A Bloomberg center for cities to be created by Bloomberg Philanthropies & Harvard University to help mayors globally in the face of unparalleled challenges
Bloomberg Philanthropies collaborates with Harvard in a $150 million investment City Leadership initiative that will intensify their support and commitment to innovative city leadership.
New York, NY- Bloomberg Philanthropies has collaborated with Harvard University to establish a Bloomberg center to help leaders in the city. According to the announcement, the move will establish a university-wide Bloomberg center for Harvard University centers in a $150 million investment. An earlier collaboration in 2017 between Bloomberg Philanthropies, Harvard Business School, and Harvard Kennedy School was initially very successful. This second initiative will further build in the center's success and enable mayors and their staff to become more effective in the workplace, bring up a new generation of public servants who will have assistance in tackling issues, and create an illuminative procedure to guide mayors.
Mayors have the most significant ability and authority to bombard some of the enormous challenges people face. The covid-19 pandemic has helped many realize how impactful mayors are on people’s lives. According to Michael R. Bloomberg, 108th mayor of New York City and Bloomberg L.P., and Bloomberg Philanthropies founder, mayors are innovative and practical problem solvers. Michael hopes that the partnership will help the mayors learn from each other and achieve more.
Harvard President Lawrence Bacow said that Harvard is honored to have such a partnership as the University is a home to many people who have been dedicated to public service and researchers who provide useful knowledge meant to improve society. The promise of creating more effective leaders through partnerships and restructuration is exhilarating and encouraging. The use of resources, instruments, and support in transforming city halls globally is one thing Bacow anticipates.
Some of the significant elements that the investment will focus on include:
Bloomberg Harvard City Leadership Initiative – this will include expansion of the flagship program's length and depth. This will see the addition of resources to help newly elected city leaders build their teams, increase the number of mayors, and comprehensive leadership research.
Bloomberg Center for Cities at Harvard University-the center will be created permanently at Harvard and will be dedicated to making leadership more effective.
Creating an additional ten faculty positions for academicians or professionals dedicated to solving community problems.
The initial investment of $32 million in the program that had been launched in 2017 was used in providing vigorous training and assistance to 159 mayors and their 800 right-hand men in 153 cities. Not only did the program create a significant impact on the cities whose mayors were involved, but it went on to provide them with support and team growth.
Patterson, NJ Mayor André Sayegh said that the collaboration was great news for local leaders. Mike Bloomberg has always used his knowledge, time, and resources to help local leaders, and that has impacted him and his peers at Harvard.
Mayoral leadership has been impacted remarkably by the collaboration, and it has helped them lead their cities through some of the most challenging times and circumstances, including the Covid-19 pandemic. Continued support will be essential to the next cohort of local leaders for generations to come, as per Steve Benjamin, Columbia, SC Mayor.
The initiative saw mayors and their top advisors convene weekly during the covid-19 pandemic amidst other crises. They would provide the latest updates on public health, find a way forward, and share key lessons and practices that had helped them maneuver their way through the tough times. By 2021, the initiative has touched 379 mayors and 826 leaders in 49 countries. Five new programs to help mayors stay in touch with fellow mayors have also been launched. This involves city-to-city networks that help mayors communicate in real-time on public health matters and gauging emergency responses. Mayors can now offer each other advice and learn how to go about the response-and-recovery efforts in real-time.
According to Dayton, OH Mayor Nan Whaley, Bloomberg, and Harvard's city leadership initiative have allowed her and her employees to develop new skills and perceive challenges in a more clear perspective. Even amidst the challenges, her team workforce has developed leadership muscles with every oncoming challenge.
Birmingham, AL Mayor Randall Woodfin, on the other hand, says it is easy for mayors to feel lonely due to the nature of their job but thanks to Bloomberg Philanthropies and Harvard University, because they have proved leadership does not have to be lonely. The collaboration has created a friendship between mayors globally, and now they collaborate and combine action as they address the central issue, which is addressing community needs.
