Apply now to join two new technical assistance cohorts organized by NLC’s Cities of Opportunity Initiative. Each opportunity supports leaders in making strategic, systems-level change to improve the health and wellbeing of their communities.
These programs will provide bespoke, expert-level technical assistance to city government staff and officials who envision a future for their communities based on a foundation of trust and innovation to improve health and wellbeing outcomes for all residents.
Each cohort program lasts 12 months and applies proven frameworks to empower city leaders to develop solutions to the challenges their communities face in health and wellbeing. To decide which program is right for you, review the information below and register to attend the informational webinar on May 20th at 1 PM ET.
Which Program is Right for You?
The Community Engagement Academy
Six cities will embark on a transformative journey to integrate resident voices into city governance. Selected cities will enhance their ability to deeply and continually engage residents and partners to improve health outcomes for all. Through tailored technical assistance, practical tools, and peer learning engagements, participants will develop the fundamental capacity to build a more inclusive and community-led approach to governance.
This program is right for cities that:
- Have a vision for community engagement based in transparency and collaborative communication with residents;
- View resident voice as a key factor in their information gathering process and wish to institutionalize the practice of communicating with individuals and community groups for decision-making; and,
- Are ready to develop reliable infrastructures for communication and relationship development with local partners and community groups for long-term collaboration.
The Community Health and Wellbeing Accelerator
Six cities will address the root cause of health disparities by building their capacity, leveraging their assets, and driving transformative policy and systems changes. Participating cities will leverage the proven Cities of Opportunity approach, which includes expert coaching, tools, and a curated peer learning environment, yielding proven impacts in resident health and wellbeing.
This program is right for cities that:
- Are searching for a proven framework to align city staff and officials in their work to support a shared mission of improving health and wellbeing for all residents;
- Want to actively engage executive leadership in a partnership for systems change and thoughtful policy development; and,
- Can build a cross-sector team of enthusiastic team members from city departments and local partners to carry out a comprehensive work plan to improve community health and wellbeing outcomes.
Important Information
- Applications are due by 11:59 PM ET on Monday, June 30, 2025.
- The support of your city, town or village’s top executive is required.
- During each program, cities will be expected to participate in one in-person convening in Washington, DC.
- Cities may choose to apply to both cohorts, though they will only be chosen for one of the two cohorts.
Register for the Info Session
Find out which opportunity is best for you and get insights into the application process by attending a webinar on Tuesday, May 20.