Investing in Change(makers): Equitably Developing America’s Small and Mid-Sized Legacy Cities

In cities that have long struggled with disinvestment and the loss of jobs, leaders might be tempted to focus on growth at all costs. However, a growing body of evidence shows that revitalization works best when everyone shares in its benefits. This reality became even clearer during the COVID-19 pandemic, which deepened racial and economic inequities.

The need for equitable revitalization is especially urgent in smaller legacy cities, places with populations under 200,000, many of them in Ohio, that have lost substantial numbers and manufacturing bases since the mid-20th century. Join us for a conversation with Alison Goebel, Executive Director of the Greater Ohio Policy Center, who will share lessons and strategies from the forthcoming Lincoln Institute of Land Policy report, Equitably Developing America's Smaller Legacy Cities: Investing in Residents from South Bend to Worcester.

Goebel will be joined by Jay Williams, CEO of the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving, and former mayor of Youngstown, Ohio, to discuss the importance of and lessons learned while advancing equitable development. The increased sense of urgency among many policy makers to address longstanding economic and racial disparities at this moment creates unique opportunities to foreground equity in revitalization strategies. Local changemakers can utilize a host of policies and programs focused on both physical development and investment in residents to promote shared prosperity in their communities.

Join the livestream on May 26th at 12:00 pm EDT for a lively conversation about what works, what to avoid, and what more equitable development might mean to you and your city.