Acknowledging and embracing the complexity of implementing sustainability policies: each region's unique configuration of interested actors and institutions needs to be "at the table."
Deploying higher-level grants and mandates to transcend organizational "silos": when this happens, groups with different missions and goals can come together for grassroots collaboration.
Using higher-level policy solutions to break gridlock: for example, enforcing federal rules on fair housing can increase inclusion in residential neighborhoods.
Planning for everyone: livable cities are expensive cities, but diverse neighborhoods, family-supporting jobs, affordable transportation and resilient infrastructure that serves all residents can prevent exclusion.
Embedding equity in planning and decision-making over the long term: sustainability programs need to ensure that regional processes make equity a key concern and give advocates tools and access to influence decision-making.
Getting all actors to the table for meaningful participation: regions with smaller disparities in income are likelier to create structures for inclusion ("building a table"), which leads more readily to shared understandings among diverse stakeholders, rather than offering a “seat at the table.”
