What Works Cities

Attending @leagueofcities Congressional City Conference this week? Meet the What Works Cities team! We look forward to seeing familiar faces and making new connections as the community of data-driven cities grows. Let us know if you'll be there.

New opportunity for city leaders! The @BloombergDotOrg Scholarship for Public Service provides experienced public‑sector professionals with full tuition to the Executive MSc in Cities program at @LSEnews. • Learn from world-leading faculty and practitioners redefining urban policy and governance. • Study in a flexible hybrid learning format. • Collaborate with partners like C40 Cities and the World Bank. Learn more: bit.ly/3PtIeaF

What does the future of smart and sustainable cities look like? Find out at @scecwb! From March 25 to 27 experts from across the globe will gather to discuss the future of urban innovation, digital transformation, sustainable cities and climate change. What Works Cities SVP and Managing Director @RVHaynes will deliver a keynote on March 26; you won’t want to miss it. Learn more ➡️ smartcityexpocuritiba.com Register using our code for a 30% discount: SCECWB26@APOIO-BPWWC-30 #SCECWB26

Minneapolis has achieved Silver Certification through @BloombergDotOrg @WhatWorksCities. This Certification recognizes the City’s strong data practices and how data-driven government makes Minneapolis a better place to call home.   Learn more: minneapolismn.gov/news/2026/marc…

Innovation works best when grounded in community needs. From @CityofEdmonton to @PhiladelphiaGov, leaders aren't using AI for hype, but to confront urgent challenges like the housing crisis. @RVHaynes recently sat down with @routefifty's @chris_teale to discuss how cities are turning to analytics and emerging technology to strengthen core operations, accelerate permitting and help residents find housing. As Rochelle put it: “Cities are saying, ‘This is my issue, and this is how technology can help me.” route-fifty.com/artificial-int…

Thank you Mayor @_epimentel and the @curitiba_pmc team for welcoming our team for the first 2026 site visit! We enjoyed learning more about Curitiba’s urban development and innovation plans.

Congratulations to Certified @CityOfBoise, @AlcaldiadeMed, @Prefeitura_Rio and @CityofSouthBend for being selected as @BloombergDotOrg 2025 – 2026 Mayors Challenge winners. As these cities transform ideas into action, we’re honored to support the data practices that power innovation.

🎥 Join us TOMORROW! Tune in to hear from city leaders in three countries who are using data every day to strengthen public safety. Get a behind-the-scenes look at the approaches they’re testing, the evidence guiding their decisions and what it can mean for your city. Register: bit.ly/4qLSeZT

You can also watch the Data Snapshot video in: Portuguese: youtube.com/watch?v=94t-pl… Spanish: youtube.com/watch?v=DAKUOv… French: youtube.com/watch?v=i6eUwy…

Are you a city leader in the U.S., Latin America or Canada interested in applying for What Works Cities Certification? Start with the Data Snapshot here: bit.ly/4orrAVF

@JamesAnderson, who leads the Government Innovation program at @BloombergDotOrg joined @IFP Statecraft’s @rSanti97 to discuss the evolution of city data practices and how Bloomberg Philanthropies What Works Cities helps mayors build the capacity they need to deliver results. Full podcast here: statecraft.pub/p/how-to-rewir…

📍 DATA IN ACTION Targeted outreach based on breast cancer incidence data helped Silver-Certified @MuniRosario reach more women at risk for breast cancer — doubling monthly mammogram appointments in 2024. Read their story: bit.ly/4rYd75f

On 2/24, join leaders from Certified @AlcaldiaDeCali, @CityofDetroit and @MunicipioQuito for a conversation on how cities use data to design smarter and more effective public safety programs. Learn more: bit.ly/4kB0hXX

What Works Cities SVP and Managing Director @RVHaynes attended @usmayors in Washington, D.C., where she reconnected with our Certified city leaders and made some new city friends! Learn more about how Bloomberg Philanthropies What Works Cities supports city leaders and their data journeys here: whatworkscities.bloomberg.org Pictured: @MayorNorton @MayorBMScott @davidfholt @MayorofSeattle @mayorpaulyoung @MayorWu @MayorOfLA Monroe Nichols @DanielLurie @MayorBowser @MsMarySheffield @GinaOrtizJones @MayorLeirion and @MayorPatterson.

In @mmarinilla, nearly 500 residents have turned to the municipality's "Escuchaderos": confidential, accessible spaces created by the municipality to support mental health. What started as a student survey and risk dashboard has become a community-wide mental health initiative. Read more about the Silver-Certified city: bloombg.org/4ktvjAY

This week, What Works Cities SVP and Managing Director @RVHaynes joined @PhillyMayor Cherelle Parker in @PhiladelphiaGov and Mayor @andresayeghNJ in @CityPatersonNJ to celebrate their Certification milestones. From Philadelphia’s housing supply strategy to Paterson’s launch of DataRise Paterson, both of these cities’ commitment to data-driven management and innovation shows what good government looks like in action. Congratulations to Gold-Certified Philadelphia and Silver-Certified Paterson! Learn how other Certified cities are turning data into results: whatworkscities.bloomberg.org/news/celebrati… 📷 Photo 2: Courtesy City of Philadelphia