Projects & Programs

Making Inclusive Growth a Reality in St. Louis

Jan 25, 2021

St. Louis is still a segregated region. Not only by where people live—the result, no doubt, of systemic racism—but also where investments are made and opportunities are accessible. Our city has seen extraordinary growth and development over the past few years and yet, the benefits are not equitably distributed or represented throughout the region. As St. Louis…

COVID-19: Extinction Level Event for Black Owned Businesses

Jan 25, 2021

As events continue to unfold in our communities from the fallout of Covid-19, social unrest, and sieges on the capital; many of our black-owned businesses are on the brink of extinction. Many minority business owners are facing unheard of challenges and are looking for some relief.  In St. Louis City many of our black-owned businesses…

All of Us: Together

Jan 25, 2021

Equitable Economic Development. What does it mean? Well, equitable means fair and impartial. Economics is the study of production, distribution, and consumption of goods and service. And development is the process of starting an experience. Given these definitions, one could say equitable economic development means to begin fairly producing and distributing goods and services. If that is…

5 Ways Employers Can Guarantee an Inclusive Geospatial Workforce in St. Louis

Jan 25, 2021

The St. Louis region is heading for one of its most impactful economic moments in decades. As a region, we need to ensure that government and commercial organizations have the talent pipelines needed to remain globally competitive.  On June 23, 2020 the St. Louis Economic Development Partnership (SLEDP) led GeoFutures committee released a full report on…

Community Collaborations: Nonprofits Helping to Forge the Way

Jan 25, 2021

The adversity introduced by the COVID-19 pandemic has certainly defined one of the most difficult and trying periods of our lifetime. Between tremendous loss, economic instability and widespread public health threats, life as we know it has been replaced by what most consider to be an interim “new normal.”  As we all endeavor to take…

Revitalizing Communities from Within

Jan 22, 2021

Nearly every American city has a neighborhood that has suffered from decades of disinvestment and blight, thus crippling the economic opportunity of its residents. Often, these neighborhoods are predominantly black. And we know that attempts to revitalize these neighborhoods through “trickle-down economic development” have failed — and will continue to fail. Yet despite the global…

NUC 2021 | St Louis: A New Urban Champion

Jan 22, 2021

St. LouisA New Urban Champion New Urban Champions is an initiative created to showcase the most successful, but less frequently told stories of collaboration, growth, and problem-solving happening in mid-sized cities that deserve a greater share of the spotlight. NewCities convened its first New Urban Champions Learning Expedition in Columbus, Ohio in October 2018. For this second edition, NewCities…

Wellbeing Cities 2020 HIGHLIGHTS

Sep 15, 2020

Day 3 – September 17 Follow our Twitter Moments. Last but not least, Day 3 was loaded with engaging speakers, fruitful conversations, and forward-looking solutions. Scroll down for the key takeaways and replays!   Trending Topics: #HigherGround #ClimateMigration #Mobility #Sustainability #Collaboration #CommunityInvestment   Opening Panel – Getting to Higher Ground: Climate Migration and Resilience in…

Wellbeing Cities Initiative | Declaration of Montréal on Wellbeing in Cities

Sep 14, 2020

“The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the challenges, contradictions, and vulnerabilities of our communities, challenging urban wellbeing and deepening inequalities. COVID-19 also has significant economic impacts, both for the population and for the economic ecosystem of cities. The pandemic underscores the need to reflect on the way we think about, plan, and inhabit cities. As cities…

The De-feminization of Poverty: The Secretary for Social Integration’s Big Bet

Sep 12, 2020

[español abajo] By Xinia Rocío Navarro Prada The pandemic has significantly increased the poverty rate among women, widened the gender pay gap, and intensified women’s care work. Studies by the National Administrative Department of Statistics and Quanta show that in 2020, the unemployment rate rose 5.4%, jumping from 10.5% to 15.9%. While this figure continues…

WBC 2020 Winner | Curridabat, Costa Rica

Mar 11, 2020

Curridabat, Costa Rica Category Winner Prioritizing Wellbeing Why is Curridabat a wellbeing city? >>> Including pollinators as stakeholders in city planning is a truly holistic and innovative approach that reminds us that we are all a part of — and dependent on — local ecosystems. >>> Curridabat is monitoring its residents’ wellbeing through a tailored-made system…