Asset building

Over the past year, the United States Conference of Mayors and the Brookings Institution, along with the Project for Public Spaces have worked together to capture a new model of growth that is emerging in cities and the particular roles that mayors can play.

Why do some neighborhoods appear able to launch effective local improvement initiatives, while others are more hampered by fragmentation and mistrust? Why can some communities mobilize diverse constituencies to influence public policy, while others cannot?

Increasingly, a wide range of entities—housers, educators, cities—are using data sharing as a way to increase effectiveness across systems. Data sharing exemplifies this community of practice’s intent to align systems to improve life outcomes for low-income children.