Winter 2026 Meeting

Violence and harassment against local public officials in the United States is on the rise, and more frequent and impactful for women and leaders of color. In 2024, the Bridging Divides Initiative saw a 14% increase in threats and harassment against local elected officials from 2023 and a 74% increase from 2022. This trend is especially startling for mayors, often their municipality’s most visible and accessible elected officials, who lack the budgets, training, or public/political will to address the rise in violence. In this session, we’ll share updated data on these trends, offer resources to combat them, and invite you to contribute to a discussion of potential solutions.

Speakers and Presentation Slides:

• Katya Spear, Managing Director, Mayors Innovation Project

Katya Spear is the Managing Director of the Mayors Innovation Project, a national, nonpartisan peer learning network for mayors based at the University of Wisconsin – Madison. In this role, she leads MIP’s membership support, along with programs focused on leadership development, public safety, economic prosperity, and land use.

• Shannon Hiller, Executive Director, Bridging Divides Initiative

Shannon Hiller is Executive Director of the Bridging Divides Initiative. She most recently served as founding Co-Director of BDI, following nearly a decade of work in international development and foreign policy. Shannon previously served as Assistant Director for International Affairs and Operations at Princeton University and as an advisor at USAID’s Office of Transition Initiatives (OTI). She has also worked with women’s rights NGO WomenWin, USAID Uganda, the National Democratic Institute, The Carter Center, Aspen Strategy Group, the Center for International Trade and Security, and as a lead researcher for Pact Cambodia. Shannon is a Security Fellow at the Truman National Security Project, 2017 CNAS Brimley Next Gen Security Leaders Fellow, and trustee and co-founder of the non-profit Mitra Network. She holds an MPA from Princeton’s School of Public and International Affairs and a BA in International Relations and Political Science from the University of Georgia, where she was a Foundation Fellow.

• Isabella Ulloa, Founder & CEO, Public Service Alliance

Isabella Ulloa is a social entrepreneur, former homeland security official, and former national nonprofit leader. She is the Founder & CEO of Public Service Ventures, the social enterprise that powers the Public Service Alliance (PSA) and The Impact Project (TIP). PSA empowers America’s nearly 40 million current and former public servants, across political lines, to better and more affordably protect themselves and their families. TIP is a nonpartisan data and research platform that provides the tools and insights leaders across government, business, and civil society need to meet the moment and make informed decisions. Isabella was previously Deputy Chief of Staff at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and Managing Director at Urban Alliance, a national workforce development nonprofit. Isabella holds a B.A. in International Relations from Tufts University. She is the daughter of Cuban immigrants and lives in her hometown of Miami, FL, with frequent travel to Washington, DC and New York City.

1. Katya Spear, Leading Under Pressure, MIP Winter 2026 Meeting.
2. Shannon Hiller, Leading Under Pressure, MIP Winter 2026 Meeting.
3. Isabella Ulloa, Leading Under Pressure, MIP Winter 2026 Meeting.

1. Under Pressure, Quincy Midthun & Katya Spear, Mayors Innovation Project, Sep. 2025.
2. Responding to Threats and Harassment Against Local Government, Bridging Divides Initiative, Oct. 2024.
3. PSA Summary, Public Service Alliance.

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How do you fund a bold future when the present is unpredictable? Across the country, forward-looking leaders are realizing that resilience is becoming a new engine for a thriving community. We will explore how treating resilience as a strategy—rather than a safety net—can unlock new forms of capital and signal stability to insurers, investors, and developers who want to build in places preparing for the future. By integrating these principles into budgeting, asset management, and land-use planning, cities can strengthen their balance sheets and accelerate critical projects. Join us for a fiscal playbook designed to turn uncertainty into the foundation for your city to thrive.

Speakers and Presentation Slides:

• Moderator: Joel Rogers, Mayors Innovation Project

Joel Rogers is the Noam Chomsky Professor of Law, Public Affairs, and Sociology at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, where directs the High Road Strategy Center, a think-and-do tank on high-road development that also operates the Mayors Innovation Project, State Smart Transportation Initiative (with Smart Growth America), Government Performance Action Lab (GPAL), and ProGov21. Rogers has written widely on party politics, democratic theory, and cities and urban regions. He has worked with and advised many politicians and social movement leaders, and has initiated or helped lead several progressive NGOs, including the New Party (now the Working Families Party), and EARN (Economic Analysis and Research Network). He is a contributing editor of The Nation and Boston Review, a MacArthur Foundation Fellow, and identified by Newsweek as one of the 100 living Americans most likely to shape U.S. politics and culture in the 21st century and by Glenn Beck as the “wizard” of America’s pro-democracy movement

• Shayne Kavanagh, Government Finance Officers Association

Shayne is the Senior Manager of Research for GFOA and has been a leader in developing the technique of long-term financial planning and policies for local government. He started GFOA’s long-term financial planning and policy consulting offering in 2002 and has been working with governments on financial planning and policies ever since. Most recently, Shayne has pioneered the use of computer simulation to “stress test” the long-term financial position of local governments. Shayne has worked with many governments of different sizes and types on financial planning and policies across the United States and Canada. 

• Matt Posner, The Resiliency Company

Matt Posner leads the public finance practice of The Resiliency Company, which is focused on activating capital into resilience projects and programs in the U.S. Posner has nearly two decades of experience in public finance and policy. He has testified before the U.S. Senate Committee on Finance around best practices to finance infrastructure and created municipal bond benchmarks, public finance impact investing frameworks and built local government best practices regimes on resilience action plans. His consulting firm, Court Street Group, has led various efforts that support elevating public finance as a means to attaining social and environment goals for healthier American communities.

• Mayor Peter Donovan, City of Mount Vernon, WA

Mayor Donovan began his term in January 2024, having served in the Mayor’s Office for seven years prior. Prior to becoming mayor. He is committed to ensuring that local city government is efficient, accessible, dignified, and inclusive. Known for his collaborative approach to leadership, he continues to develop and strengthen ties to other government entities and local agencies—to provide Mount Vernon with the best opportunity to thrive, for generations to come.

• Jacqueline Guild, Deputy City Manager, City of Annapolis, MD

Jackie (Jacqueline) Guild serves as the Deputy City Manager for Resilience & Sustainability for Annapolis, a role she’s held since at least 2009, previously working with Chesapeake Legal Alliance, and is a graduate of James Madison University and UVA Law School. She is known in Annapolis for her environmental work, focusing on resilience, sustainability, and community engagement, often appearing at local events and initiatives related to the Chesapeake Bay and city planning.

1. Joel Rogers, Leading Through Uncertainty, MIP Winter 2026.
2. Shayne Kavanagh, Leading Through Uncertainty, MIP Winter 2026.
3. Matt Posner, Leading Through Uncertainty, MIP Winter 2026.
4. Mayor Peter Donovan, Leading Through Uncertainty, MIP Winter 2026.
5. Jackie Guild, Leading Through Uncertainty, MIP Winter 2026.

1. Rethinking Risk, Matt Posner, The Epicenter, Sep. 2025.
2. Rethinking Reserves, Kavanagh, Reitano & Jones, Government Finance Officers Association, Aug. 2023
3. Mission Possible, Andrew Kleine, Smart Cities Dive, May 2025.
4. State and Local Governments Use Innovative Financing to Build Disaster Resilience, Kristiane Huber, Pew, Dec. 2024.
5. New flood wall saves Mount Vernon, Snohomish County Roads Face Major Repairs, Mario Lotmore, Lynnwood Times, Dec. 2025.
6. Mount Vernon Downtown Flood Protection Project, City of Mount Vernon Public Works Department, Nov. 2023.
7. Mount Vernon Flood Protection Project, City of Mount Vernon.
8. Annapolis Renewable Energy Solar Park at the Old Landfill, City of Annapolis, Nov. 2017.
9. Case Study: Annapolis, MD, City Dock Resiliency Project, Nicolas Institute at Duke University, 2023.
10. About Us: Resilience Authority, Resilience Authority of Annapolis and Anne Arundel County.

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Childcare expenses are crushing family budgets, pushing thousands below the poverty line. Meanwhile, the childcare workforce struggles with low pay and poor benefits. This panel examines the childcare crisis while showcasing how strategic municipal investments—in training for workers, reducing barriers to starting childcare facilities and worker compensation—are essential to creating social equity, driving workforce participation, and ensuring long-term local economic health.

Speakers and Presentation Slides:

• Moderator: Mayor Sangeetha Rayapati, Moline, IL

Mayor Sangeetha Rayapati has deep family roots in the Midwest and has called Moline home for nearly two decades. Prior to being elected in 2021, Mayor, she served as both President and Vice President of the Moline-Coal Valley School Board. Her administration focuses on infrastructure, quality of life, and economic development. She has introduced community programs like internships for high school students and initiatives to expand child care infrastructure.

• Diane Girouard, Child Care Aware of America

Diane is currently the Senior State Policy Analyst at Child Care Aware of America. Prior to this role, Diane was a Child Nutrition Policy Analyst focused on improving school meals policies with the Food Research & Action Center. Diane also worked as a policy analyst for several years under both houses of the New York State Legislature on the education and higher education committees.

• Mayor Arunan Arulampalam, Hartford, CT

Mayor Arulampalam is a father, husband, attorney, former nonprofit executive, and is committed to strengthening our neighborhoods and building a Hartford that works for everyone. The son of Sri Lankan refugees, Mayor Arulampalam was born in Zimbabwe. Prior to being elected mayor, he served as the CEO of the Hartford Land Bank, where he developed a first-in-the-nation program to train Hartford residents to become local developers and tackle blight in Hartford. Mayor Arulampalam served in the Lamont Administration as Deputy Commissioner of the CT Department of Consumer Protection where he fought for consumer rights and small businesses. Before then, he was a lawyer and also served on the Board of the Hartford Public Library, the House of Bread, and on the Hartford Redevelopment Authority. He earned his B.A. in International Studies from Emory University and his J.D. from Quinnipiac University School of Law. Mayor Arulampalam lives in the Frog Hollow neighborhood in a formerly vacant and blighted house with his wife and five small kids.

• Mayor Kelly Girtz, Athens-Clarke County, GA

Kelly Girtz is the mayor of Athens-Clarke County, Georgia, inaugurated in 2019 with a mandate for progressive change. Girtz ran on a 3-point plan for affordable housing during his 2018 campaign. It included: 1) a property tax freeze for low-income seniors, 2) significant investment in affordable housing via Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax and Tax Allocation Districts (TADs) and 3) pursuing a policy of inclusionary zoning. In 2022, under the leadership of Mayor Girtz, Athens passed a formal inclusionary zoning policy. He also has championed the North Athens Downtown Project which is building hundreds of additional affordable units in the downtown area. He started Athens’ first use of tax allocation districts to promote affordable housing such as in the Georgia Square Mall redevelopment. Prior to becoming Mayor, Girtz was a Principal and Teacher for the Clarke County School District.

1. Mayor Sangeetha, From Crisis to Community Asset, MIP Winter 2026.
2. Diane Girouard, From Crisis to Community Asset, MIP Winter 2026.
3. Mayor Kelly Girtz, From Crisis to Community Asset, MIP Winter 2026.

1. Key Concepts in Early Childcare and Education, The Hunt Institute, Sep. 2025.
2. Public-Private Partnerships for Child Care, ChildCare Aware, Mar. 2025.
3. New program will expand childcare options for all, City of Moline, Jan. 2022.
4. City Profile: Hartford, CT, National League of Cities, Jun. 2025.
5. How Cities Can Fill Federal Safety Net Gaps in Child Care and Early Learning, Lizzy Ferrara & Gabi Velasco, Urban Institute, Sep. 2025.
6. ACC Commission funds workforce support plan, approves housing developments, Chris Dowd, Athens Politics Nerd, Sep. 2024.

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As the number of older adults rapidly increases, seniors have become the fastest growing homeless demographic in the nation. This stark reality makes keeping older adults safe, independent, and secure in their homes and communities an urgent municipal priority. This panel will explore successful ‘aging in place’ strategies. We’ll focus on proactive solutions–from ensuring seamless healthcare access and support services to implementing critical eviction prevention and housing stability programs—all aimed at allowing seniors to live independently and comfortably thrive within their communities.

Confirmed Speakers and Presentation Slides:

• Moderator: Mayor Talisha Searcy, Takoma Park, MD

Talisha Searcy is the Mayor of the City of Takoma Park, Maryland, and the first African American elected mayor in the city. She has been an active member of the community since 2013 and has served on the Takoma Park City Council representing Ward 6 from 2017 to 2022. Mayor Searcy has been involved in various community initiatives, including the establishment of the city’s COVID-19 pandemic response and the redevelopment of critical infrastructure in Ward 6. She has also implemented a Direct Cash Assistance Program that provided $1.4 million to over 1,400 households in the city. In addition to her role as mayor, she works for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Assistant Secretary for Technology Policy. Mayor Searcy earned her undergraduate degree in Economics from Georgia State University and her master’s degrees in economics and public administration from Syracuse University.

• Mike Watson, Director, AARP Livable Communities

As the Director of AARP Livable Communities, Mike Watson works closely with AARP’s 53 state offices, volunteers and key stakeholders to encourage towns, counties and cities to be more livable for people of all ages. He leads a team that’s responsible for supporting the AARP Network of Age-Friendly States and Communities; delivering direct technical assistance to communities; publishing free resources and the AARP Livable Communities weekly e-newsletter; equipping local officials with tools and resources; and delivering livability grants to communities nationwide through the AARP Community Challenge program.

• Mayor Justin Bibb, City of Cleveland, OH

Justin M. Bibb, the 58th mayor of Cleveland, is leading transformative change to modernize city services and uplift communities. His administration has launched impactful initiatives like the Southeast Side Promise program and a $100 million housing investment fund to expand affordable housing and revitalize neighborhoods. Through the Raising Investment in Safety for Everyone (RISE) initiative, Cleveland saw a 36 percent drop in homicides complemented by record-high police recruitment. Mayor Bibb is reconnecting Cleveland to its waterfronts, securing over $150 million in funding to transform Lake Erie’s shoreline and engaging more than 5,000 residents to shape a master plan for increased access and economic development. His $5 billion Shore-to-Core-to-Shore initiative includes major public-private investments in the city center and Cuyahoga Riverfront. On the national stage, Mayor Bibb serves as president of the Democratic Mayors Association and co-chairs America is All In, advocating for climate action and equity. Bibb is also a national co-chair of Mayors Against Illegal Guns. A proud native of Cleveland’s Mt. Pleasant neighborhood, he earned a degree in Urban Studies from American University, studied social policy at the London School of Economics, and holds an MBA and JD from Case Western Reserve University. Mayor Bibb’s leadership is driving equity, innovation, and opportunity citywide.

• Mayor Alyia Gaskins, City of Alexandria, VA

Alyia Gaskins, a tenacious fighter for families, communities, and health equity, is the first African American woman to serve as the Mayor of Alexandria. She was elected in 2024 and is dedicated to building a healthier, more prosperous Alexandria for all. The same issues that motivate Alyia as an elected official—health, housing, education, public safety, and the economic, social, and physical vitality of cities— have motivated her professional career as a public health strategist and city planner. She has worked on hunger policy at D.C. Hunger Solutions and health issues at the National League of Cities, managed an affordable housing investment program at the Center for Community Investment, and was most recently a Senior Program Officer at the Melville Charitable Trust, a national philanthropic organization devoted to ending homelessness. Currently, Alyia runs her own consulting business, CitiesRX, which focuses on building physical, social, and economic health through community partnerships. Alyia graduated from Vanderbilt University, where she majored in medicine, health, and society. She earned a master’s degree in public health at the University of Pittsburgh and further honed her policy chops with a master’s in urban planning at Georgetown and a Professional Certificate in Municipal Finance from the University of Chicago.

• Shelisa Howard-Martinez, Executive Director, Durham Aging Well

Born in Wilmington, NC, Shelisa has lived in Durham for more than 30 years. She is honored to be Aging Well Durham’s first Executive Director. Shelisa has more than 25 years of community health and nonprofit experience. She is a Jim Bernstein Community Health Leadership Fellow and a member of the North Carolina Institute of Medicine. She earned a bachelor’s degree in anthropology from UNC- Chapel Hill, a master’s in public administration from North Carolina Central University and a graduate certificate from East Carolina University’s Brody School of Medicine.

1. Mike Watson, Building an Age-Friendly City, MIP Winter 2026.
2. Mayor Justin Bibb, Building an Age-Friendly City, MIP Winter 2026.
3. Shelisa Howard Martinez, Building an Age-Friendly City, MIP Winter 2026.

1. Introducing the AARP Network of Age Friendly States and Cities, AARP Livable Communities, Mar. 2023.
2. A Handbook for Improved Neighborhoods – AARP and CNU, AARP Livable Communities and the Congress for the New Urbanism, Jan. 2021.
3. America’s Housing Market is Failing Older Adults, Linna Zhu & Amalie Zinn, Urban Institute, Mar. 2025.
4. Age-Friendly Cleveland 2025-2028 Action Plan, City of Cleveland and Age-Friendly Cleveland, May 2025.
5. ARHA spends 56.9 million on Old Town Senior Living Complex, Mary Wadland, The Zebra, Sep. 2025.
6. Alexandria Rent Relief for Older and Disabled Adults, Department of Community and Human Service City of Alexandria, Apr. 2025.
7. City of Alexandria Revives Historic Pendleton Rooming House for Affordable Housing, Mary Wadland, The Zebra, Jun. 2025.
8. 2025-2030 Durham comprehensive Aging Plan, Aging Well Durham, Sep. 2024.
9. Dignity Fund Services and Allocation Plan, San Francisco Human Services Agency Department of Disability and Aging Services, Mar. 2023.

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The Innovation Showcase is a beloved MIP tradition. Mayors in attendance have the opportunity to share an innovative policy, program, or other effort that they’ve successfully implemented in a fun and fast-paced 3-minute presentation format. It’s the ultimate embodiment of “Good mayors borrow – great mayors steal” and an opportunity to share and take home good ideas to your city.

Slides:

1. Returnships, Mayor Michael O’Connor, Frederick MD.
2. Community Intervention Unit “Brooklyn Park Voices”, Mayor Hollies Winston Brooklyn Park MN.
3. Hopewell South, Planned Unit Development, Mayor Kerry Thompson Bloomington IN. 
4. Nonprofit Incubator, Mayor Lacey Beaty Beaverton OR.
5. Climate Action Through Building Efficiency, Mayor Talisha Searcy, Takoma Park MD.
6. Rental Inspection Program, Mayor Diana Merdian Sterling, IL.
7. Better Public Meetings, National Civic League, Mayor Kim Norton, Rochester MN
8. Great American Rail Trail Advocacy in Action, Mayor Sangeetha Rayapati & Rails to Trails, Moline IL.
9. Urban Forestry, Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway, Madison WI.
10. Community Connectors Program, Mayor Barbara Buffaloe, Columbia, MO.

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