as the host of the Olympics and home of great museums, and the role that arts and culture play in healthy democracies. Making the arts accessible to everyone is important because they "build community by bringing people together and exposing us to new points of view,” Mike notes, “which is especially vital in an age of hyper-partisanship." In that spirit, the op-ed highlights the Bloomberg Connects app, which now offers more than 500 digital guides from museums, performance venues, historic buildings, botanic gardens, and more — all easily available with a free download. Explore the app today, then take a moment to read Mike's op-ed about making the arts more accessible to everyone.

In this episode of our Follow the Data podcast, the topic is the threat of air pollution — which contributes to more than eight million deaths each year — and a new report, the State of Global Air 2024, that tracks air quality around the world and serves as a powerful resource for organizations that rely on data to inform life-saving action. Guests include Antha Williams, who leads the Environment program at Bloomberg Philanthropies; Dr. Pallavi Pant, who leads the Global Health program at the Health Effects Institute; and Jaime Pumarejo, the first-ever Executive Director of Breathe Cities and the former Mayor of Barranquilla, Colombia. They speak with host Katherine Oliver about the current state of global air pollution, how air quality data can help drive climate progress, and why it's important to tackle this issue at the local level.

In a joint op-ed published in Devex, Mike and World Health Organization Director-General Dr. Tedros urged governments and individuals to come together and help prevent deaths and injuries from traffic crashes. "In the time it takes to read this article," they write, "as many as 10 people will die somewhere on the world's roads. Add up the numbers and the toll is staggering." Recently, Bloomberg Philanthropies inaugural Road Safety Awards recognized work in four countries that have found ways to improve safety and save lives on their roads. But as Mike and Dr. Tedros write: "We have miles to go" to prevent traffic deaths around the world.

What are the benefits of living in a "15-minute city?" How can nature help prepare urban environments for a changing climate? What can we do about highways that divide communities and worsen inequality? A number of recently published books have tackled these and other questions about the past, present, and future of cities around the world. Take a look at the Bloomberg Cities Network list of "new books about cities, public service, and how leaders can work with residents to drive progress" to find your next summer read.

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