Our Blog + Latest News
Group photo of LP Minnesota members and partners at the 2023 state meeting in St. Paul.

Minnesota local leaders strategize for the next wave of change

As Minnesota's 2023 state legislative session comes to a close, local leaders across the state came together last week to strategize on housing policy and narrative, learn from one another, build community, and dream up change.
HB 1 poster image: Our Cities, Our Rights

Six Florida Cities Succeed In Reducing Harm Of HB 1, End Court Challenge

Southern Poverty Law Center shared a press release marking the end of six Florida cities' lawsuit against HB 1, Florida's anti-protest and anti-local control bill.

55 Local Elected Officials From Across New York State Call on Legislature to Pass New York For All

The New York Immigration Coalition, Local Progress, and the NYC Council Progressive Caucus released a sign-on letter from 55 municipal, town, county and school district elected officials from all over New York State calling on the NYS Legislature to pass the New York For All Act before the end of the legislative session.

Announcing Our Next Executive Director: Ivan Luevanos-Elms!

We're thrilled to announce our next Executive Director: Ivan Luevanos-Elms! We couldn’t be more excited to support Ivan as he prepares to officially step in on August 21.

LPNY State Download ⚡️ | State budget updates, our housing summit & more! | May 2023

The Local Progress New York newsletter covers the NY Housing summit, a gas-free future in Beacon and New York State, rent stabilization in Kingston, and the New York State Budget.
Volunteers from The Resurrection Project in Chicago welcome migrants to shelter

Today marks the end of Title 42. Here’s what you can do to choose welcome.

In the absence of humane federal and state policy, it is up to us as local leaders to step up. Here are additional resources to support you to choose welcome.

Local Progress New York Meets to Advance Housing Justice

Over 40 local elected officials and partner organizations met in Albany to discuss how to advance housing justice at the local level.
LPFL members and staff posing for a photo in front of the old capitol in Tallahassee.

Florida Local Electeds Call on Governor DeSantis to Veto Harmful Preemption Bills

As Florida legislative session ends, Local Progress Florida speaks out against harmful state preemption bills SB 170 and HB 1417, and calls on DeSantis to veto them.

Collective Courage is Contagious: A Message from ED Sarah Johnson

Executive Director Sarah Johnson shares the news that she'll be transitioning out of the team in the Fall and reflections on why this is the best job she's ever had.

LPNC Members Sign Letter Against Anti-Immigrant Bill HB10

Local Progress members across North Carolina signed on to a letter calling for members of the General Assembly to defend immigrant rights.
Four panelists (Mary Moriarty, Sue Budd, Kimberly Wilburn, and Heidi Garrido) and moderator Jillia Pessenda behind a table next to a Local Progress Minnesota sign.

LPMN Members Engage Community Members: What Does Public Safety Mean to You?

LPMN co-hosted a community conversation with partners in the western suburbs of the Twin Cities to expand the existing, siloed definition of public safety.

In Solidarity with Antioch Councilmembers Tamisha Torres-Walker & Monica Wilson

Antioch Councilmembers Tamisha Torres-Walker and Monica Wilson are champions of justice and continue to show unwavering leadership in the midst of shocking and disturbing revelations about local law enforcement.

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:

Courtesy of Open Arms of Minnesota| Open Arms delivers free medically tailored meals to critically ill Minnesotans and their loved ones—and that’s just one of the almost 70 orgs here that can use your support.

Mad? Sad? Motivated? 60+ MN Orgs Working to Make the Next 4 Years (and Then Some) Suck Less.

Check out LPMN's feature in this sprawling list of organizations, groups, and collectives who are determined, political headwinds be damned, to make Minnesota a better place.
Photograph of a person walking in front a sign that says "APARTMENT FOR RENT STUDIO: Photo: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Big Cities Take Up Fight Against Algorithm-Based Rents

The federal government’s price-fixing lawsuit against rental-software firm RealPage could take years to resolve. Rather than wait, some cities and states are already cracking down on the company.
Image of a police car driving (retrieved from the Fayetteville Observer)

Do Fayetteville, NC police stop more Black drivers?

LP's former Legal Fellow Kat Kerwin and LPNC's Mario Benavente weigh in on the importance of reducing pretextual stops.
The Philadelphia City Council Committee on Housing, Neighborhood Development, and Homelessness hearing testimony in chambers.

Council Committee Advances Landlord Anti-Collusion Bill

The Philadelphia City Council advanced a bill introduced by LPPA member Councilmember Nicholas O’Rourke that would ban price-fixing by landlords.

press Releases

NEW REPORT: How Local Government Can Stand Up for Workers When States Try to Stand in Their Way

This new report for Labor Day 2024 highlights ways local elected officials can advance workers rights even when facing both hostile state preemption and federal labor law preemption.

How Localities Use Community Responder Programs to Keep People Safe

This new video from Local Progress and Local Progress Impact Lab focuses on three specific localities: Durham, Oakland, and Albuquerque to explain what community responder programs are, how they work, and why hundreds of localities are starting to adopt them.

After Grants Pass: organizing to house all our neighbors

In response to the Supreme Court's cruel decision in Grants Pass v. Johnson, we will continue to organize for housing for all.

Local Progress Condemns Cruel Supreme Court Decision in Grants Pass v. Johnson

In response to the Supreme Court’s decision in Grants Pass v. Johnson, Local Progress put out the following statement.

180+ State and Local Elected Officials Urge Congress to Reject the EATS Act

LP and the State Innovation Exchange (SiX) released letters calling on Congress to protect local and state governments ability to create policy that is responsive to the issues their own communities face in the agricultural industry.