Lee Chilcote : Features

In our hyperconnected, digital age, people hunger for real stories. In D.C. and across the country, storytelling nights are growing thanks to the popularity of The Moth, This American Life and other programs that elevate life into art.

Low-income workers often lack the basic skills needed to find a good job. To bridge the gap, experts says it's essential to invest in training. Yet despite millions of people out of work, programs are hard to find.

Artists are often the first to move into urban neighborhoods, and also the first to move when rents escalate. Here's how cities are working with artists to transform blight and reimagine neighborhoods.

Issue Media Group publications across the country cover "what's next" for urban centers. In this recurring feature, we highlight the top stories in urban innovation from all across our national network.

For today's top talent, the job market is only one thing to consider when choosing where to live. They also want a vibrant city, a creative place where they can network with other smart people, and a dynamic place where they can find their next job.

In Cleveland, next-generation housing includes one of the greenest homes in Ohio and a house with a basement rock-climbing gym. In Pittsburgh, indie filmhouses are making a comeback. Read about the smartest things happening in cities around the country in this roundup.

Issue Media Group publications such as Yonge Street in Toronto, High Ground in Memphis and Model D in Detroit cover "what's next" for urban centers. In this recurring feature, we highlight the top stories in urban innovation from all across our national network.

Elevation DC is one of 22 publications run by Issue Media Group, a new media company based in Detroit. Our sister sites such as Model D in Detroit, Confluence in Denver, and Pop City in Pittsburgh have also been covering the latest in urban innovation and development.

Trash to treasure? Absolutely, and now the maxim practiced by artists and crafters everywhere is even creating green-collar jobs.

As cities continue to become more bike-friendly, new bike-based businesses are springing up to support the movement. These bike-centric businesses are both banking on and promoting a growing interest in riding, and in the process they are boosting their cities' economies.