Re-Envisioning the City

 
                                                             A community gathering place in Portland, built by City Repair.

You can't imagine a more just, more sustainable planet, without also imagining a new kind of city. More than half of the world's population is urban, and cities often amplify many of the problems we face as a planet: inequality, violence, pollution, isolation. Luckily, people around the world are joining forces to re-imagine how we design and live in cities, and they've come up with a number of exciting proposals!

This summer, the Congress for New Urbanism and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are joining forces to organizing a conference exploring the connections between urban planning and health. "New Urbanism: Rx for Healthy Places" will engage in questions about how to design the places we live to increase exercise and decrease pollution and isolation.

Meanwhile, in Portland neighborhoods are taking matters into their own hands, reclaiming public spaces, and creating vibrant, livable neighborhoods one block at a time. The City Repair project responds to community requests to help neighborhood join together to build beautiful communal spaces, including piazzas, lending libraries, tea stands, pizza ovens, and community gardens.

Finally, Good Magazine's spring issue tackles the questions of cities and neighborhoods, looking at what makes a vibrant community, how to be a better neighbor, and how communities are harnessing technology to increasing sharing of goods and services.

You can read more about all of these initiatives by clicking the following links:

How Urban Planning Can Improve Public Health - Miller McCune

Building the World we Want: Interview with Mark Lakeman (City Repair) - Yes! Magazine

Good: Here Comes the Neighborhood - Good Magazine