Bloomberg Center for Cities at Harvard University

Most cities spend 25-50% of their budgets on goods and services obtained through procurement, and city procurement leaders are key to making city halls more innovative and responsive. That’s why this week, with colleagues from Partners for Public Good, we brought together 61 municipal leaders overseeing procurement practices in 16 cities. They’re learning strategies and approaches to lead strategic city procurement—and develop methods to become more efficient, fair, and results-driven—that will help local governments deliver for residents.

Explore “You Have One Hundred Days,” a free, downloadable teaching case from the program that you can apply in your city. Link in bio.

Participating cities:
Akron, OH
, CO
, TN

, CO
Glasgow, Scotland

, HI
, TN
, PA
, FL
Providence, RI
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
, LA
, FL
, Canada

Professor Maurice Cox of the led a workshop for graduate students from five schools to help refine a new teaching case on inclusive economic development. The workshop invited participants to test and improve the case—designed for city leaders and used in our executive education programs—by exploring how mayors can ensure that transformative projects meet the needs of all residents. Their feedback and insights will strengthen how this open-access case is taught in future programs and by educators around the world. Download the case for free in the link in bio.

How can city leaders negotiate better results for residents? A new free teaching case set from the Bloomberg Harvard City Leadership Initiative introduces negotiation strategies through real-world public sector cases—ranging from contracting to coalition-building.
📥 Download the full set in the link in bio.

faculty affiliated with the Bloomberg Center for Cities gathered to connect across schools and disciplines, and explore how their research, teaching, and field work can strengthen urban problem-solving. They collectively represent the breadth of city-focused research across Harvard—spanning economics, political science, public management, urban planning and design, public health, and more.

The Bloomberg Center for Cities is a University-wide research center supporting scholarship that helps city leaders improve quality of life for residents. Join the email list to stay informed about upcoming research opportunities, events, and more. Link in bio.

If you’re a city leader, you’re probably using data to make critical decisions. But is your organization getting the most out of available data? Explore eight key ways cities can use data to solve problems and create public value using a free framework developed by the Bloomberg Harvard City Leadership Initiative and based on research published in Information Polity. Link in bio.

🌡️ Extreme heat is a silent killer—the deadliest climate threat in the U.S. At , city leaders, public health experts, and Center faculty affiliate and crisis management expert came together for a Heat Simulation workshop at to test responses and share strategies for protecting residents. The gathering was organized by Data-Smart City Solutions, located here at the Center, in collaboration with .io, and exemplifies the Center’s mission to deliver research-backed insights that lead to impact in helping solve urban problems around the world 🔗 Read the takeaways in the link in bio.

How can cities lead through climate disruptions and prepare for climate mobility? 🌍 At a recent Center event, an expert panel underscored the urgency of resilience, inclusive engagement, and collaboration across borders. 📺 Watch the recording or read key takeaways in the link in bio.

Strong public services depend on strong city halls. That’s why this week we brought together 59 municipal chiefs overseeing talent initiatives in 15 cities to equip them with leading strategies to build the workforces—and the methods and mindsets local governments need—to grow, deliver, and improve their residents’ lives.

From Australia to Italy, Kenya, the United States, and beyond, our teams at the Bloomberg Center for Cities, along with , are proud to support their efforts—and all they will do to put these lessons to work for their communities.

Participating cities: ;
, Italy; , CO; Freetown, Sierra Leone; , UK; , Australia; , TN; , MA; Mount Vernon, NY; Nairobi, Kenya; ; , FL; , UT; , KS; , The Netherlands

Congratulations to the fifteen Harvard graduates who were awarded Bloomberg Harvard City Hall Fellowships! 🎉 The fourth cohort of fellows from five Harvard graduate schools will work for leaders in city halls across the United States for the next two years to advance priorities and deliver impact for residents. They’ll help city hall teams build capabilities in data-driven decision-making, innovation, process management, and more, while supporting problem-solving for some of the most pressing challenges facing communities today, including economic revitalization, housing, and homelessness. Learn more about the fellows, their cities and the impact of the fellowship in the link in our bio.

How do cities move from funding to impact—especially when many agencies are involved? A new teaching case from the Bloomberg Harvard City Leadership Initiative follows the city of Hartford’s ambitious effort to improve outcomes for youth after securing a major federal grant. Download the case for free to explore how to navigate high-stakes collaborations. Link in bio.

The Bloomberg Center for Cities is seeking a Senior Director of Student Engagement and City Careers—a dynamic leader to grow our work connecting students with cities and urban problem-solving. We’re looking for a collaborative strategist and builder—someone passionate about student development, cities, and public service. Apply or share with your networks. Link in bio.

The Bloomberg Center for Cities is seeking a Senior Director of Student Engagement and City Careers—a dynamic leader to grow our work connecting Harvard students with cities and urban problem-solving. We’re looking for a collaborative strategist and builder—someone passionate about student development, cities, and public service. Apply or share with your networks. Link in bio.