Recently, Coral Springs, Fla., became one of 24 cities selected for the Cities Forward Program. It was chosen out of 129 applications from across the United States, Latin America and the Caribbean. Of the cities selected to participate, 12 came from the U.S.: The other 12 came from Latin America and the Caribbean.

What is the Cities Forward Program, exactly? According to coralsprings.gov, “Through the program, cities in the U.S. are paired with another city in Latin America or the Caribbean, to share local expertise and global perspectives. Coral Springs, the site adds, “has been paired with Freeport, Bahamas, and we plan to work closely with their sustainability representatives to share ideas and projects that will, collectively, strengthen sustainability efforts.” It was selected to participate based on its commitment to urban sustainability, resilience and inclusion.

Cities Forward is the U.S. Department of State’s flagship urban sustainability initiative, led by ICLEI USA – formerly International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives – with support from Resilient Cities Catalyst and Institute of the Americas. Coral Springs Sustainability Manager Dr. Andrea Lemaitre explained that the goal of the Cities Forward initiative is to help participating cities implement solutions that advance investments in urban services that promote sustainability, inclusivity and resilience in neighborhoods and communities. “Through Cities Forward, local leaders will build capacity through shared knowledge to address common challenges.”

Coral Springs applied to Cities Forward with the hope of engaging in international collaboration and dialogue because the city is committed to sustainability.

“It is embedded within the city’s strategic goals and mission. In 2021, the Office of Sustainability and sustainability manager positions were created within the greater Department of Budget and Sustainability. Often, cities, such as Coral Springs, are not perceived to be at the frontlines of climate change – in comparison to neighboring coastal communities. However, the city is located only 10 miles west of the southeast Florida coastline and directly borders the Florida Everglades, so it is imperative that cities such as Coral Springs are recognized for and lead in sustainability and resiliency to create proactive, healthy and prosperous communities as opposed to reactive and vulnerable communities.”

As sustainability manager, Lamaitre said she knew Cities Forward was a wonderful opportunity to share her city’s experiences on a global scale and bring innovative practices back to local residents and city operations.

Cities Forward is a three-year program. During years one and two, U.S. cities will engage in peer-to-peer knowledge exchange and thematic workshops with subject-matter experts. From June 2025 to February 2026, Coral Springs will participate in the Cities Forward Academy and share experiences with academy participants. At least 50 additional cities will be selected to participate in the Cities Forward Academy.

“The Sustainability Action Plan (SAP) is a city-wide strategy to be implemented by local government, community partners, and residents,” Lemaitre shared on the Coral Springs’ website. “The first SAP was adopted in 2022 and outlines the focus areas, goals, and objectives of the Office of Sustainability. The overarching goals of the SAP are to: (1) reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and (2) ensure the financial, operational, and environmental sustainability of City programs, projects, and policies.”

The four primary focus areas of the Sustainability Action Plan are energy and innovation; building green; resource management and conservation; and economic and community vitality.

While Lemaitre is deeply involved in the here and now, she is also able to look down the road.

“Coral Springs is paired with Freeport, Bahamas. We look forward to collaborating throughout the program to enhance the well-being of our communities and advance our respective climate and sustainability plans through knowledge exchange.

“One of the primary points of discussion is severe weather and hurricane preparation, which impacts both cities. We are also grateful to engage with the host institutions and other participating cities. This group of leaders represents a diverse wealth of knowledge from across the United States, Latin America and the Caribbean.”

Lemaitre’s background as a scientist is in urban development and governance, water insecurity and environmental health is suited to the opportunity that lies before Coral Springs.

“My experiences have shown me the importance of both highlighting and bridging municipal governance with national and international governance and policies. By bringing diplomacy to the municipal level, Cities Forward provides a unique opportunity to situate local needs within a global context – which is necessary for true success in sustainability and resiliency,” she said.

 “The capacity-building resources and partnership opportunities provided by ICLEI, the Institute of the Americas, U.S. Department of State and Resilient Cities Catalyst will help the city of Coral Springs maximize the potential of its Sustainability Action Plan.”

Asked where other cities might begin such a project, Lemaitre explained, “Sustainability and resilience are collaborative, strategic endeavors. By creating an Office of Sustainability and subsequent Sustainability Action Plan, Coral Springs enhanced its long-standing commitments and was able to implement clear objectives and goals.

“In addition to a clear strategy and dedicated staff, the success of sustainability relies on collaboration. In Coral Springs, the sustainability manager partners with all departments internally and residents and stakeholders externally.”

Lemaitre added, “U.S. participants in Cities Forward build capacity through knowledge exchange, diplomacy and technical expertise via conferences and thematic workshops led by participants and subject matter experts. There are no financial or physical resources or sponsorship expectations or commitment of U.S. cities for participating in Cities Forward.”

For further information on Coral Springs’ engagement with Cities Forward, visit www.coralsprings.gov/sustainability. For more information on the international initiative visit https://icleiusa.org/cities-forward/.

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