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Allentown Council member Ce-Ce Gerlach speaks Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025, during a City Council meeting in Allentown. Gerlach presented an ordinance for Allentown to become a ‘Welcoming City’ to help protect immigrants from ICE. (April Gamiz/The Morning Call)

📎 Federal Resource Round-Up

How to leverage local power in this moment
Image of Deputy Comms Director Michael Whitesides giving a comms presentation at a LP event.

Introducing 🌟LP’s Communications Tools & Guides 🌟

Check out your new one-stop shop for all things comms!

📬 LP Network Download | Local leadership under Trump admin, social housing, wildfire response, & more. | Jan 2025

Here’s a look at some of what’s happening across the Local Progress network this month.
Anti-Trump protesters rally on Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Fighting for Our Communities Under Trump

The actions the Trump Administration has taken in its first few days come from a place of utter cruelty, racism, and greed. These executive actions are intended to shock and awe – but we are resisting and we will govern for all our people.
Photograph of the San Fransisco skyline. Photograph Source: Raydann

Social Housing Emerging in Cities Needs Local Govt Support

Local Progress founding board chair Nick Licata makes the case for local governments to support social housing.

Meet our new LP Board Co-Chair and Members! 🎉

As our network has grown and transformed, so too has our Board. Today, we’re excited to introduce our new board co-chair and four new board members.
A group of LP school board members posing for a photo

LP School Board Download 📚 | Responding to disasters & keeping our communities safe | January 2025

Welcome to the LP School Board Download, our regular newsletter about all things school board! Today, we’re sharing updates on school funding resources, the school board perspective on LP’s National Convening and the latest news out of local school districts.
A person holding two signs at a rally. One says "RESIST mass deportation and detention" and the other sign says "I pledge to protect Immigrant New York." Retrieved from the ACLU of New York

Local Electeds Call for Solidarity in the Fight Against Trump’s Divisive and Hateful Agenda

In response to the Trump-Vance Administration’s slew of executive actions attacking immigrants, trans people, and other vulnerable communities, Local Progress released the following statement.

New Report Shows How Local Governments Can Build Social Housing Solutions for Public Good

In a new report from the Local Progress Impact Lab, Power Switch Action & PolicyLiny outlines how building and managing housing in the public interest can guide us out of our housing crisis.
Advocates demonstrate outside the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington on April 22, 2024, during oral arguments for the Grants Pass homelessness case. Aparna Raj/ Local Progress/Handout via Thomson Reuters Foundation

Ahead of Trump term, U.S. cities grapple with homelessness

While the Trump administration plans to accelerate encampment sweeps, cities are ready to support people experiencing homelessness with dignity. LP leaders make the case for housing over jail time or fines.

📬 LP Network Download | Inspiring local wins, preparing for what’s next, & more. | Dec 2024

Here’s a look at some of what’s happening across the Local Progress network this month.
A graphic with an image of people at city hall and the text "Rental Price Fixing? Yeah, we banned that."

LPPA State Download ❄️| rental price fixing, national convening, member spotlight, and more! | Winter 2024

Check out the latest in our final download for the year!

Have a Media Inquiry?

Local Progress is a movement of local elected officials advancing a racial and economic justice agenda through all levels of local government. We are elected leaders who build power with underrepresented communities and fight to reshape what is possible in our localities all across the country. 

Want to get in touch with us for a story? Reach us at press@localprogress.org.

In The News

At Local Progress, we seek to make the aspirational pragmatic by showing how government can be a tool to create just and equitable outcomes and reshaping peoples’ understanding of governing from an institution to a collective responsibility. Here are some highlights of our media coverage:

Photo of Seattle stadium

The World Cup Is Coming. Our Cities Must Protect Their People.

Op-ed: As elected officials from U.S. host cities, we know that local governments are the last line of defense against human rights abuses during the FIFA World Cup.
Casar has always approached political work with the same mindset forged as a labor organizer. (Robin Jerstad)

Greg Casar Is Organizing to Win

A must-read feature of former LP Co-Chair and now Congressman Greg Casar.

Multiple Cities Across the Country Are Resisting Rent Algorithms

Hoboken and Jersey city are two of the latest localities to join the nationwide movement to tackle corporate greed in the rental market and ban algorithmic rental price fixing.
Portland Street Response crisis worker Angela Sands and EMT Kaya Ascott respond to a 911 call in Portland, Ore. (Kaia Sand)

This Organization Proved There Was an Alternative to the Police. Now It’s Being Defunded.

Portland, OR proved what we all know to be true: we keep us safe. LP's Reynold Graham talks to The Nation about Portland's program.

press Releases

Group photo

Local Progress Carries Faith’s Legacy Forward

A group of local elected officials holding a letter in the Colorado state capitol

LP Members & Union Leaders Call To Overturn WPA Veto

Municipal Officials join labor leaders to call out the Governor for rejecting this Common-Sense legislation
An image of Newark Mayor Ras Baraka

Statement: National Network of Local Officials Denounce Unjustified Arrest of Newark Mayor Ras Baraka

In response to the reported arrest and subsequent release of Newark Mayor and Local Progress member Ras Baraka, Essex County Commissioner and Local Progress Board Member A’Dorian Murray-Thomas released the following statement. 
Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty who was sworn into office on Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2023 speaking at the All Square restaurant in Minneapolis on Thursday, Jan. 5, 2023 where supporters gathered to celebrate her election. Mshale Staff Photo by Panashe Matemba-Mutasa

Statement: Amid Federal Threats, Local Leaders Stand Strong for True Civil Rights

In response to the Trump Administration’s so-called “civil rights” investigation into Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty’s Office, Local Progress released this statement.
A large group standing around while one person speaks at a podium.

Road To Good Cause Campaign Scores 11 Victories Across Upstate New York

The coordinated campaign of local officials expand critical renter protections to thousands of tenants, setting their sights on Rochester next.