Next City

Next City Solutions for Liberated Cities. Help spread workable ideas from one city to the next city. And when solutions are plentiful, so will our lives be in the city.

Our mission is to inspire greater economic, environmental, and social justice in cities. Next City’s civic-minded reporting makes urban places more effective, equitable and sustainable. We supply changemakers with information that fuels their fight for low-income neighborhoods. Because we focus the world’s attention on good ideas that we hope will grow, some label us as “solutions journalism.” For

us, it’s just what we’ve always done since we were founded by three college students and their network of volunteers in 2003. Emphasizing solutions, as we do at Next City, will give birth to more solutions. Research has found that when news stories discuss potential answers to problems, readers leave feeling more knowledgeable and empowered to solve them. Readers are statistically more likely to act, to donate to support an organization, and to evolve their opinion. Where solutions journalism is healthy, America has more informed and engaged communities. Next City publishes hundreds of stories on solutions to urban issues every year. We also compile our best reporting into ebooks, host webinars with practitioners who share lessons from their work, and convene live events such as our annual Vanguard Conference for rising urban leaders. More than 500 Vanguard alumni are working today around the globe. Originally named The Next American City, the organization began publishing a quarterly magazine in 2003. What started as a black-and-white printed publication staffed by volunteers ultimately grew into a popular and influential magazine that reached 1 million people over the course of its 31 issues. Today, Next City is a trusted voice on urban policy, reaching more than 2 million influential doers and changemakers via Next City's website annually. Another 150,000 follow coverage on social media, and 50,000 subscribe to newsletters. All are in search of ways that cities can be reimagined as truly equitable and inclusive. In an age when original, on-the-ground reporting is increasingly rare, we send our writers into urban communities to produce our award-winning fact-finding and storytelling. Next City is an independent, nonpartisan nonprofit that adheres to the Society of Professional Journalists Code of Ethics. We are dedicated to producing journalism that is accurate, transparent, fair and impactful. Next City is supported by a diversified business model that includes grant support from foundations, donations by individuals, corporate sponsorships or underwriting, advertising and events. Find more information on how to advertise with us in our media kit at nextcity.org/advertise. All underwritten or sponsored content is clearly and obviously labeled. We do not accept sponsorships, underwriting or ads from organizations that we believe could undermine our mission or integrity. We accept gifts, grants and sponsorships from individuals and organizations for the general support of our activities and to support coverage of particular topics, but our organization maintains editorial control of the coverage. Past and present supporters, including sustaining members, major donors and corporate sponsors, can be found at nextcity.org/supporters. The newest information about what's happening at Next City can be found on our Press page. If you are interested in inviting Next City to join your next event or in booking a reporter as a guest, please reach out through [email protected]. Next City deeply appreciates its current funders: Surdna Foundation, The Kresge Foundation, Citi Community Development and National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA), as well as our many other generous donors across the country. Support Next City’s work by making a 100% tax-deductible donation today at nextcity.org/membership.

To help ease the burden of finding affordable housing, officials in Buena Vista, Colorado, say businesses can allow empl...
11/06/2025

To help ease the burden of finding affordable housing, officials in Buena Vista, Colorado, say businesses can allow employees to live on their property — but only temporarily.

Will the mayor-elect's bold campaign promises translate into the real world? Here’s what analysts say about feasibility,...
11/05/2025

Will the mayor-elect's bold campaign promises translate into the real world? Here’s what analysts say about feasibility, impact and challenges ahead.

Op-ed: The minerals of Lubumbashi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo's second-largest city, electrified the world, cr...
11/05/2025

Op-ed: The minerals of Lubumbashi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo's second-largest city, electrified the world, created atom bombs – and are key to greener energy.

How did the “Most Dangerous City in the World” 30 years ago transform into today’s public transit paradise?In the 1990s,...
11/04/2025

How did the “Most Dangerous City in the World” 30 years ago transform into today’s public transit paradise?

In the 1990s, Medellín, Colombia was riddled with drug cartel crime. It took nothing short of a miracle in 1995 to open the city’s metro system.

But in 1998, city officials proposed a metro expansion that would take the entire system to new heights: aerial cable cars.

In addition to being the first public transit of its kind, the project focused on the city’s most vulnerable neighborhoods, which have since thrived.

Discover the uplifting story of the Metrocable in Medellín, Colombia with Urban Mobility Explained (UMX) and Carlos Cadena.

Sponsored: How did the “Most Dangerous City in the World” transform into a public transit paradise? Discover the uplifting story of Medellín’s Metrocable.

New research finds most Opportunity Zone dollars flow to neighborhoods that were already booming. As governors redraw th...
11/04/2025

New research finds most Opportunity Zone dollars flow to neighborhoods that were already booming. As governors redraw the map, local communities can help zero in on the “Goldilocks” zones.

Sponsored: How did the “Most Dangerous City in the World” transform into a public transit paradise? Discover the uplifti...
11/04/2025

Sponsored: How did the “Most Dangerous City in the World” transform into a public transit paradise? Discover the uplifting story of Medellín’s Metrocable.

Op-ed: With Trump’s new tax law adding red tape and reporting rules for Medicaid, counties can either absorb the fallout...
11/03/2025

Op-ed: With Trump’s new tax law adding red tape and reporting rules for Medicaid, counties can either absorb the fallout — or lead the way in building stronger, more resilient health systems.

Want safer streets, better transit, or faster trains?In our new webinar, transportation advocate Carter Lavin will share...
10/31/2025

Want safer streets, better transit, or faster trains?

In our new webinar, transportation advocate Carter Lavin will share practical tools and strategies for transportation advocacy.

RSVP:

Join us for a conversation inspired by transportation advocate Carter Lavin’s new book. With insights from more than 100 initiatives, Carter will share practical tools and strategies to help you build power and win real change.

Cities are stepping in to fill the SNAP gap, the fight against gun violence loses funds, and more.
10/31/2025

Cities are stepping in to fill the SNAP gap, the fight against gun violence loses funds, and more.

Germantown’s grassroots organizations are coordinating to fill widening food access gaps – a glimpse at how local networ...
10/31/2025

Germantown’s grassroots organizations are coordinating to fill widening food access gaps – a glimpse at how local networks are holding the line as federal support falls through.

Op-ed: If we want a city where workers can still afford to live, Zohran Mamdani’s proposal for a $30 minimum wage by 203...
10/31/2025

Op-ed: If we want a city where workers can still afford to live, Zohran Mamdani’s proposal for a $30 minimum wage by 2030 is the floor, not the ceiling.

Podcast: The projects across Seattle, Baltimore, Atlanta, and Boston are treating culture as essential infrastructure fo...
10/30/2025

Podcast: The projects across Seattle, Baltimore, Atlanta, and Boston are treating culture as essential infrastructure for equitable cities.

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