Forging Partnerships to Improve Economic Security
The Los Angeles County Development Authority (LACDA) is working to lift low-income residents by addressing poverty, homelessness, workforce, and small business development. To bolster this work and create new initiatives, LACDA established a Strategic Partnership Division. FUSE Executive Fellow Kishani De Silva helped establish the division, developing strategic partnerships and... Read more
Using Strategic Marketing to Bolster Social Services
The Los Angeles County Department of Workforce Development, Aging and Community Services (WDACS) has been working to extend the outreach and impact of its services, which include connecting individuals and employers, ensuring the well-being of older and dependent adults, improving human relations, and reducing hate crime. To advance these goals,... Read more
Applying Human-Centered Design to Improve Workforce Services
The Los Angeles County Department of Workforce Development, Aging and Community Services (WDACS) provides services to connect the most historically vulnerable populations in the County with high-quality jobs and careers. FUSE Executive Fellow Patrick Koppula applied a human-centered design approach to help WDACS integrate and deliver services at key moments... Read more
Building Infrastructure and Capacity for L.A.’s Next Wave of Tourism
In response to the more than 50 million visitors who arrive in Los Angeles each year, the city’s Department of Convention & Tourism Development (CTD) is working on a master plan for tourism. The first long-term strategic plan around tourism ever undertaken by the city, it addresses infrastructure, capacity, and... Read more
Developing Library Leadership to Strengthen Community Services
A significant number of the Los Angeles Public Library’s (LAPL’s) more than 1,500 employees are nearing retirement. To prepare for this eventuality, LAPL sought to create a development plan that would foster creative, forward-looking leaders who can leverage new capabilities and improve community responsiveness. To address these goals, FUSE Executive... Read more
Investing in Economic Inclusion to Unlock Broad-Based Growth
Racial and ethnic minorities comprise nearly 70 percent of Long Beach residents, and many of them are small business owners. Supporting these entrepreneurs is a critical part of the city’s 10-year economic plan. The Economic Development Department enlisted FUSE executive fellow Daniel Han to help connect minority and women entrepreneurs... Read more
Spurring Community-Oriented Redevelopment in Indianapolis’s Far Eastside
The Far Eastside of Indianapolis is facing stigma, disinvestment, and economic stagnation. To help address this situation, the Mayor’s Office, the Central Indiana Community Foundation, and the Finish Line Foundation engaged FUSE Executive Fellow Lisa Marie Gala to help identify strategies and best practices for revitalization. After an extensive landscape... Read more
Accelerating Entrepreneurship in Underserved Neighborhoods
Engagement with the private sector is a core element of Cleveland’s plan to revitalize distressed neighborhoods and kickstart the local economy. To support this work, the Mayor’s Office engaged FUSE executive fellow Aja Hardy, who worked to implement strategies that help local entrepreneurs acquire the knowledge and capital needed to... Read more
Cultivating and Revitalizing Sacramento’s Economy
Working alongside Mayor Kevin Johnson, FUSE Executive Fellow Erika Dimmler played a leadership role in executing the Greenwise Action Plan. Erika brought together key stakeholders throughout Sacramento, including Sac High, Sacramento's public schools, and the city of Sacramento, to build a national prototype for a healthy food and jobs program... Read more
Creating a Bridge to Bring Private Sector Talent to San Jose City Government
Jeremy led the city of San Jose’s efforts to implement the TalentBridge program. Working with the Office of Mayor Chuck Reed in San Jose, Jeremy led the development of San Jose’s first public/private partnership to bring pro-bono talent from city companies to make city services more effective for residents -... Read more