Waterloo/Cedar Falls, Iowa

When they were dubbed “the worst place to be Black in America” in 2019, the community of Waterloo, Iowa was determined to understand and transform those dynamics. The designation energized the community to build on existing initiatives and to have difficult conversations about equity in order to reclaim – and advance – their narrative.

Harare, zimbabwe

In Zimbabwe, prolonged political and economic crisis is eroding what has long been the most valuable, sustainable capital in communities across the country: their social fabric. As Zimbabwe’s political and economic challenges evolve, the connection to and between communities weakens, stretched and frayed by factors well beyond their control. Gateway Zimbabwe is helping place-based communities throughout Zimbabwe begin the process of reweaving and enlivening the social fabric.

The Rural Opportunity Institute (ROI), a locally grown and led organization that uses human-centered design to build empathy, conducted a series of interviews and focus groups with community members from all parts of Tarboro, North Carolina. These interviews and focus groups led to a community-wide commitment to work together on one of the most pressing issues facing the community – unaddressed trauma.

INDIA, INDONESIA, VIETNAM, NEPAL

Building Healthy Cities (BHC) is a 5-year USAID-funded learning project led by JSI Research and Training Institute in partnership with the International Organization for Migration, Thrive Network Global and the Urban Institute. The project focuses on four cities in Asia that are growing fast and represent diverse contexts. All four cities are “smart cities” committed to investing in infrastructure and information technology to improve the quality of life of citizens. BHC is advising each city on ways to imbed a health and equity focus into their plans for city expansion and urban planning.