This brief, the first in the Beyond Confrontation Series, lifts up proven practices, as well as less tested but innovative and thoughtful efforts to address the use of force. It provides information to help communities better understand what standards guide the use of police force, how that force is applied across the country, and what strategies exist to minimize these acts of aggression. (2015)

This brief, the third in the Beyond Confrontation Series, explores the stark landscape of pervasive police militarization, and lifts up early examples of communities fighting to reverse the tide of militarization and restore a focus on community to local and state police departments. (2015)

Provides an overview of how stakeholders can advocate for and implement local food procurement policies in an equitable manner. (2015)

This brief, the fourth and final in the Beyond Confrontation Series, examines how leadership can build the values and institutional culture necessary to implement and sustain community-centered policing. The brief also highlights workforce management, information sharing, and accountability practices that integrate community policing into law enforcement agency operations over the long term. (2015)

Anchor institutions, such as colleges and universities, hospitals and health-care facilities, utilities, faith-based organizations and museums have a role to play in driving economic growth. This brief is an introduction to developing and implementing an anchor strategy that can advance equity and economic inclusion in order to promote regional prosperity. It provides actionable recommendations for federal Economic Resilience and Sustainable Communities grantees and their broad range of regional partners.

Full report.

In 2015, PolicyLink released a framework and policy agenda for inclusive cities. Since this time, the All-In Cities initiative has worked to build community power, forge innovative partnerships, and support government leaders and community coalitions in advancing racial economic inclusion and equitable growth in cities. This progress report describes our approach, the impact of our work thus far, and lays out a vision for the future.

Systemic failures in the financial sector led to the financial crisis of 2007-2008 and the Great Recession that followed. These crises disproportionately impacted low- and moderate-income (LMI) communities of color through job loss, foreclosures and an unprecedented loss of wealth. During the recession, Latinos’ household wealth declined by 66%, and African Americans’ by 53%, while White households lost 16%. Ten years after the financial crisis, communities of color have yet to fully recover, and the financial system has failed to solve the problems that devastated communities of color. To help the most impacted communities recover and rebuild, the banking and financial services industry must increase their focus on serving LMI households, businesses, and communities of color. This report explores key opportunities within the banking industry, policy, and regulation that can lead to financial inclusion for all.

This is the first in a series of briefs that describe the changes, insights, and lessons when arts and cultural strategies are deployed in service of comprehensive community development and planning. During ArtPlace America's Community Development Investments initiative, six participating organizations developed creative placemaking projects that could help them more effectively achieve their missions. PolicyLink conducted a research and documentation project to measure the progress, immediate outcomes, and impacts of those projects. This brief examines how these organizations learned to work with artists and develop collaborative practices.

Explore more about our research and documentation project at communitydevelopment.art.