Giving Compass' Take:

• A report called "Behavior Change Tactics for Urban Challenges" outlines three ways to encourage behavioral changes in cities: Build effective relationships, use parallel strategies, and communicate with target audiences. 

• How can local philanthropists help address urban challenges? 

• Read how solving global issues could start with fixing cities. 

If city leaders are to create change in their communities, they need to build effective relationships, have parallel strategies and engage their target audiences, according to a new report released Wednesday at the Meeting of the Minds Annual Summit.

The report, "Behavior Change Tactics for Urban Challenges," offers transferable lessons for cities through a series of local-level case studies, and strategies to translate those into broader initiatives.

If they are successful, the authors wrote, cities can be better change agents for residents and bring about the kinds of systemic shifts that will help them adapt with unprecedented challenges.

Smart Cities Dive broke down the three main takeaways from the report.

  1. Relationships are key Taking inspiration from public health professionals and their efforts to address the opioid crisis, the report authors said building relationships and bringing people together for a common goal are key to effecting change.
  2. Many parallel strategies are needed at once There is no one silver bullet for city leaders looking to encourage major behavioral changes among their residents or staff, the report authors said. Instead, leaders must tailor their approaches to different people and recognize that everyone learns in their own way.
  3. Communication with target audiences is crucial The report’s authors argue there is "much to be learned" from the communications and public relations (PR) teams at private corporations, and that those teams' efforts to understand and engage target audiences can be replicated.

Read the full article about creating behavioral changes in cities by Chris Teal at Smart Cities Dive.