The equitable renewal of our cities, particularly those that have not yet experienced a market-driven resurgence, is a vital task that requires multi-focused strategies from a wide array of visionary leaders.
PolicyLink works in partnership with community, public, philanthropic, and private institutions to develop and implement programs and policies that foster equitable revitalization in older industrial cities. Below is a sample of how we are collaborating with local and state leaders to restore prosperity and opportunity in America’s struggling cities.
Newark. With support from the Prudential Foundation, PolicyLink is working with Newark leaders to develop and advance a buy local strategy in this older industrial cities. Buy local refers to a range of approaches that steer the purchasing power of government agencies, anchor institutions, and other large enterprises located within the city of Newark to support small, minority, and women-owned businesses; and capacity building strategies that can assist small, minority, and women-owned businesses maximize their reach and potential. Check out the following policy briefs:
Mahoning Valley, OH. PolicyLink worked with the Raymond John Wean Foundation to develop a community building philanthropic initiative for the Northeast Ohio communities of Youngstown and Warren. The below report presents our recommendations to The Raymond John Wean Foundation on the focus, approach, and structure of a philanthropic initiative that will support the equitable renewal of the Mahoning Valley and expand economic and social opportunities for its residents.
Greater Philadelphia. PolicyLink has worked with the Greater Philadelphia Urban Affairs Coalition (GPUAC) and other local partners in the region to promote equitable development strategies that ensure that renewal extends to working families and residents of the region’s distressed neighborhoods.
Download pdf policy brief, Connecing Working Families to Economic Opportunities in the Philadelphia Region: The Role of Employers
Cleveland. Together with other members of the African American Forum on Race and Regionalism, PolicyLink conducted in-depth research for the President’s Council recently undertook an investigation to explore how regional equity policies could strengthen the African American community as well as the health of the entire Cleveland region. Two years in the making, the report, Regionalism: Growing Together to Expand Opportunity to All, helps show how equity must be seen as a corner stone in regional planning, not a stumbling block. By uniting communities with opportunity—through better education, transportation, housing and economic investment—the entire Cleveland region will be more prosperous, healthy and just.