Think about how your city, town, or village currently passes local laws and ordinances.
How do you determine local priorities? How do you assess which areas are feasible, and how do you decide who needs to be involved in crafting the policy solution? Are priorities based on personality, or the loudest voices?
Introducing The Policy and Systems Change Compass
Today’s local leaders are equipped with strong strategic plans, community input, and data.
What’s often missing is a clear starting point – and a structured way to turn insights into action.
The Policy and Systems Change Compass offers a step-by-step guide to enacting transformational policies, navigating common barriers and roadblocks, while centering the voices and needs of your residents. Developed by the National League of Cities and the Urban Institute, the Compass provides a clear, repeatable process for designing and implementing policies that drive lasting change.
Through the Compass, NLC helps cities:
- Align around shared priorities
- Navigate political and operational barriers
- Build trust across departments and with communities
- Deliver meaningful, measurable outcomes
This proven, step-by-step process can be applied to any issue – from housing and health to climate and economic development.
Meeting Cities Where They Are
The Compass helps municipal leaders of all levels of experience navigate complex environments, whether you are a long-term professional, newly elected official, department lead, or front-line staff.
For local leaders who may not have policy backgrounds, this process allows them to bring their experiences and expertise to bear on a proven framework.
Whether you’re advancing a new initiative or refining an existing priority, the Compass helps cities orient themselves, align around shared priorities, and move forward with clarity and confidence – together.
Working Hand-in-Hand With NLC
When a city invests in the Compass, they don’t just receive a how-to guide. Here’s what NLC offers with the Compass:
- Access to a team of municipal experts
- In-depth assistance on policy issues and project planning
- Hands-on facilitation and tailored support
- Coaching calls
Draw on NLC’s century of experience working for – and with – local governments to create a solution that’s right for you.
Take The First Step
Get in touch with NLC’s Policy and Systems Change Compass experts and see what transformations are possible in your community.
We’ll work with you to understand your goals and identify the right level of support to get started.
The Policy and Systems Change Compass is co-developed by the National League of Cities and the Urban Institute. © 2023. Used with permission.