Envision a future where all people in the United States – particularly those who face barriers of structural oppression – share power and decision-making through collaborative governance practices, live in climate-resistant communities, and are reaping intergenerational wealth through just economic systems.

In this future, everyone has a place to grow economic wealth inside of their neighborhoods, cities, and states. Everyone has the ability to pursue lives of their choosing.

We know that where we live shapes both our day-to-day lives and our families’ futures. That is why PolicyLink’s place-based portfolio is focused on delivering a future where all people live in thriving communities of opportunity, including the nearly 100 million people currently living in or near poverty.

This vision is within reach and requires a radical reimagination of our governing structures, institutions, and economy — all necessary for a new foundation where everyone can thrive. 

Our place-based work holds both the distinctiveness of people and places, along with the power of scaling community-led solutions to drive systemic change. We are nurturing networks and bringing technical expertise to support enduring change at the local, state, and regional levels. Together with our partners, we are ready to meet this moment by centering our work with communities and building formative allies in close collaboration with their local municipal and state governments. Our strategy seeks to advance key measures of climate, racial, and economic outcomes in places, including California, with special regional focus on the Inland Empire, the Bay Area and the Central Coast; and Puerto Rico. 

California

California is the wealthiest state in the nation and the fifth largest economy in the world — and yet a third of its residents live below or near the poverty line.

PolicyLink understands that local leaders are instrumental to advance the governing systems that serve “all.”  That is why we are supporting an approach that aims to create a future where all people in California can thrive. With a focus on the 15 million Californians living in or near poverty, PolicyLink is leading strategies to support state-level impact while working alongside networks and community efforts across regions to support innovation and progress. Through our coordinated regional approach, PolicyLink is building a ladder to ensure California’s policy landscape remains responsive, inclusive, and rooted in the experiences of its communities, serving as a model for other states aiming to cultivate a participatory democracy. 

Puerto Rico

We imagine a future where everyone in Puerto Rico – especially those who have been harmed by decades of misguided socioeconomic policies – is able to prosper in equitable economies and find joy in climate resistant communities. Our approach is focused on addressing systems that undermine the archipelago’s long term, equitable development and its prospects for self-determination. 

Through our work with our ecosystem of Puerto Rico-based partners, PolicyLink is investing in housing solutions and amplifying government transparency and accountability. We are working to support NGOs, community-based groups and organizations that are reimagining approaches to development and shifting power and decision-making from central government to municipalities and communities. We will continue to drive opportunity for the 2.1 million people living in or near poverty in Puerto Rico by resourcing and collaborating with organizations on the island that can build local capacity for equity-driven work. 

Transformative Change Across 25 U.S. Cities

Data show that people living in areas with economic barriers face the worst air, water, and weather impacts, and rising disaster costs threaten their health, resilience, and economic growth. U.S. cities have a historic opportunity to take action at the local level to combat harmful pollution and improve millions of lives.

Launched in March 2024, Bloomberg American Sustainable Cities is a three-year initiative that helps 25 U.S. cities take bold action to achieve safer and more prosperous communities, particularly in areas where health, infrastructure, and economic outcomes can be improved.