What Works Cities

Since 2017, we have supported hundreds of local leaders as they strengthen the data practices that underpin every good decision, effective program and smooth service delivered by city hall.

In our new video, hear from city leaders and @RVHaynes about how What Works Cities is powering the growing movement of data-driven local government.

Thank you for being a part of the What Works Cities Network,
• @CityofGreenBay @MayorGenrich
• @FTLCityNews Mayor @DeanTrantalis
• @Tempegov Mayor @coreywoodstempe
• @GlendaleAZ Assistant City Manager Vicki Rios
• @CityPortStLucie Deputy City Manager and Chief Innovation Officer Kate Parmelee
• @CityofMiami Chief Data Officer Cheriene Floyd
• @ottawacity Program Manager, Geospatial Analytics, Technology & Solutions Randal Rodger

At What Works Cities, we help your city better understand and grow its data practices — all for free.

In November, we’re hosting four webinars for city staff interested in What Works Cities or working toward Certification.

🌐 Offered in English, Spanish and Portuguese

👇

What does it look like when cities turn data into action to protect their residents?

In @Muni_Maipu, data is helping local leaders respond more effectively to climate-related emergencies.

During a major rainfall event earlier this year, the city leveraged its territorial data system and virtual assistant to collect more than 2,000 geolocated resident reports, helping teams identify affected areas, prioritize needs and accelerate assistance.

At @SmartCityexpo in Barcelona, @RVHaynes, Senior Vice President and Managing Director of Bloomberg Philanthropies What Works Cities, joined Mayor @TomasVodanovic of Silver-Certified Maipú to discuss how stronger data practices are helping cities anticipate risks, improve emergency response and build resilience.

Maipú's experience demonstrates how data-informed decision-making can help local governments take timely action and deliver better outcomes for residents.

Watch a highlight from their conversation below.

#SCEWC2026

The @SmartCityexpo is more than a gathering of global city leaders. It is an opportunity to strengthen partnerships and turn shared commitments into meaningful action.

During the event, @RVHaynes, Senior Vice President and Managing Director of Bloomberg Philanthropies What Works Cities, met with @Orrego, Governor of the Santiago Metropolitan Region, Chile, to reaffirm their shared commitment to strengthening data-driven governance across the region.

Through the CONECTA Program, a cohort of Chilean municipalities will embark on a journey to strengthen their data capabilities, beginning with the WWC Data Snapshot and advancing their practices in alignment with the What Works Cities International Standard of Excellence.

This partnership reflects the mission at the heart of Bloomberg Philanthropies What Works Cities: helping local governments build the capacity to use data effectively, make better decisions and ultimately improve residents' lives.

"Cities in our network are driving progress and addressing challenges with strong fiscal health outcomes by stepping into leadership and continuously learning to drive impact," said @RVHaynes today at @SmartCityexpo.

What Works Cities' SVP and Managing Director delivered a keynote on what we've learned after a decade of working with hundreds of cities. Her remarks underlined the power of data-driven local government to make stronger communities and the value of cities learning together.

Tomorrow, Rochelle will highlight the experience of one of these cities. Join us for a conversation with Mayor @TomasVodanovic on how @Muni_Maipu developed the data practices to better respond to risks and crises.