Former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton participates in a roundtable discussion on expanding opportunities in America’s urban areas Monday at the Center for American Progress. (Melina Mara/The Washington Post)

Hillary Rodham Clinton warned Monday that tough policy problems don’t get fixed from inside “ideological bunkers” but made no direct attack on the large and noisy field of Republican candidates vying to oppose her.

As the soon-to-be-official Democratic presidential candidate spoke at a liberal forum on urban problems, tea party favorite Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Tex.) was announcing his presidential bid.

Clinton is expected to announce her own presidential campaign next month but kept coy about her plans Monday.

Policymakers need to “look at what works and get out of the very unproductive discussions that we’ve had for too long where people are just in their ideological bunkers having arguments instead of trying to reach across those divides and come up with some solutions,” Clinton said at the forum, which was organized by the liberal Center for American Progress and the American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees.

The reference seemed at least partly aimed at Clinton’s differences with many in the progressive-leaning crowd over issues such as free-trade agreements, which labor groups generally view with skepticism.

But that’s as far as the disagreement went, at least in public. Instead, Clinton dove happily into the weeds of urban revitalization, job creation and social mobility — making what may be some of her last policy-related remarks before she enters the 2016 presidential race.

“We know a lot about social mobility,” Clinton said during the discussion. “One of the biggest issues we face is income inequality combined with wage stagnation. They really go hand in hand. We don’t have enough good jobs, we don’t have people being placed into those jobs. We don’t have enough social mobility.”

In between the buzzwords were planks of Clinton’s forthcoming economic platform, which will focus on expanding middle-class opportunity in “a way that lifts everybody up,” as she said Monday.

Clinton seemed to take extra care to stress her ability to work across party lines, even as she came back repeatedly to the issue of income inequality that is a touchstone for her own party’s left flank.

She closed with a playful suggestion that she might have reason in the future to enlist Compton, Calif., Mayor Aja Brown, an event participant, for ideas on dealing with urban gangs.

“Don’t be surprised if you get a call,” Clinton said as the crowd began to laugh knowingly. “Maybe we’ll start not too far from here,” Clinton said, as the laughter grew.

The White House is about three blocks from where she spoke. But Clinton kept going, appearing to turn the reference toward the Capitol, home of the Republican-led Congress.

“In a beautiful domed building, get everybody in the same room,” Clinton said. “Start that conversation that can lead to that collaboration and better results for our cities and our country.”

Clinton later met with President Obama for about an hour, the White House said Monday. As with at least one earlier such meeting, the White House did not disclose the topics.

At an evening speech named for the late New York Times political correspondent Robin Toner, Clinton gave a spirited defense of the Affordable Care Act. She also joked about her reputation for secrecy and distrust of reporters, and the recent controversy over her use of a private e-mail server and address while serving as secretary of state.

“I am all about new beginnings,” Clinton said.

The fresh starts, she said, include “a new e-mail account,” and “a new relationship with the press.”