One month after the Ninth Summit of the Americas, countries are now tasked with turning their focus to implementing discussed goals and priorities. One innovative deliverable: empowering locally-driven diplomacy for a Cities Summit in April 2023. How can governors and mayors translate Summit priorities into tangible solutions for their communities? How can local leaders who represent diverse constituencies build coalitions around shared priorities, and how can greater collaboration at the local level foster greater US engagement across the hemisphere?

North and South America share the highest urbanization rates globally, with 82 and 79 percent of their respective populations living in cities. The Biden administration’s new initiative taps into the growing power of urban communities across the Western Hemisphere. As part of an ongoing partnership with the US Department of State and in collaboration with the Truman Center for National Policy and Inter-American Dialogue, the Adrienne Arsht Latin America Center is convening subnational leaders and key stakeholders for a high-level dialogue on tangible next steps for empowering local diplomacy in the next phase of the United States’ chairmanship of the Summit of the Americas.

Join us in a virtual public event, “Going Local: City Collaboration Following the Summit of the Americas” on Wednesday, July 13 from 2:00 – 3:00 p.m. (ET). Speakers will share ideas for supporting local mayors and increasing subnational bonds in advance of next year’s Summit.

Learn more about our Road to the Summit campaign here.

Keynote conversation

Brian Nichols
Assistant Secretary of State, Western Hemisphere Affairs
U.S. Department of State

Jason Marczak
Senior Director, Adrienne Arsht Latin America Center
Atlantic Council

Speakers

Michael Hancock
Mayor
Denver, CO

Senator Councillor Delroy Williams
Mayor
Kingston, Jamaica

Nina Hachigian
Deputy Mayor of International Affairs
Los Angeles, CA

Joseph Losavio
Manager, Ecosystem Engagement, Global Cities
Mastercard

Moderators

Rebecca Bill Chavez
President and CEO
Inter-American Dialogue

Mary Ann Walker
Senior Advisor for the Summit of the Americas
Adrienne Arsht Latin America Center
Atlantic Council

New Atlanticist

Jul 6, 2022

Mayors are quickly becoming international diplomats. The US can help them thrive.

By Willow Fortunoff

Mayors will have the opportunity to revitalize US foreign policy at next year’s Cities Summit of the Americas—but they’ll need national support to shore up their teams and capacity.

Americas Economy & Business

Summit of the Americas

Amid global uncertainties and new challenges, the ninth Summit of the Americas is a renewed opportunity to bring about hemispheric cooperation and consensus to reach regional prosperity and security.

The Adrienne Arsht Latin America Center broadens understanding of regional transformations and delivers constructive, results-oriented solutions to inform how the public and private sectors can advance hemispheric prosperity.