Bloomberg Center for Public Innovation at Johns Hopkins University

Serving Residents with Creativity, Empathy, and Ambition

Lessons from the 2025 Public Innovators Network Summit.

Turning Resident Insight Into Action: Savannah's Sponge Block Prototype

By treating lived experience as essential data, Savannah is building block-level flood resilience.

Innovative Approaches to Foster Connection in Public Space

There is untapped power in public spaces to foster social connections.

Welcome to the

Bloomberg Center for Public Innovation

The Bloomberg Center for Public Innovation at Johns Hopkins University drives innovation in local government by marrying cutting-edge practice with world-class research. Together with public servants and government innovators around the world, we are transforming the culture in municipal management, delivering exceptional results for residents, and deepening trust in public service worldwide.

News & Updates

Park goers sit on a lawn between trees at Luxembourg Garden in Paris.

Innovative Approaches to Foster Connection in Public Space

Jun 23, 2026

There is untapped power in public spaces to foster social connections. As our neighborhoods and schools—the places where we normally make social connections—are becoming ever more income-segregated, cities all over the world are pursuing practical ways to spark connections using parks, markets, and other civic spaces that bring visitors from all walks of life together.

A group engaged in planning: one examining a map on a table, another pointing at a wall map with sticky notes, someone writing at a table, two outside discussing and holding a map, and another overseeing with security in the background.

Turning Resident Insight into Action: Savannah’s Sponge Block Prototype

Jun 22, 2026

Savannah’s i-team is co-creating flood solutions with residents using hyper-local knowledge that national data models miss.

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“City leaders have made important gains over the past decade in building more creative organizations. The Center will fuel further progress and help policymakers think outside the box, test new ideas, and respond to emerging needs.”

Michael R. Bloomberg

108th Mayor of NYC and founder of Bloomberg Philanthropies