Amid increasing gridlock at the national level across much of the Western Hemisphere, due in many cases to political polarization, policies generated at the local level are more important than ever. Communities are turning to their mayors and other subnational leaders for critical action in response to today’s most pressing issues. In response to this, the Inter-American Dialogue launched its Cities Initiative—a crosscutting project that draws on the expertise of the Dialogue’s core programs, including education, migration, the rule of law, climate, and our analysis of Asia’s engagement with the region to explore local responses to national and transnational challenges. The program recognizes the critical impact local policy has on daily lives, as well as the important role that subnational innovations can play as a catalyst for national policy change.