Who We Are

Three decades of growth and transformation

Like any living organism, Living Cities has evolved over our three decades. But in every stage of our journey, we have remained committed to improving the lives of people in U.S. cities and accelerating practices that create dignified and abundant lives.

OUR MISSION

Living Cities harnesses the collective power of philanthropy, financial institutions and local governments to close racial income and wealth gaps in American cities.

OUR VISION

All people in U.S. cities are economically secure, building wealth, and living abundant, dignified and connected lives.

We Are Values-Driven

Living Cities’ core values – those we believe are fundamental to the organization’s success in achieving its mission – are collaboration, innovation, leadership, impact, and racial equity and inclusion. These organizational values guide our everyday decisions about how, why and what we do.

As a partnership of foundations and financial institutions, collaboration is at the core of our work.

Changing broken systems and closing racial gaps requires disrupting the status quo and elevating and sustaining successful ideas from communities.

We continually ask difficult questions, engage in uncomfortable conversations, challenge obsolete assumptions, and support others to do the same in an effort to close racial gaps – in our institutions and across systems.

We are committed to the economic security of all people in U.S. cities by undoing racist systems that create disparities for people of color.

We rely on each other to hold the organization accountable to moving the needle on racial equity and inclusion by living the following cultural norms: work to understand history and the ongoing legacy of racism, interrogate our own biases, extend mutual acknowledgement and respect, challenge damaging power norms, be open to vulnerability and risk.

The People Behind Living Cities

Our people are our greatest strength and the bedrock of what we do. From our staff, to our board, to the hundreds of practitioners around the country who partner with us, the impact of Living Cities is made possible through the passion and commitment of our community. Get to know the people behind the work and connect with us.

LATEST BLOG

How 2020’s “Year of Reckoning” Shaped What Comes Next for Closing the Gaps

In 2020, Living Cities launched the  “Closing the Gaps” Network, paired with a cohort of cities participating in a “Year of Reckoning” initiative. This foundational year brought together leadership in six cities–Austin, Albuquerque, Memphis, Minneapolis, St. Paul, and Rochester–to interrogate how racism has shaped their cities, to organize together to implement policies and practices that would build wealth for BIPOC

Read More

Want to join the team?

Our employees are the lifeblood of our mission, and at Living Cities, we are committed to providing our staff with a warm, friendly and supportive team environment that starts with a shared respect for everyone. See where you fit in.

Get Updates

We want to stay in touch with you! Sign up for our email list to receive updates on the progress we’re making with our network of partners, as well as helpful resources and blog posts.

Name