Deputy City Administrator Aaron Parrish and Community Development Director Cindy Steinhauser recently joined a limited cohort of senior city hall leaders from around the world for the third annual Bloomberg Harvard City Leadership Initiative. Rochester Mayor Kim Norton attended the mayoral session in July 2019, after being selected as a part of the 2019-2020 class.

Bloomberg City Leadership Initiative organizers seek to convey important insight and share valuable lessons learned with attendees through the evaluation of case studies and the exploration of the complex challenges that face cities, counties, and regions today. They also introduce frameworks by which leaders can navigate these challenge in practice.

“With over 41 jurisdictions involved, we have had the opportunity to connect with more than 80 individuals from across the country and globe,” said Deputy Administrator Parrish. “As with this session and others to come, we will bring key insights and learnings back to the full City team.”

The learning process, however, is just beginning as Parrish and Steinhauser will continue to partake in a yearlong program where they will receive guidance from experts in one of three tracks – data, innovation, or collaboration. Together, city leaders will look for ways to transfer their newfound knowledge into organizational changes that will improve the quality of life for everyone in Rochester.

“The opportunity to be involved in this program is incredibly valuable,” shared Steinhauser. “It is a learning opportunity for us as leaders, and it also provides Rochester with useful resources and tools which can be used to improve our services for the community.”

Participation in the Bloomberg Harvard City Leadership Initiative – including tuition, accommodation, meals, and airfare – is fully funded by Bloomberg Philanthropies. 

Mayor Norton noted what an honor it is to be chosen for the program. “Coming together to share both the challenges and successes we experience as city leaders and learning from the experts brought in by Bloomberg is an invaluable opportunity,” she said. “I’m looking forward to exploring additional ways to implement the things we’ve learned in the coming year.”

The Bloomberg Harvard City Leadership Initiative is a collaboration among Bloomberg Philanthropies, Harvard Business School, and Harvard Kennedy School. Its mission is to inspire and strengthen city leaders as well as equip them with the tools to lead high-performing, innovative cities.