Imagine 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 would have 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 our Winning on Equity™ 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.

Our place-based work is rooted in three core foundational pillars: creating opportunities, advancing economies, and building just societies where everyone can flourish. To that end, PolicyLink is developing a strategic blueprint for the next generation of place-based work. We aim to hold both the distinctiveness of people and places, along with the power of scaling community-led solutions to help drive systemic change. 

We are nurturing networks and bringing technical expertise to support enduring change at the local, state, and federal levels. Our strategy seeks to advance key measures of climate, racial, and economic outcomes in the following three Places:

• California, with special regional focus on the Inland Empire, the Bay Area and the Central Coast;
• Puerto Rico; and 
• 25 cities in 12 states that span the Sustainable Cities for All initiative, a partnership with Bloomberg Philanthropies 
  • Alabama: Birmingham, Montgomery
  • California: Oakland
  • Georgia: Atlanta, Savannah
  • Michigan: Lansing
  • Mississippi: Jackson
  • Missouri: Kansas City, St. Louis
  • New York: Buffalo, Rochester
  • North Carolina: Charlotte, Raleigh
  • Ohio: Akron, Cincinnati, Columbus, Cleveland, Dayton
  • Pennsylvania: Philadelphia, Pittsburgh
  • Tennessee: Chattanooga, Memphis, Nashville
  • Virginia: Hampton, Newport News

California

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

We know that it doesn't have to be this way. That is why we are supporting a regional approach that aims to create a future where all people in California can thrive. With a focus on the 15 million people living 200 percent below the poverty line, PolicyLink is leading strategies to support state-level impact while working alongside networks and community efforts to support innovation and progress

Puerto Rico

In Puerto Rico, we imagine a future where all people – including those who have been harmed by austerity measures – are able to prosper in equitable economies and find joy in climate resistant communities. Our approach is focused on addressing systemic issues that undermine the archipelago’s long term, equitable development and its prospects for self-determination. 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. 

Bloomberg American Sustainable Cities

Focused on advancing climate action and racial wealth equity across 25 U.S. cities, PolicyLink's initiative is Bloomberg American Sustainable Cities, a three-year, $200 million investment that leverages historic levels of federal funding to build cleaner, more resilient, and economically thriving communities for all residents. 

We are delivering critical technical support, ongoing implementation funding, curriculum and programmatic expertise to help each of these 25 cities become a powerful force of transformative change. PolicyLink leads the initiative’s overall strategic direction while facilitating the overall experience and engagement with community stakeholders.