Mayor Freddie O'Connell announced today the hiring of Robert L. James Jr. to lead Nashville's Innovation Team (i-team) for the Bloomberg American Sustainable Cities initiative. Bloomberg Philanthropies selected Nashville as one of 25 cities to join the first-of-its-kind initiative earlier this year to help turbocharge the development and implementation of new efforts to reduce emissions, expand economic opportunity, and improve people's lives.
"To do this work meaningfully, we need great partners," said Mayor O'Connell. "I'm excited to welcome Robert L. James Jr. as the Innovation Team Director to lead Nashville's participation in Bloomberg American Sustainable Cities. Our aim in this work is to build transformative programs that build relationships in historically disadvantaged communities and empower them for jobs and business ownership in the clean energy sector. James' hiring will significantly increase our capacity to make progress in these areas—and I'm thrilled to welcome him to the city."
James will oversee a dedicated team with expertise in data analysis, insight development, human-centered design, systems thinking, and project management. The i-team will gather ideas and input across city departments and sectors, partner with community-based organizations and residents, and support the design and implementation of climate-related projects to benefit Nashville's communities, particularly in disinvested areas overburdened by pollution. Joining a fleet of innovation talent being established in 25 cities across the country, the i-team will also receive ongoing technical and policy assistance and expertise, hands-on training and development, and strategy-sharing sessions with peers.
Through Bloomberg American Sustainable Cities, Nashville will develop and implement a residential clean energy initiative that trains and upskills Nashville's Black communities for jobs and business ownership in the clean energy workforce. The i-team will help Nashville engage communities not to simply give input on projects but rather to have a stake in design processes—informing and partnering on the development of planning and implementation. The city anticipates deploying this workforce and these businesses to reduce the energy burden among renters and homeowners in the North Nashville, Bordeaux, and Southeast Nashville communities.
"I am tremendously excited to work with the Mayor's Office and direct the Nashville i-team's work as part of the Bloomberg American Sustainable Cities initiative," noted Director James. "The i-team will partner very closely with residents, community organizations, city government colleagues, and other community stakeholders to co-create and implement bold, innovative solutions that jointly drive progress on climate action and promote equitable outcomes, using an evidence-based and equity-centered process. With a fleet of 25 innovation teams, including ours in Nashville, advancing this work in cities across the country, the Bloomberg American Sustainable Cities initiative presents a powerful opportunity to lead with innovation in addressing the disproportionate impacts of climate change, improving conditions for historically disadvantaged communities, and communities of color in Nashville and around the country."
James is a graduate of Vanderbilt University Law School and Alabama A&M University. He was previously an Assistant Director in TennCare's strategic planning and innovation department. Before that, he worked in Meharry's Office of the General Counsel.
The Inflation Reduction Act and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law have made unprecedented levels of federal funding available for cities and towns to make essential improvements in their communities–particularly in confronting pollution, extreme weather, access to affordable clean energy, and other impacts of climate change. Building on Bloomberg Philanthropies' longstanding efforts to protect the environment and focus on cities to drive progress, Bloomberg American Sustainable Cities represents its ongoing commitment to investing in local government capacity to meet pressing opportunities and challenges and improve resident lives.
James' first day with Metro Nashville was Monday, September 9.