May 18-20, 2026 | New Orleans, Louisiana
NGIN’s biennial summit bringing together leaders from Small and Midsized Cities across the country to dive into innovative practices, strengthen networks, and champion new pathways for locally driven, community-centered economic growth.
Your city’s next chapter starts with innovation—join us at Cityscapes.
The Cityscapes Summit is a national event where leaders dedicated to reimagining local economies gather for immersive sessions, practical insights, and collaborative problem-solving to advance inclusive growth. In 2024, we hosted the inaugural Cityscapes Summit in Durham, North Carolina, welcoming more than 400 leaders who came together to explore fresh approaches to economic growth .
This May, in New Orleans, Cityscapes 2026 builds on that momentum, tackling the most urgent themes shaping opportunity today: community wealth-building, innovative investment models, the changing nature of work, technology’s growing influence, and the partnerships capable of transforming entire communities. Expect three immersive days of hands-on learning, honest conversations, and cross-city collaboration.
Presale tickets offer the lowest price available this year and early access before general registration opens. Space is limited, and once presale closes, rates will increase. If Cityscapes is on your calendar, now is the time to secure your spot and begin planning your experience.
Register to Join Like-Minded City Leaders from Across the Nation.
Apply for Financial Support | Cityscapes Champions Program
The Cityscapes Champions program provides financial assistance for eligible small and midsized city leaders to attend the Cityscapes Summit, covering travel, lodging, and registration.
Introducing Our 2026 Content Tracks
Our content tracks are three focused topic areas where we are igniting innovation around the ideas, strategies, and partnerships strengthening economic growth in small and midsized cities.
Past Speakers
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Lyneir Richardson
CEO
Chicago TREND Corporation
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Xavier Briggs
Senior Fellow
The Brookings Institution
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Fay Horwitt
President & CEO
Forward Cities
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Andre Perry
Senior Fellow
The Brookings Institution
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James Hardy
Interim Deputy Director - Healthy Communities
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
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Abbey Cofsky
Managing Director
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
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Donovan Duncan
Executive Vice President
Urban Strategies. Inc.
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Ross Tilchin
Director, Economic Mobility
Results for America
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Talib Graves-Manns
Managing Partner
Partners in Equity
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Elizabeth Demetriou
Sr. Director of Economic Development
Local Initiatives Support Corporation
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Dell GInes
Chief Innovation Officer
International Economic Development Council
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Zytha Kock
Senior Economic Development Associate
International Economic Development Council
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Neil McInroy
Global Lead for Community Wealth Building
The Democracy Collaborative
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Lilly Weinberg
Senior Director - CNI
John S. and James L. Knight Foundation
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Ryan Miller
Director
MVCC's ThINCubator
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RJ McGrail
Senior Fellow
Lincoln Institute of Land Policy
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Todd Greene
Vice President, Executive Director
Urban Institute
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Michael Gilliland
Organizing Director
CALEB
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Aliana Pineiro
Impact Director
Boston Impact Initiative -
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Yolanda Meraz
Chief Strategy Officer
Stanislaus Equity Partners
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Kat Everett
Founder/CEO
Everetts Enterprise LLC
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Chelsea Talbert
Strategist
City of Tacoma
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Zachary Neville Young
Director of Integrated Capital Solutions
Boson Impact Initiative
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Randal Pinkett
Chairman and CEO
BCT Partners
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Sarah Lester
President & CEO
Cornerstone West CDC
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Ben Stewart
Managing Director, Senior Program Officer
George Kaiser Family Foundation
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Andrea Romero
New Mexico Impact Investing Collaborative, Fellow
Avivar Capital
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James Crowder
Senior Associate, Local Policy Reform & Advocacy
The Annie E. Casey Foundation
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Marshawn Wolley
President and CEO
Black Onyx Management Inc
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Ajia Morris
Founder
LocalCode Kansas City
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Anita Dos Santos
Advocacy Manager
Participatory Budgeting Project
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Emad Rahim
Surge Entrepreneurship Manager
CenterState CEO
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Jade Arn
Director of Engagement
Brookings Institution
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Reuben Teague
Executive Director, Sustainable Investing
PGIM Real Estate
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Jonathan Morgan
Professor of Public Administration
UNC School of Government
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Mordecai Cargill
Co-Founder + Chief Creative Officer
ThirdSpace Action Lab
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Magalie Yacinthe
Senior Director of Programs
Forward Cities
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Christopher Pike
Executive Director
Jackson Redevelopment Authority (JRA)
The Cityscapes Experience
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Pre-conference
Once you’re registered, Cityscapes resources help you get prepared, get connected, and get excited for New Orleans.
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Explore the full range of topics and begin building your personalized agenda
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Sign up early for limited-capacity sessions like workshops, tours, and roundtables
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Book your discounted hotel accommodations through our official hotel block
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Access travel tips, venue details, and tools to help you plan your experience
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During the Conference
Cityscapes brings together bold ideas, practical solutions, and a powerful community of leaders shaping the future of Small and Midsized Cities.
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Attend inspiring keynotes, interactive sessions, and hands-on workshops
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Experience immersive elements like our local-business Makers Market and the Grounding Station for rest and recharge
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Enjoy an evening celebration designed to connect attendees in a fun, relaxed setting
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Network with practitioners, funders, partners, and peers from across the country
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Post-conference
Continue the momentum long after the Summit ends and put your learning into action.
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Access session materials, slides, and additional resources shared by presenters
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Bring insights back to your team and apply new ideas to ongoing projects
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Stay connected with peers you met in New Orleans
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Explore partnership, funding, and learning opportunities through NGIN’s Community of Practice
We’re Headed to the Big Easy in 2026.
We’re bringing Cityscapes Summit 2026 to New Orleans, a place defined by culture, community, and reinvention. Hosted at the Hyatt Regency New Orleans, the Summit will offer an immersive experience right in the heart of the city. From neighborhood tours and site visits to grounding spaces and a makers market, participants will feel the energy and creativity that make New Orleans so unique. It’s a powerful setting for conversations about the future of local prosperity.
Our Headline Sponsor
The Cityscapes Summit is made possible through the generous support of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, our headline sponsor and a key funder of NGIN’s Small & Midsized Cities Hub. Their commitment to healthy, thriving communities helps make this gathering possible. We also proudly welcome additional partners. Past supporters include The Kresge Foundation, MassDevelopment, and other organizations dedicated to economic growth. Contact us at innovate@newgrowth.org to explore sponsorship opportunities.
