American Farmland Trust (AFT), the nation’s premier agricultural land conservation organization, and The U.S. Conference of Mayors (USCM), the official organization representing the interests of the largest cities in the United States, have joined together to address the problems – urban, rural and suburban – associated with sprawl. Their mutual goal is to promote growth and development that uses land and existing infrastructure more efficiently; that relies more on public transportation and less on the auto; that conserves farmland and strengthens agriculture; and that results in communities that are safe, diverse, pleasant places to live and work. Toward that end, AFT and USCM co-sponsored a series of forums to bring together urban and rural leaders – many for the first time – to discuss land use issues facing their communities. These discussions focused on how “smarter growth” could help improve and maintain the quality of life of the people living in their communities.