The American identity is at a tipping point, moving from what some have called an excess of go-it-alone toward an optimistic culture of do-it-together. This shift is being driven by a new class of urban activists who see a different future for America's cities, powered by imagination, collective action and technology -- people who are unwilling to wait for permission to get things done. With their zeal for change and their ability to bring people together to make important things happen, they are at the forefront of defining how people will live life in cities in the first half of this century.

CEOs for Cities and the San Francisco Planning + Urban Research Association (SPUR) are convening a select group of these innovators and community change agents September 20-21 in San Francisco. Our hope is to learn from their work -- the good, the bad and the different. Then we'll use our national network of civic CEOs to spread and scale what they teach us. A draft agenda is available at http://www.ceosforcities.org/events.

If this sounds like a gathering that won't be complete without you, we invite you to apply to attend. The Urban Next Summit is free to those with important experience to share and ideas to contribute. Applications are due by Friday, August 13. You will be notified you if you have been selected to attend by Friday, August 20.

Questions about participating? Contact Natalie Campbell at 312.553.5157.