By Mary Carr Lee and Katya Spear, Mayors Innovation Project
At this year’s Summer Meeting in Madison, mayors from across the country demonstrated what modern local leadership looks like: bold, collaborative, and deeply rooted in the everyday realities of their communities. During our Innovation Showcase, they didn’t just present programs — they revealed systems-level transformations that strengthen civic trust, meet local needs, and build long-term community capacity.
From writing a book that reframes what it means to serve in public office, to reimagining a demolished downtown site as an experimental public space in Fairbanks, to building multilingual civic leadership pipelines in Mountain View, these leaders showed how cities can evolve when mayors listen closely, act intentionally, and invest in people as partners.
Together, their stories form a powerful portrait of local government at its best. Below is a recap of each Summer 2026 Innovation Showcase presentation — a collection of ideas, strategies, and sparks you may want to bring home to your own city.
Mayor Theresa Rich
Farmington Hills, MI
What to Expect When You’re Electing
Mayor Theresa Rich is developing What to Expect When You’re Electing, a book designed to explain the mayoral experience for women considering a run — and for the families who support them. Building on insights from MIP report Under Pressure, Rich aims to interview 100 women mayors to understand deciding to run, navigating the transition into power, and managing the end of a term. Her project responds to a striking dynamic — while only 32% of women mayors say they would run again, 79% would encourage someone else to step forward. The book will blend practical guidance, candid reflections, and even partner perspectives, offering a grounded resource for future women leaders.
Mayor Connie Boesen
Des Moines, IA
Mayor Connie Boesen highlighted Des Moines’ Invest DSM initiative, a public-private partnership reshaping the city’s middle neighborhoods through coordinated, block-level investment. With $5 million each from city, county and private partners, Invest DSM deploys a suite of tools — homeowner renovation support, rental rehab, commercial grants, single-family development, and block challenge grants — to stabilize and strengthen targeted districts. In 2025 alone, the program completed 479 projects and generated $31.6 million in neighborhood investment, leveraging $3.57 in private capital for every $1 invested. Beyond housing, the initiative has density, planted 2,500 new trees, and brought murals and public art into commercial corridors. Mayor Boesen emphasized that this approach builds value without displacement, offering a replicable model for cities facing rapid neighborhood change.
Mayor Austin Hammond
Menasha, WI
Mayor Austin Hammond shared Menasha’s Strong Neighborhoods Program, a pilot partnership with Habitat for Humanity that is strengthening housing stability and neighborhood pride. Designed for homeowners earning below 80% AMI, the program supports critical repairs that would otherwise be out of reach, helping families remain in safe, attractive homes while improving curb appeal and long-term affordability. The program also emphasizes homeowner education — from understanding basic maintenance to building confidence in contractor relationships — empowering residents to care for their properties over time. With the city contributing $100,000 and Habitat adding additional resources, the pilot has already deployed $20,000 and demonstrated strong early demand. Mayor Hammond notes that the partnership reduces administrative burnout, improves fund utilization, and reflects Menasha’s commitment to resilient, livable neighborhoods.
Supervisor Annie Marie Graham-Hudak
Canton, MI
Michigan Avenue Innovation Network
Supervisor Anne Marie Graham-Hudak described the Michigan Avenue Innovation Network (MAIN) as a powerful regional collaboration aimed at strengthening the economic future of the corridor between Detroit and Ann Arbor. Eight communities have joined with local higher ed institutions to build a shared innovation ecosystem to retain young talent in Michigan. Each community completed a SWOT analysis and contributed to a regional asset-mapping tool that preserves local identity while identifying collective strengths. The network has already secured multiple state grants and established a governance model to guide long-term coordination. MAIN is now preparing for deeper engagement with funders, startups, and institutional partners, positioning the corridor for sustained economic growth and cross-community opportunity.
Mayor Mindy O’Neall
Fairbanks, AK
Mayor Mindy O’Neall showcased The Starter Block, a values-driven revitalization effort transforming the former Polaris building site into a vibrant public space in downtown Fairbanks. After the unsafe structure was demolished, the city convened a collaborative team to imagine how the land could advance community welfare, acceptance, and mobility — drawing directly from the Just City Lab’s design index and the Wire Arc Additive Manufacturing (WAAM) framework. While awaiting a formal RFP for long-term development, Fairbanks is activating the space through creative placemaking—a free, family-friendly skate park, small-business chalets, and festival zone with the goal to bring people downtown year-round. The Starter Block demonstrates how temporary uses can build momentum, strengthen identity, and model inclusive design principles in a northern climate.
Mayor August Christenson
Driggs, ID
From Programs to Systems: A Connected Approach to Youth Services
Mayor Christenson described how Driggs turned a childcare desert into a workforce solution through the Gambal House project. With $1.17 million from the Idaho Workforce Development Council and in-kind labor from a local contractor, the city relocated and renovated an old home onto school district land, guided by a cross-sector task force and local grant support. The resulting childcare center now serves 60 children ages 0–5, providing reliable care for teachers, healthcare workers, and other essential employees whose ability to work depends on accessible childcare. The project demonstrates a shift from isolated programs to connected systems aligning land use, workforce development, philanthropy, and community leadership to meet a critical need and strengthen the region’s economic resilience.
Mayor Krista Brown
Viroqua, WI
Mayor Krista Brown shared a leadership story rooted in presence, accountability, and deep community listening. A designer by training, Brown ran for mayor because she is a “strong noticer,” attuned to subtle signals like declining school enrollment and the need for more reliable services, housing options, and lively public spaces. After knocking on more than 1,000 doors, she centered her campaign not on promises but on how she would lead —showing up, collaborating, and treating residents as partners. Her first act in office was symbolic and practical: moving into the long-unused mayor’s office to model accessibility and staying power. Brown’s early work in comprehensive planning and communication reflects a leadership approach focused on building a city people can truly root themselves in.
Mayor Lynn Deutsch
City of Dunwoody, GA
Turning Residents into Insiders
Mayor Lynn Deutsch highlighted Dunwoody’s intentional effort to strengthen community engagement and build a shared civic identity by turning residents into “insiders.” After challenging staff to rethink how the city welcomes and connects people, Dunwoody created 450 new-resident welcome bags that introduce newcomers to local nonprofits, parks, businesses, and city resources. The city also launched a day-long civic class, giving more than 150 participants an immersive look at how Dunwoody works and how they can shape its future. The city’s Destination Management Organization expanded this model with monthly tours for hotel staff, businesses, and the public, showcasing hidden gems and emerging developments. Paired with quarterly updates to every household, these efforts deepen civic pride and help residents feel truly rooted in their city.
Mayor Emily Ann Ramos
Mountain View, CA
City’s Multilingual Engagement Program
Mayor Emily Ann Ramos presented Mountain View’s Multilingual Engagement Program as a model for advancing both language equity and civic leadership. Over three decades, Mountain View has moved far beyond translation and interpretation to building a structure that equips residents to lead. The Spanish Language Leadership Academy and Chinese Language Leadership Academy train participants in how city government works and how to shape it, creating ambassadors who counter misinformation, organize neighborhood projects, lead cultural celebrations, serve on boards, and secure city grants. Mayor Ramos emphasizes that this shift from language access to leadership development strengthens civic trust and expands who gets to participate in decision-making. Mountain View’s approach demonstrates how investing in residents’ leadership capacity — in the languages they speak at home — builds a more representative and resilient civic ecosystem.
To access slide presentations from this showcase, please visit our Summer 2026 Meeting webpage.