With a new proactive approach to title clearance and estate planning, Philadelphia is working with lawyers and neighborhood groups to help families secure inherited homes and preserve generational wealth.

nextcity.org/features/phi...

Immigration Enforcement Tied to Anxiety for Children, Parents and Childcare Providers, Data Shows The Stanford Center on Early Childhood surveyed nearly 2,000 parents and more than 550 child care providers.

The Stanford Center on Early Childhood surveyed nearly 2,000 parents and more than 550 child care providers.

nextcity.org/urbanist-new...

Inside a Kentucky City’s Unusual Experiment in Citizen-Led Governance In Lexington, 36 randomly-selected residents took part in one of the country’s first civic assemblies to recommend changes to the city’s governing charter.

In Lexington, 36 randomly-selected residents took part in one of the country’s first civic assemblies to recommend changes to the city’s governing charter.

nextcity.org/features/ins...

Protecting Our Cities From ICE Will Require a Regional Approach Op-ed: When cities and counties work together to coordinate responses to immigration enforcement, we build a stronger network of protections and provide residents with more clarity.

Op-ed: When cities and counties work together to coordinate responses to immigration enforcement, we build a stronger network of protections and provide residents with more clarity.

nextcity.org/urbanist-new...

Here’s Why You Should Apply for Vanguard Chicago During Next City's 2026 convening, taking place Sept. 15-18, our cohort will experience the unique sides of the city.

During Next City's 2026 convening, taking place Sept. 15-18, our cohort will experience the unique sides of the city.

nextcity.org/urbanist-new...

China Is Helping Build Africa’s Cities, But Its Approach Sidelines Local City Planners and Residents Analysis: A researcher argues that Chinese-funded infrastructure projects in African cities are driven by the national elites and do not necessarily lead to community-level improvements.

Analysis: A researcher argues that Chinese-funded infrastructure projects in African cities are driven by the national elites and do not necessarily lead to community-level improvements.

nextcity.org/urbanist-new...

The Federal Government Is Weaponizing the Fair Housing Act. We Must Fight Back. Op-ed: The federal administration is perverting the landmark civil rights law, with “reverse racism” investigations and “color blind” policy. Communities aren’t taking it lying down.

Op-ed: The federal administration is perverting the landmark civil rights law, with “reverse racism” investigations and “color blind” policy. Communities aren’t taking it lying down.

nextcity.org/urbanist-new...

How Community Is Challenging Food Insecurity in Detroit Sponsored: The Northend Christian CDC established an urban farm to create an independent food system.

Sponsored: The Northend Christian CDC established an urban farm to create an independent food system.

nextcity.org/urbanist-new...

The Weekly Wrap: Non-Citizen Entrepreneurs Are Now Ineligible for SBA-Backed Loans Minneapolis approves rental aid boost, climate disasters threaten Superfund site remediation, and more.

Minneapolis approves rental aid boost, climate disasters threaten Superfund site remediation, and more.

nextcity.org/urbanist-new...

How One City Turned $1 Million Into $90 Million in Medical Debt Relief Podcast: Kentucky's second-largest city is among the latest examples of a local government delivering outsized relief to its residents from a national healthcare crisis.

Podcast: Kentucky's second-largest city is among the latest examples of a local government delivering outsized relief to its residents from a national healthcare crisis.

nextcity.org/podcast/how-...

Washington Just Passed First-in-the-Country Flexibility for Ground-Floor Retail Analysis: Part of a new law to legalize more apartment homes in commercial zones, Washington State has reduced mandates for ground-floor commercial space in new apartment buildings.

Analysis: Part of a new law to legalize more apartment homes in commercial zones, Washington State has reduced mandates for ground-floor commercial space in new apartment buildings.

nextcity.org/urbanist-new...

Nonprofits Are Sitting on a Powerful Antidote to America’s Loneliness Epidemic Op-ed: Our third spaces are disappearing. But by designing volunteer spaces around shared purpose and human connection, nonprofits can rebuild the social fabric many communities have lost.

Op-ed: Our third spaces are disappearing. But by designing volunteer spaces around shared purpose and human connection, nonprofits can rebuild the social fabric many communities have lost.

nextcity.org/urbanist-new...

Seattle Tried To Guarantee Higher Pay for Delivery Drivers. Here’s Why It Didn’t Work as Intended. Op-ed: An analysis by labor economists found that base pay rose as intended, but the drivers’ total compensation, including tips, didn’t increase.

Op-ed: An analysis by labor economists found that base pay rose as intended, but the drivers’ total compensation, including tips, didn’t increase.

nextcity.org/urbanist-new...

North Philly Has a New Option To Invest in a Future It Sees For Itself More than just a place to open bank accounts for communities that are underbanked, this new branch invites a community to help finance its collective future.

More than just a place to open bank accounts for communities that are underbanked, this new branch invites a community to help finance its collective future.
nextcity.org/features/nor...

Cities and Transit Agencies Are Finally Getting On Board With Bus Stop Data Cities and transit agencies haven’t always prioritized the bus rider experience. New data standards could help change that.

Cities and transit agencies haven’t always prioritized the bus rider experience. New data standards could help change that.

nextcity.org/urbanist-new...

The Housing Money That’s Local Podcast: From a Pittsburgh land trust to a Seattle tax on millionaires, local funding models are filling the gap left by an unreliable federal government.

Podcast: From a Pittsburgh land trust to a Seattle tax on millionaires, local funding models are filling the gap left by an unreliable federal government.

nextcity.org/podcast/the-...

The Weekly Wrap: City and State Governments Move Quickly To Erase César Chavez From Public Spaces Detroit’s Affordable Housing Trust Fund gets more money, flooding in Hawaii and more.

Detroit’s Affordable Housing Trust Fund gets more money, flooding in Hawaii and more.

nextcity.org/urbanist-new...

It’s Time For Local Governments To Ask Themselves Some Fundamental Questions Op-ed: As federal entrenchment leaves local finance officers struggling to balance their municipal budgets, cities and counties need to honestly reassess how they meet community needs.

Op-ed: As federal entrenchment leaves local finance officers struggling to balance their municipal budgets, cities and counties need to honestly reassess how they meet community needs.

nextcity.org/urbanist-new...

As Enrollment Falls, Old Schools Find New Life as Apartments In 2024, nearly 2,000 apartments opened in former schools. Some see the conversions as a cure for neighborhood blight. Others fear gentrification.

In 2024, nearly 2,000 apartments opened in former schools. Some see the conversions as a cure for neighborhood blight. Others fear gentrification.

nextcity.org/features/as-...

Five of Our Favorite Solutions in Chicago Across the city’s South and West Sides, residents are leading justice-centered work.

Across the city’s South and West Sides, residents are leading justice-centered work.

nextcity.org/urbanist-new...

Taking Poetry to the Streets To Help a Neighborhood Heal A new public art project will install poems across Philadelphia's Germantown neighborhood — written by residents processing loss, gun violence and grief together.

A new public art project will install poems across Philadelphia's Germantown neighborhood — written by residents processing loss, gun violence and grief together.

nextcity.org/urbanist-new...

Meet The Artists Whose Medium Is Government Podcast: A creative collective has lessons on embedding artists inside government agencies to spark our civic imagination.

Podcast: A creative collective has lessons on embedding artists inside government agencies to spark our civic imagination.

nextcity.org/podcast/meet...

Join us tomorrow at 1 p.m. Eastern for the first of two Vanguard Chicago info sessions.

Hear from Next City staff, board members and alumni about the application process and what to expect from the 2026 Vanguard Conference.

nextcity.org/events/detai...

Meet The Artists Whose Medium Is Government Podcast: A creative collective has lessons on embedding artists inside government agencies to spark our civic imagination.

Podcast: A creative collective has lessons on embedding artists inside government agencies to spark our civic imagination.

nextcity.org/podcast/meet...

The Myth of ‘More is More’ Keeps Canada Trapped in a Housing Crisis Op-ed: Aggressive construction targets dominate the national housing agenda. But without seriously confronting land speculation, building housing won’t deliver affordability.

Op-ed: Aggressive construction targets dominate the national housing agenda. But without seriously confronting land speculation, building housing won’t deliver affordability.

nextcity.org/urbanist-new...

The Practical Habits That Your Nonprofit Can Borrow From the Public Sector Op-ed: Government staffers are trained to manage complex dollars, build coalitions and move big systems. Those same skills can help nonprofits of any size unlock new funding and policy wins.

Op-ed: Government staffers are trained to manage complex dollars, build coalitions and move big systems. Those same skills can help nonprofits of any size unlock new funding and policy wins.

nextcity.org/urbanist-new...

Untangling Land Titles To Help Flood Survivors Access Disaster Aid Heirs’ property issues can block disaster survivors from accessing FEMA assistance. In eastern Kentucky, free legal clinics are helping families clear titles and protect inherited land.

Heirs’ property issues can block disaster survivors from accessing FEMA assistance. In eastern Kentucky, free legal clinics are helping families clear titles and protect inherited land.
nextcity.org/features/unt...

Chicago mayor under fire over TIF use, rural counties want cities to take responsibility for “buy and dry” land deals, and more.

nextcity.org/urbanist-new...

How Ann Arbor, Michigan, Is Creating Its Own Clean Energy Utility Investor-owned utilities have been slow to ditch oil and gas. The city of Ann Arbor plans to boost access to renewables through a new dual-service model.

Investor-owned utilities have been slow to ditch oil and gas. The city of Ann Arbor plans to boost access to renewables through a new dual-service model.

nextcity.org/urbanist-new...

The Overlooked Housing Solution in Washington’s Investor Debate Op-ed: Congress is weighing a ban on institutional investors buying houses. But we can address the bigger problem by giving communities priority access to distressed government-backed housing assets.

Op-ed: Congress is weighing a ban on institutional investors buying houses. But we can address the bigger problem by giving communities priority access to distressed government-backed housing assets.

nextcity.org/urbanist-new...