Mayors Innovation Project

Data consistently shows that youth violence spikes as schools close and seasonal temperatures rise. As we mark National Gun Violence Prevention Month and observe National Gun Violence Awareness Day, municipal leaders across the country are facing one of the most critical challenges of the year: keeping our communities safe during the summer months.

Our latest feature examines how cities are successfully reducing youth violence by investing in robust summer enrichment and youth employment programs. From Durham, NC to Milwaukee, WI, cities are proactively keeping young people engaged and out of harm's way by transforming empty classrooms and community spaces into safe hubs for mentorship, learning, and paid work.

Read the full feature on our website 👉

Summer youth employment as a violence prevention strategy By Leslie Vasquez, Mayors Innovation Project While violent crime has declined recently in many cities, summer months can still bring seasonal spikes in violence that disproportionately affect young people. At the same time, summer school …

Across the country, a wave of newly elected mayors are stepping into office with fresh perspectives and high expectations.

Today, as the second installment of our New Mayor Movement series, we bring you a feature on Mayor Connie Boesen of Des Moines, IA. Elected in 2023, Boesen is the first woman to lead Iowa's capital city. Check out our feature to learn about how she's investing in neighborhoods and building civic spirit through initiatives like Invest DSM and the Improving Our Neighborhoods program 👉 https://mayorsinnovation.org/2026/05/06/a-historic-first-a-forward-vision-mayor-connie-boesen-on-the-future-of-des-moines/