A Framework for Local Leaders to Drive Transformative Change Through Policy
Cities, towns, and villages are on the front lines of some of today’s most urgent challenges. As the level of government closest to the people, local governments are uniquely positioned to respond to the conditions that shape community well-being. But policymaking at the local level is complex. City leaders must navigate competing interests, limited resources, and long-standing systems that often limit their ability to address the real causes of persistent issues.
That’s why the National League of Cities (NLC) and the Urban Institute developed the Policy & Systems Change Compass—a clear, adaptable framework that helps cities use policy to drive meaningful, lasting change in their communities.
You may come in an overarching issue that is pretty high-level. But this framework brings you down to something that is tangible and actionable.
A New Direction for Policy Change
The Compass is designed to be used across a wide range of issues—from housing and health to climate and economic development. It empowers local leaders to identify the structural drivers behind community challenges and chart a strategic path forward—starting not with symptoms, but with root causes.
Through a 10-step journey, city teams are guided in developing and selecting policies that are evidence-based, community-informed, and grounded in long-term systems change.
Real Cities. Real Results.
From 2022 to 2024, seven cities worked with NLC and the Urban Institute to bring the Compass to life:
- 2023 Pilot Cohort: Dubuque, IA; Roanoke, VA; Tacoma, WA
Addressing the structural factors behind wealth and opportunity gaps using the Compass process. - Policy & Systems Change Academy Cohort: Dearborn, MI; Grand Rapids, MI; Kansas City, MO; Mount Vernon, NY
Designing new policy approaches to strengthen climate resilience and community well-being.
These cities have demonstrated the power of a structured, thoughtful approach to policymaking—one that turns complexity into clarity and vision into action.
Why This Matters
Too often, local leaders are tasked with solving challenges without the tools to examine their underlying causes. The consequences of past decisions—sometimes decades old—still shape outcomes today. But just as policies have created the systems we live in, policies can also be used to reshape them for the better.
The Compass helps cities move beyond quick fixes to deliver bold, lasting policy solutions that improve lives.
Bring the Compass to Your City
If you are a city interested in using the Compass, please reach out to NLC at CoO@nlc.org. For information on how the Compass was developed, please reach out to Joe Schilling of the Urban Institute at jschilling@urban.org. You can also get the latest on upcoming workshops and cohorts by subscribing to the Cities of Opportunity newsletter.
Read the Brief
Ready to take action? Read The Policy and Systems Change Compass Brief and see how this unique approach can be applied in your community. This issue-agnostic tool guides city officials and their partners through a series of essential steps on their path towards policy and systems change—from the identification and analysis of the root cause of the problem to developing and selecting the most promising and feasible policy proposals.