Mayors Innovation Project
A peer learning network for mayors and city leaders.

Our Impact

Founded in 2005 by Madison, WI’s former Mayor Dave Cieslewicz and Joel Rogers, a professor and Director of the High Road Strategy Center, the Mayors Innovation Project is based at the University of Wisconsin – Madison. Since we began, hundreds of mayors have joined us as member cities or by participating in our meetings and other events, creating a vibrant network of the most innovative local leaders.

Our network is unique

Why attend our meetings? Hear from our mayors directly:

 

Mayors, city staff, and partners who attend our meetings leave with more than inspiration—they gain replicable ideas, valuable connections, and proven resources that they can take back to their cities and implement right away.

We create spaces where mayors can share their most innovative ideas, ask tough questions, and share the real solutions that helped them achieve success.

All mayors—no matter your city’s population, location, or form of government—are welcome!

Questions? Reach out to Katya Spear to learn more and get involved.

Testimonials

"MIP offers the opportunity to go deep on challenges facing our cities and relevant practical solutions that can be considered and customized for our local contexts. MIP provides a safe space for substantive policy discussions and relationship building that helps us serve our communities more efficiently, effectively, and equitably." - Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird Lincoln, NE
"This conference is perfect for small + midsize population mayors. You learn from peers and subject matter experts. It's also an opportunity to see the sights and sounds of communities that have recovered from financial or reputation challenges[;] it's an intimate setting where friendships are made and networking is the order of the day." - Mayor Benjamin Holbert Woodmere Village, OH
"[MIP offers] "real world" solutions that can be easily adaptable to my city. [I] appreciate the opportunity to engage with other mayors from across the country in an open and safe space to share ideas, successes, and challenges." - Mayor Sharetta Smith Lima, OH
"MIP's challenge at the beginning of each meeting is to come away with one or two ideas. I consistently come away with five." - Mayor Sean Shultz Carlisle, PA
"MIP is an invaluable experience - a place to commiserate, to learn, to re-charge, and to make new (and inspiring) connections. MIP helps us to show up as our best selves in our Mayoral roles." - Mayor Leslie Hager-Smith Blacksburg, VA
"The Mayors Innovation Project provides a community for mayors that I have not found anywhere else. It's the perfect [mix] of policy content and camaraderie that every mayor needs." - Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway Madison, WI
"MIP offers a unique and intimate opportunity to network with and learn from progressive mayors across the country. The panel presentations and workshops present relevant information that is applicable to our cities." - Mayor Lucas Ramirez Mountain View, CA

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