Advancing Equitable Outcomes
Throughout the country, city residents have life expectancies that vary greatly from those who live just a few miles away–sometimes only blocks apart. This disparity was amplified by the pandemic, and exposed the urgent and glaring health inequities resulting from systems that have historically and disproportionately burdened certain communities while advantaging others.
The components of the Cities of Opportunity (CoO) initiative provide a proven approach, a customized process, practical tools, expert consulting and training to support city leaders and their communities in their efforts to identify and address the most important issues related to health equity.
The Mayors’ Institute
The CoO Mayors’ Institute was a year-long cohort comprised of city mayors and their teams, selected through a competitive application process. Together, they examine the interconnected factors that impact health and well-being and share innovative approaches to address the root causes of poor health and health inequities. Each cohort focuses on a specific issue area with past Mayors’ Institutes that have focused on housing, education, economic opportunity and opioids.
CoO provides cohort members with:
- Training
- Hands-on assistance
- Consulting
- Peer-to-peer learning opportunities
- Access to faculty experts to help formulate multi-year work plans
City Participation and Support
Launched in 2023, the most recent cohort included the following five communities:
- East Point, Georgia
- Gresham, Oregon
- Houston, Texas
- Mount Vernon, New York
- Pasco, Washington
The 2023 Mayors’ Institute focused on how infrastructure, land use planning, zoning and the built environment are critical to advancing health equity.
For more information about the Mayors’ Institute, please download: Advancing Community Revitalization to Improve Health and Equity. This brief provides an overview of city initiatives and best practices that support and foster equitable community revitalization and address the inequities that shape health disparities. To learn more about the work of the 2023 cities, read Lessons from the Cities of Opportunity Mayors Institute on Community Revitalization.
The Cities of Opportunity Mayors’ Institute series began in 2016. In 2021, the Mayors’ Institute explored the connection between Economic Opportunity and Health. Learn more here.
For more information about the Mayors’ Institute, send your questions and comments to coo@nlc.org.
The Cities of Opportunity Initiative
Municipal leaders know that achieving health equity doesn’t happen overnight – that removing inequities so all city residents have the opportunity for health and well-being requires considerable effort and focus, collaboration, dedication and the willingness to confront systems and policy barriers.
But it can be done. And the results are transformational.
Grounded in a Theory of Change and strategies that center equity, authentic community engagement and sustainability, CoO helps bring communities together through four key entry points (Action Cohort, Mayors’ Institute, Learning Labs and Solutions Forums) to find common ground and drive transformational change toward health, well-being and equity.
Interested in sponsoring a Mayors’ Institute or Policy Academy related to an issue that’s important to you? Contact us at CoO@nlc.org.
Lessons from the Cities of Opportunity Mayors Institute on Community Revitalization
Lessons from the 2023-2024 Cities of Opportunity Action Cohort
Creativity and Collaboration for Healthier Cities
Cities of Opportunity: Healthy People, Thriving Communities Highlights and Summary from 12-City Pilot
Affordable Housing & Health: City Roles and Strategies for Progress
