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OUR STORY
Leading Cities is a Boston-based non-profit driving civic-sector innovation for resilient communities since 2008
We believe cities and communities set the pace for global progress.
Who We Are, Where We Came From, and Where We’re Headed
Today, Leading Cities works with a global network of over 15,000 cities, connecting local governments with the solutions, partnerships, and resources they need to thrive in a rapidly changing world. But Leading Cities began with a global vision and local roots. Founded through a collaboration between forward-thinking cities—Dublin, Boston, Barcelona, Rio de Janeiro, Lyon, Hamburg, Lisbon, Zapopan, Vancouver, and Haifa—Leading Cities was built on the belief that the challenges we face as a planet will be solved in the places we live: our cities.
Originally established in 2008 at Northeastern University, Leading Cities evolved from a research initiative into an independent nonprofit, expanding its mission to drive sustainability, resilience, and innovation in communities worldwide. Today, we work across sectors to support cities, startups, investors, nonprofits, and corporate partners, building the connections and conditions needed to accelerate real-world impact where it matters most.
Founding Member Cities
Our network of over 15,000 municipal leaders started with 10 visionary cities.
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Meet the Core Team
We’re a small but mighty team with a global footprint, bringing together diverse expertise across cities, sustainability, policy, technology, and innovation. While our team spans geographies and disciplines, we share a common focus: helping communities move from ideas to real-world impact. Our strength lies not in size, but in the depth of our experience and the complementary skill sets that allow us to operate across sectors and regions.
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Meet Our Board of Directors
Jesse Austin
(123)456-789
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Chloe Wilson
(123)456-789
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James Williams
(123)456-789
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Jessica Davis
(123)456-789
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