Overview

The Congress of Cities and Exposition held at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center from November 28th through December 1st will bring together local leaders from cities across the United States. Conference participants will find a range of learning and networking opportunities highlighting successful programs from the City of Boston and communities across the country.

The Congress of Cities program will focus on three overarching strategies for cities: Promoting Strong Local Economies, Building Sustainable Communities and Strengthening Neighborhoods and Families. Each of the strategies will be explored through keynote addresses, workshops, peer networking sessions, mobile workshops, leadership training seminars, the City Showcase, and the Exhibit Hall. Before and after the main conference programming NLC will offer the traditional governance activities, state municipal league activities and meetings of NLC committees, councils and constituency groups.  

• Promote Strong Local Economies by learning how to promote 21st century workforce skills and to spur, support, attract and retain businesses.  
• Build Sustainable Communities by learning how to develop the partnerships and strategies to go beyond standalone investments in a city's built environment and move toward integrated approaches that facilitate connected, intelligent and sustainable communities.  
• Strengthen Neighborhoods and Families by fostering supportive families, homes and neighborhoods, to provide critical opportunities for individuals to grow, learn and prosper.

Full Program and Exposition Guide

Dynamic Workshops

A wide ranging selection of workshops are designed to engage participants and share the most promising skills, strategies, and best practices to continue to keep the nation's cities and towns prosperous.

Mobile Workshops

Host city Boston is offering off-site workshops, free of charge to registered delegates, to showcase collaborative solutions to issues facing local government.

Governance Activities

Throughout the conference, NLC member-city officials will participate in the important work of governing the association.  Most of the governance meetings listed are open to the public and you are encouraged to stop in to observe and consider how you might become involved.

Leadership Training Seminars

Educational seminars are crafted so participants obtain current resources, develop strategies, build skills, and engage in small group discussions and exercises with their peers from other communities.

Spouse & Guest Tours

Special tours created each year by the host city offer spouses and guests the chance to explore the city for its educational value.

Exhibit Hall Opportunities

Exhibitors can increase their visibility among attendees by investing in an exhibit hall opportunity. These opportunities, exclusive to exhibitors, will give your company/organization expanded recognition during the two days of the exposition.

Schedule

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

• 9:30 am
  The Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Greenway (Show details)

  The Greenway is Boston’s mile-long ribbon of parks and green that curves around the city, and inter- connects several of Boston’s oldest, most diverse and vibrant neighborhoods. Visit 2 unique fountains; see specialized lighting structures, interactive public art, a carousel, a modern Asian garden and so much more! The Greenway is Boston’s largest organically-maintained park, and once you see it for yourself, you won’t believe it used to be a six-lane elevated highway. Wear your walking shoes!  (Up to 2 buses)

• 9:30 am
  On a Roll: Bicycling in Boston (Show details)

  Mobile Workshop: Discover the challenges and opportunities of sharing the road with human powered transportation for an older city like Boston with narrow streets and walkways and learn about Boston's public bike share program. (1 bus)

• 1:00 pm
  Building Peace in Boston (Show details)

  Mobile Workshop: Learn about Boston's nationally recognized comprehensive violence prevention and intervention strategy including BCYF Street workers, neighborhood, public health, & community partners together with law enforcement. (1 bus )

• 1:00 pm
  Growing the Next Generation of Business: The Innovation District (Show details)

  Come tour the South Boston Waterfront in Boston's Innovation District. From a company that designs and manufactures commercial, custom mosaics with robots; to Dana Farber Cancer Institute's manufacturing facility, to recycling iPhones, the District is rapidly becoming a hub of urban innovation companies. In nearly three years, over 150 new companies and over 3,000 jobs have made it home. See for yourself, how Boston is combining spectacular water views and the re-use of old industrial warehouses to propel job growth in the 21st century.  (Up to 2 buses )

• 1:00 pm
  Boston's Main Streets (Show details)

  Join us as we tour 4 distinct Boston Main Streets districts, Washington Gateway, Dudley Square and Egleston Square, ending in a walking tour of Roslindale Village Main Street the first of Boston’s 20 Urban Main Street districts, created by Mayor Thomas Menino in 1995. This tour will give you a glimpse of why Boston is renowned for its neighborhoods and these neighborhoods based economic development programs.  (1 bus)

Thursday, November 29, 2012

• 8:30 am
  Closing Access and Achievement Gaps (Show details)

  Boston has established a wide range of educational options that have increased graduation rates and better prepared our students for college. We have developed a portfolio of schools that meet the needs of diverse learners. Visit the Boston Public Schools Re-Engagement Center and a successful Turnaround School, and learn about innovative strategies to close achievement gaps.  (1 bus)

• 8:30 am
  Greenovating Boston (Show details)

  Join leading experts from the City of Boston as they highlight the City’s green building achievements from skyscrapers to artists’ studios. Learn how the City has used zoning and other tools to incentivize green buildings. The City’s policies have resulted in over 100 LEED certified buildings that are not only good for the environment, but are also driving economic development in the vibrant Innovation District and have increased public access. The tour will also showcase the next iteration of City of Boston planning including climate preparedness and district wide sustainability planning.” The Greenovating Boston mobile workshop will visit innovative green buildings near the convention center including Atlantic Wharf, Macallen Building and Artists for Humanity.  (Up to 2 buses)

• 9:30 am
  Discover Roxbury's Development Gems (Show details)

  Mobile Workshop: See Boston's approach to revitalizing Dudley Square, a transit anchored historic district. Today's repurposed buildings and a strong neighborhood identity help drive $1 billion in public and private investment in the heart of Boston's African American Community. (1 bus)

• 12:00 pm
  Boston Moves for Health (Show details)

  Mobile Workshop: Learn about Mayor Menino's new campaign aimed at improving the health and fitness of the City of Boston. As part of the initiative, the mayor has challenged residents to lose one million pounds and move (walk, run, hop, swim, skip) 10 million miles. (1 bus)

• 12:00 pm
  Using Technology to Engage Residents & Improve Service Delivery (Show details)

  Mobile Workshop: Learn about Citizen's Connect, the Boston One Card, Technology Goes Home, Bostrax, and other programs that Boston is piloting to empower residents to re-shape the city and take advantage of all that Boston has to offer. (1 bus)

• 12:00 pm
  Food Policy for the City’s Social & Economic Health (Show details)

  See how Boston is creating a comprehensive food policy which, in several years , has brought a new wave of food-based initiatives - from mobile food trucks with healthy offerings to urban agriculture and small business incubators to the Boston Bounty Bucks program - which puts more healthy foods on inner-city family tables.  (Up to 2 buses)

Hotel/Travel

Boston Convention & Exposition Center
Boston, MA
(617)954-2800

Hotels

Book your room

Presenters