RFQ Seeking 2025-2026 MICD Special Session Hosts

Note: The application deadline has been extended to Friday, January 24, 2025, 4:00 p.m. Eastern.

We are pleased to announce an opportunity for universities and 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations to serve as partners to host and organize 2025-2026 Special Sessions of the Mayors’ Institute on City Design. Several Institute Sessions are hosted around the country throughout the year; National Sessions are planned and hosted by MICD staff in various cities around the country, while Special Sessions (previously called Regional Sessions) are hosted by universities or nonprofits selected through a competitive RFQ process. Up to four eligible applicants will be selected to host Special Sessions in 2025-2026.

“The opportunity to gather mayors and design professionals around complex topics is exhilarating. We had so many magic moments where transformative discussions took place in an environment unlike most due to the care and unique structure of the session. Hosting a Regional Session is a big commitment, but it is incredibly meaningful, inspiring, rewarding and a real honor.”
Julie Aberg Robison | Assistant Director, Institute for Design Research and Outreach,Iowa State University College of Design

The MICD model convenes seven mayors and a team of seven interdisciplinary design professionals at a 2.5-day workshop to share ideas and find solutions to the most pressing design and development challenges in each mayor’s city. Since 1986, over 1,200 mayors from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and Guam have participated in MICD.

Review the 2025-2026 MICD Special Sessions RFQ here.

Funding: Up to $50,000 in funding will be awarded by MICD to each partner for reimbursement of approved direct expenses of the session.

Eligible applicants: Universities with accredited programs in Architecture, Landscape Architecture, and/or Urban Planning as well as nonprofit design organizations are invited to apply. Hosts will be selected through a competitive process.

Before submitting an application, interested applicants should:

review the 2025-2026 MICD Special Sessions RFQ;
attend or view the recording of the informational webinar for applicants (see below); and
contact MICD Executive Director Trinity Simons Wagner (trinity@micd.org) with any additional questions.

Application deadline: Extended to Friday, January 24, 2025, 4:00 p.m. Eastern

Informational webinar: Recorded October 30, 2024, MICD staff hosted an informational webinar for universities and nonprofits interested in the 2025-2026 Special Sessions RFQ. All potential applicants are encouraged to view the webinar recording before submitting their response to the RFQ. Click here to watch the webinar.

Submission: Please submit all application materials as a single PDF document to trinity@micd.org.

Published

October 15, 2024

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