Just last week, Bloomberg Philanthropies announced the launch of the new Bloomberg Center for Public Innovation at Johns Hopkins University. Created by a $43 million investment, the Center will help cities deliver better results for residents and advance the field of public-sector innovation. Already, the Center has launched a call for applications for Innovation Training and launched Love Your Block grant program support in eight cities in the U.S.

Amanda Daflos, the Executive Director of the new Center, has dedicated her career to innovation in the public sector, serving as the Chief Innovation Officer for Los Angeles and directing the Los Angeles Innovation Team.

She shares some of her thoughts on the future of public-sector innovation and why it’s important to support local leaders who drive it—often behind the scenes on the Bloomberg Cities Network