Founded in 2004, today MIU includes over 500 members from a range of professions including, urban planners, architects, academics, economists, environmental activists, public sector workers and citizens who wish to improve the quality of the urban environment in Israel. We believe that the quality of urban life in Israel can be transformed by applying people-oriented planning that prevents deterioration and atrophy of cities; sustainable local development that enhances opportunities; and democratic urban planning processes. To date, MIU has organized several conferences, workshops and programs including our flagship Israeli Mayors’ Institute on City Renewal. MIU has also hosted International Conferences in Urban Planning and MIU’s Labs for Urban Empowerment are helping to develop the tools for the transformation of aging urban residential neighborhoods into places characterized by high quality of life and renewed development. Since its founding, MIU has reached hundreds of participants through these and other initiatives, helping to educate and empower local decision makers and community members to enact sustainable urban policies that will foster economic development and improve urban quality of life.