Mayor Dwight C. Jones spoke of “a tale of two cities” in his State of the City address.

“Right now, one part of town is vibrant, prosperous and forward-looking,” he told an attentive audience of about 300 people Jan. 29 in the auditorium at Huguenot High School on South Side. “And then when you cross the Martin Luther King Bridge, you find another Richmond — one that has largely been ignored, overlooked and shunned.

“The old Richmond allowed a generation of Richmonders to believe that they don’t have a chance to succeed,” he added. “Leaders made a decision to create public housing projects and push thousands of poor people into them.”

The mayor spoke of a “resurgent” city early and often in his 22-minute speech that was greeted with applause about a dozen times.

However, he bluntly told the audience of city officials, politicos, community advocates and ordinary citizens, “We’ll reach our full potential only when we move beyond the tale of two cities.”

He cited some of his administration’s poverty-fighting efforts.

Among those:

• Opening the new Office of Community Wealth Building last June to spearhead the city’s anti-poverty initiatives.

• Building new schools such as the $63 million Huguenot High School, the first new high school in the city since 1968.

• Reducing concentrated pockets of poverty in the East End by transforming public housing communities into mixed-income neighborhoods.

• Attracting new businesses, such as Stone Brewing Company in the Fulton neighborhood, to expand the city’s tax base and provide jobs.

• Increasing workforce training.

•  Landing a $25 million federal grant for bus rapid transit along Broad Street from Rocketts Landing in the East End to Willow Lawn so people can get to jobs.

• Opening the new Richmond Justice Center in Shockoe Valley and the Day Reporting Center in Downtown to provide more opportunities for offenders to gain rehabilitative services and decrease their prospects of returning to jail.

“It’s new for all of us,” Mayor Jones said. “It’s never happened in my lifetime or yours. But I know this: If we unite together and look forward, and invite our neighbors to join us, then we’ll continue to shape the city and the region we all want to call home.”

The mayor kicked off his address touting the Richmond 2015 UCI Road World Championships scheduled for Sept. 19 through 27. It is expected to draw tens of thousands of people to Richmond and a huge worldwide television audience.

Christopher Jones, a graduate student at Virginia Commonwealth University and USA Cycling Collegiate Road Nationals time trial winner last May in Richmond, told the audience it was a great opportunity for the city to showcase itself to the world.

“This year, as we prepare for 300 million people to watch us on television, the City Council, the School Board and I aim to shape the solution together,” the mayor said, echoing the theme new City Council President Michelle R. Mosby, 9th District, made in her acceptance speech Jan. 5.

“I know we all share a commitment not only to cooperation, but to action. And while I can’t speak for them, I can say that my goal is not to win unanimous votes, but to get things done and move this city forward quickly.”

The mayor skirted around what, if any, plans he has to reintroduce his pet project — building a new minor league baseball stadium in Shockoe Bottom for the Richmond Flying Squirrels.

“I won’t have an update until the time is right,” he said.

The leaders of the city’s two governing bodies endorsed the mayor’s call to unified action.

Ms. Mosby said afterward, “Working together is how this city is going to continue to move forward. When we get on one accord, the city will move like it should move.

“I like the idea that all four corners of the city will be getting attention. I think that’s an awesome thing.”

Other council members who attended the address were Cynthia I. Newbille, 7th District; Parker C. Agelasto, 5th District; Christopher A. Hilbert, 3rd District; Jonathan B. Baliles, 1st District; and Kathy C. Graziano, 4th District.

School Board Chairman Donald L. Coleman, 7th District, sounded a similar note.

“I was very encouraged,” he said. “The mayor made it very clear that it takes partners and collaboration. I’m convinced when the School Board, City Council and the mayor’s administration really come together, great things can happen. We all want this city to succeed, and I think we’re moving in the right direction.”

He was joined at the speech by fellow board members Jeffrey M. Bourne, 3rd District; Derik Jones, 8th District; Vice Chairwoman Kristen Larson, 4th District; and Mamie Taylor, 5th District.

Other officials attending the State of the City address included outgoing Police Chief Ray Tarasovic, Sheriff C.T. Woody Jr. and Virginia Union University President Claude G. Perkins.

About 20 uniformed police officers and fire fighters attended as well.