#Creating inclusive and safe cities through Goal 11

[greenthestral]

Building Sustainable Cities and Communities: The Path to a Greener Future

In today's rapidly urbanizing world, the concept of sustainability has become more important than ever. Goal 11 of the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) focuses on creating sustainable cities and communities. With the global population projected to reach 9.8 billion by 2050, the need for sustainable urban planning and development is paramount. This article explores the significance of Goal 11 and highlights the key strategies and initiatives required to build greener, more resilient cities and communities.

Understanding Goal 11

Goal 11 of the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) has a comprehensive vision for cities and human settlements. It recognizes the importance of inclusivity, safety, resilience, and sustainability in urban areas. By addressing various aspects of urban development, Goal 11 aims to create thriving communities that prioritize the well-being of their residents and the environment.

One of the key objectives of Goal 11 is to ensure the availability of affordable housing. Access to adequate, safe, and affordable housing is a fundamental right for all individuals. However, in many urban areas, housing affordability has become a significant challenge, leading to homelessness and housing insecurity. Goal 11 emphasizes the need to implement policies and initiatives that promote affordable housing options. This can be achieved through social housing programs, rent control measures, and housing subsidies. By ensuring affordable housing, cities can address social inequality, provide stability to residents, and foster inclusive communities.

Sustainable transport systems are another crucial aspect of Goal 11. Transportation is a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution in cities. To create sustainable cities and communities, it is essential to prioritize low-carbon and efficient transportation options. This includes expanding public transportation networks, encouraging cycling and walking infrastructure, and promoting the use of electric vehicles. By shifting away from private vehicles and promoting sustainable modes of transportation, cities can reduce congestion, improve air quality, and enhance mobility for all residents.

Efficient waste management is also highlighted in Goal 11. As cities grow, waste generation increases, posing significant environmental challenges. Sustainable waste management practices are crucial to minimize the environmental impact of urban areas. Goal 11 encourages the adoption of integrated waste management systems that prioritize waste reduction, recycling, and resource recovery. This can be achieved through initiatives such as waste segregation, composting, and the establishment of recycling facilities. Effective waste management not only helps reduce environmental pollution but also promotes the concept of a circular economy, where resources are used efficiently and waste is minimized.

Access to green spaces is another essential element of sustainable cities and communities. Urban areas often face challenges related to limited green areas and a lack of connection with nature. Goal 11 recognizes the importance of green infrastructure, which includes parks, urban forests, green roofs, and other natural elements integrated into the built environment. These green spaces provide numerous benefits, including improved air quality, reduced heat island effect, enhanced biodiversity, and increased recreational opportunities. By incorporating green spaces into cities, residents can have access to nature, promoting physical and mental well-being.

Preserving cultural heritage is a crucial aspect of Goal 11. Cities and communities are rich in history, culture, and traditions that contribute to their identity and uniqueness. Goal 11 emphasizes the need to safeguard cultural heritage sites, historic buildings, and traditional practices. By preserving cultural heritage, cities can maintain a sense of identity, promote cultural diversity, and attract tourism and economic opportunities. This preservation contributes to the social fabric and vibrancy of cities, making them more sustainable and livable.

By implementing the objectives of Goal 11, societies can enhance the quality of life for residents, reduce environmental impacts, and promote economic growth. Sustainable cities and communities prioritize the well-being of their residents, ensure social equity, and protect the environment. They provide affordable housing options, efficient transport systems, proper waste management, access to green spaces, and preserve cultural heritage. Ultimately, the successful implementation of Goal 11 leads to inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable urban areas that benefit present and future generations.

Sustainable Urban Planning

Sustainable urban planning is a key factor in the successful achievement of Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities. It focuses on designing cities and communities that are not only visually appealing and functional but also prioritize environmental sustainability, resource efficiency, and the well-being of residents.

One of the primary principles of sustainable urban planning is the concept of compact cities. This approach encourages the development of cities that are designed to be dense and compact, rather than sprawling outward. Compact cities promote the efficient use of land, resources, and infrastructure. By concentrating development within a smaller footprint, compact cities minimize urban sprawl, preserve valuable agricultural land and natural habitats, and protect ecosystems. This approach also helps to reduce the need for long commutes, as essential services, amenities, and employment opportunities are located within close proximity to residential areas.

Well-connected cities are another crucial aspect of sustainable urban planning. The goal is to create cities and communities where different neighborhoods and areas are easily accessible to one another. This can be achieved through the design and implementation of a comprehensive transportation network that prioritizes public transportation over private vehicles. Robust public transportation systems, including buses, trains, and light rail, can reduce traffic congestion, lower carbon emissions, and enhance mobility for residents. Additionally, sustainable urban planning promotes the development of pedestrian-friendly infrastructure and encourages the use of bicycles, further reducing reliance on private vehicles and promoting active and healthy lifestyles.

Renewable energy plays a significant role in sustainable urban planning. The transition to clean and renewable energy sources is essential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and combat climate change. Sustainable cities and communities incorporate renewable energy technologies, such as solar panels and wind turbines, into their infrastructure. By integrating renewable energy sources, cities can reduce their dependence on fossil fuels for electricity generation, mitigate air pollution, and contribute to a greener and more sustainable energy future.

Sustainable urban planning also emphasizes mixed land-use development. This approach seeks to create neighborhoods and areas where residential, commercial, and recreational spaces coexist in close proximity. Mixed land-use development reduces the need for long-distance travel and promotes walkability. It allows residents to access essential services, educational institutions, employment opportunities, and recreational facilities without having to rely heavily on private vehicles. By integrating various land uses, sustainable urban planning fosters vibrant and diverse communities that promote social interaction and economic vitality.

Furthermore, sustainable urban planning takes into account the importance of green infrastructure. This involves incorporating green spaces, parks, and natural elements into the urban fabric. Green infrastructure provides numerous benefits, such as improved air quality, temperature regulation, stormwater management, and biodiversity conservation. Parks and green spaces offer recreational opportunities, enhance the aesthetic appeal of cities, and contribute to the overall well-being and quality of life of residents.

In conclusion, sustainable urban planning is crucial for achieving Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities. By designing cities and communities that are compact, well-connected, and resource-efficient, we can minimize urban sprawl, protect ecosystems, and reduce carbon emissions. Sustainable urban planning promotes mixed land-use development, prioritizes public transportation, and encourages the use of renewable energy sources. It also recognizes the importance of green infrastructure and the integration of natural elements into urban environments. By embracing sustainable urban planning principles, cities and communities can create a more sustainable, livable, and resilient future for all.

Green Infrastructure

Green infrastructure plays a vital role in creating sustainable cities and communities. It refers to the integration of natural elements, such as parks, green roofs, urban forests, green walls, and permeable surfaces, into the built environment. By incorporating these green spaces into cities and communities, numerous benefits are realized, positively impacting both the environment and the well-being of residents.

One significant advantage of green infrastructure is the improvement of air quality. Trees, plants, and vegetation help absorb pollutants such as carbon dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, and particulate matter from the air. Through the process of photosynthesis, plants release oxygen and filter harmful substances, leading to cleaner and healthier air. This reduction in air pollution contributes to the overall improvement of public health, as exposure to pollutants is linked to respiratory diseases and other health issues.

Another benefit of green infrastructure is the mitigation of the urban heat island effect. Urban areas tend to have higher temperatures than surrounding rural areas due to the concentration of buildings, roads, and concrete surfaces that absorb and retain heat. By incorporating green spaces, such as parks and urban forests, cities can create pockets of vegetation that provide shade and evaporative cooling, reducing ambient temperatures. This helps create a more comfortable and livable environment, particularly during hot summer months.

Green infrastructure also enhances biodiversity within urban areas. Traditional urban development often results in the destruction of natural habitats and fragmentation of ecosystems. By incorporating green spaces, cities can create corridors and habitats that support a variety of plant and animal species. These spaces provide shelter, food sources, and nesting areas, promoting biodiversity and ecological balance within the urban environment. By fostering biodiversity, cities can create resilient ecosystems that can adapt to environmental changes and provide ecosystem services.

In addition to the environmental benefits, green infrastructure also provides social and economic advantages. Access to green spaces has been shown to have a positive impact on mental health and well-being. People living in areas with green infrastructure have increased opportunities for outdoor activities, exercise, and relaxation, which can reduce stress, improve mood, and enhance overall quality of life. Green spaces also provide opportunities for social interaction and community engagement, fostering a sense of belonging and community cohesion.

Furthermore, incorporating green infrastructure into cities and communities contributes to economic prosperity. Green spaces attract tourism and visitors, generating revenue for local businesses. Properties located near green spaces often experience increased value, leading to economic benefits for property owners. Green infrastructure also has the potential to create job opportunities, particularly in the areas of park maintenance, landscaping, and urban forestry.

To fully realize the benefits of green infrastructure, strategic planning and implementation are essential. Cities and communities need to consider factors such as appropriate land allocation, connectivity of green spaces, and community engagement in the planning process. Collaboration between urban planners, architects, landscape designers, environmental experts, and community stakeholders is crucial to ensure the successful integration of green infrastructure into the urban fabric.

Green infrastructure plays a significant role in creating sustainable cities and communities. By integrating natural elements into the built environment, cities can reap a multitude of benefits. Improved air quality, reduced urban heat island effect, enhanced biodiversity, and increased recreational opportunities are among the advantages of green infrastructure. Moreover, it fosters a healthier and more livable environment, positively impacting the physical and mental well-being of residents. By prioritizing and investing in green infrastructure, cities can create sustainable, resilient, and vibrant urban spaces for present and future generations.

Affordable Housing

The lack of affordable housing is a significant challenge faced by many urban areas around the world. It is a complex issue that affects individuals and communities, impacting their overall well-being and quality of life. Goal 11 of the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals recognizes the importance of addressing this challenge and emphasizes the need to ensure access to adequate, safe, and affordable housing for all.

Affordable housing refers to housing options that are within the financial means of individuals and families, considering their income levels. It is a fundamental right that enables individuals to live in safe and decent conditions, fostering stability and security. However, in many cities, the cost of housing has escalated significantly, making it unaffordable for a significant portion of the population, particularly low-income households.

To address this issue, Goal 11 encourages the implementation of policies and initiatives that promote affordable housing options. One approach is through the establishment of social housing programs. Social housing involves the provision of housing units at below-market rates to individuals and families who are unable to afford market-rate housing. These programs are often administered by government agencies or non-profit organizations and aim to provide affordable and stable housing for those in need. Social housing plays a crucial role in addressing homelessness, reducing housing inequality, and promoting social stability.

Rent control measures are another policy tool used to promote affordable housing. Rent control laws set limits on the amount landlords can increase rents, providing stability for tenants and preventing excessive rent hikes. These measures aim to protect vulnerable populations from the risk of displacement due to rising housing costs. Rent control can help maintain affordable housing options in areas where market forces would otherwise drive up rents, allowing individuals and families to remain in their homes and communities.

In addition to social housing and rent control, the provision of housing subsidies is another strategy to promote affordable housing. Housing subsidies are financial assistance programs that help low-income individuals and families cover the cost of housing. These subsidies can come in the form of rental assistance, such as Section 8 vouchers in the United States, or direct financial assistance to support homeownership. Housing subsidies help bridge the gap between income levels and housing costs, making housing more affordable and accessible to those in need.

Promoting affordable housing not only addresses the immediate issue of homelessness and housing insecurity but also contributes to social stability and inclusive communities. Access to affordable housing allows individuals and families to establish roots, build community connections, and contribute to the local economy. It fosters a sense of stability and security, providing a foundation for individuals to pursue education, employment, and other opportunities that contribute to their overall well-being. Affordable housing also helps prevent the displacement of vulnerable populations, preserving the social fabric and diversity of communities.

However, addressing the lack of affordable housing requires a multi-faceted approach and collaboration between various stakeholders. Governments, policymakers, urban planners, and community organizations play a crucial role in implementing effective strategies and initiatives. It is essential to consider factors such as land use planning, zoning regulations, construction costs, and the availability of financing mechanisms to support affordable housing development.

Furthermore, affordable housing initiatives should prioritize sustainable and energy-efficient design and construction practices. This not only reduces the environmental impact of housing but also lowers ongoing utility costs for residents, making housing more affordable in the long run. The integration of affordable housing with transportation hubs, amenities, and employment opportunities is also important to ensure that residents have access to essential services and can minimize transportation costs.

The lack of affordable housing is a critical challenge in urban areas, impacting the well-being and quality of life of individuals and communities. Goal 11 recognizes the importance of ensuring access to adequate, safe, and affordable housing for all. Through the implementation of policies and initiatives such as social housing programs, rent control measures, and housing subsidies, affordable housing options can be promoted. Affordable housing contributes to social stability, inclusive communities, and provides individuals and families with a foundation for economic and personal development. Addressing the issue of affordable housing requires a comprehensive and collaborative approach, involving governments, policymakers, urban planners, and community organizations to create sustainable and inclusive cities and communities

Sustainable Transport Systems

Transportation plays a significant role in urban areas, connecting people to their workplaces, schools, healthcare facilities, and leisure activities. However, traditional transportation systems heavily rely on fossil fuels, resulting in substantial greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution. Goal 11 of the Sustainable Development Goals recognizes the need to develop sustainable transport systems that are accessible, affordable, and low-carbon, in order to create more sustainable cities and communities.

One of the key objectives of Goal 11 is to expand public transportation networks. Public transportation, such as buses, trams, and trains, offers an efficient and environmentally-friendly alternative to private vehicles. By investing in the expansion and improvement of public transportation infrastructure, cities can provide residents with reliable and affordable transportation options. This reduces the reliance on private cars, which contribute significantly to congestion, air pollution, and carbon emissions. Accessible and well-connected public transportation systems also promote social inclusivity by ensuring that individuals of all socioeconomic backgrounds have equal access to transportation services.

Promoting cycling and walking is another crucial aspect of sustainable transportation. Encouraging these modes of transportation not only reduces reliance on fossil fuels but also promotes active and healthy lifestyles. Cities can invest in infrastructure that supports safe and convenient cycling and walking, such as dedicated bike lanes, pedestrian-friendly sidewalks, and bike-sharing programs. These initiatives not only contribute to reduced traffic congestion and improved air quality but also enhance the overall well-being of residents by encouraging physical activity and reducing sedentary lifestyles.

Furthermore, Goal 11 promotes the use of electric vehicles (EVs) as a sustainable transportation option. Electric vehicles produce zero tailpipe emissions, reducing local air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. To support the adoption of EVs, cities can establish charging infrastructure, offer incentives for purchasing EVs, and promote public transportation systems that utilize electric buses and trains. The transition to electric vehicles also contributes to reducing dependence on fossil fuels and promoting the use of renewable energy sources in the transportation sector.

In addition to reducing emissions and air pollution, sustainable transportation systems offer several other benefits. By reducing congestion through the promotion of public transportation and active modes of transportation, cities can improve traffic flow and travel times. This enhances overall mobility and accessibility for all residents, including those who cannot afford private vehicles or have mobility restrictions. Sustainable transportation systems also contribute to improved road safety by reducing the number of vehicles on the road and promoting safer infrastructure for cyclists and pedestrians.

To effectively implement sustainable transportation systems, cities need to adopt integrated and holistic approaches. This involves comprehensive urban planning that considers land use, transportation infrastructure, and public spaces. Planning should prioritize the development of compact, mixed-use neighborhoods that promote walkability and access to public transportation. It is crucial to engage with communities and stakeholders to ensure that transportation systems meet their needs and preferences.

Furthermore, the use of innovative technologies and smart transportation solutions can enhance the efficiency and sustainability of transportation systems. Intelligent transportation systems, such as real-time traffic monitoring, smart traffic signals, and integrated fare payment systems, can optimize transportation operations and improve overall system performance. These technologies can help reduce travel times, enhance user experience, and minimize environmental impacts.

In conclusion, sustainable transportation is a key component of Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities. By promoting the development of accessible, affordable, and low-carbon transportation systems, cities can reduce congestion, improve air quality, and enhance mobility for all residents. Expanding public transportation networks, encouraging cycling and walking, and promoting the use of electric vehicles are important strategies in achieving sustainable transportation goals. To realize the benefits of sustainable transportation, cities should adopt integrated planning approaches, engage with communities, and leverage innovative technologies. By prioritizing sustainable modes of transportation, cities can create healthier, more livable, and environmentally-friendly urban environments.

Waste Management and Recycling

Effective waste management and recycling practices are crucial for creating sustainable cities and communities. The increasing population and urbanization have led to a significant rise in waste generation, posing environmental and health challenges. Goal 11 of the Sustainable Development Goals emphasizes the need for integrated waste management systems that prioritize waste reduction, recycling, and resource recovery.

One of the key objectives of Goal 11 is to promote waste reduction. By implementing waste reduction strategies, cities can minimize the amount of waste generated in the first place. This includes promoting the use of sustainable packaging, encouraging the adoption of reusable products, and raising awareness about the importance of minimizing waste. By reducing the amount of waste generated, cities can conserve natural resources, reduce energy consumption, and minimize the environmental impact associated with waste disposal.

Waste segregation is another essential component of effective waste management. By segregating waste at the source, cities can facilitate the recycling and proper disposal of different types of waste. Proper waste segregation involves separating recyclable materials, such as paper, plastics, glass, and metals, from non-recyclable waste. This allows for the efficient recycling and recovery of valuable resources, reducing the need for raw materials extraction and the associated environmental impact. Waste segregation can be achieved through community education and the provision of recycling bins and collection systems.

Recycling plays a critical role in sustainable waste management. It involves the conversion of waste materials into new products, reducing the demand for virgin materials and conserving natural resources. Cities can establish recycling facilities and collection programs to facilitate the recycling process. Recycling initiatives should be comprehensive and cover a wide range of materials, including paper, plastics, glass, metals, and electronic waste. By promoting recycling and creating an infrastructure to support it, cities can reduce the amount of waste sent to landfills and incineration facilities, thereby minimizing the environmental pollution and greenhouse gas emissions associated with these disposal methods.

Composting is another important practice in sustainable waste management. Organic waste, such as food scraps and yard trimmings, can be composted to create nutrient-rich soil amendments. Composting not only reduces the volume of waste sent to landfills but also produces a valuable resource that can be used in gardening, landscaping, and agricultural activities. Cities can promote home composting, as well as establish community composting programs and composting facilities, to divert organic waste from the waste stream and promote the circular economy.

To ensure the effectiveness of waste management systems, it is crucial to educate and engage communities. Public awareness campaigns and educational programs can help individuals and households understand the importance of waste reduction, segregation, and recycling. Citizens can be encouraged to adopt sustainable waste management practices through incentives, such as reduced waste collection fees for households that recycle or compost effectively. Engaging communities in the waste management process fosters a sense of responsibility and ownership, leading to increased participation and compliance with waste management guidelines.

In addition to environmental benefits, efficient waste management and recycling practices also offer economic opportunities. The recycling industry can create jobs and stimulate local economies through the collection, processing, and manufacturing of recycled materials. By promoting a circular economy, where waste is viewed as a valuable resource, cities can contribute to the creation of a sustainable and resilient economy.

Furthermore, sustainable waste management practices contribute to the overall cleanliness and aesthetic appeal of cities. Proper waste collection and disposal systems help maintain cleanliness, reduce litter, and prevent the spread of diseases. A clean and well-managed waste management system enhances the livability of cities, attracting visitors and fostering a sense of pride among residents.

Effective waste management and recycling practices are essential for achieving sustainable cities and communities. Goal 11 emphasizes the adoption of integrated waste management systems that prioritize waste reduction, recycling, and resource recovery. By implementing waste reduction strategies, promoting waste segregation, establishing recycling facilities, and promoting composting, cities can minimize the environmental impact of waste, conserve resources, and promote a circular economy. Public education and community engagement play a crucial role in ensuring the success of sustainable waste management initiatives. By investing in sustainable waste management practices, cities can create cleaner, healthier, and more environmentally-friendly urban environments for present and future generations

Climate Resilience

Building climate resilience is a critical aspect of creating sustainable cities and communities. With the increasing impacts of climate change, such as rising temperatures, extreme weather events, and sea-level rise, it is crucial for cities to develop adaptation and mitigation strategies to reduce vulnerability and enhance resilience. Goal 11 of the Sustainable Development Goals recognizes the importance of incorporating climate resilience into urban planning and development.

One of the key objectives of Goal 11 is to improve infrastructure resilience. This involves designing and constructing infrastructure that can withstand the impacts of climate change. For example, in coastal areas, infrastructure such as roads, bridges, and buildings can be built to be more resistant to storm surges and sea-level rise. In areas prone to extreme heat, infrastructure can incorporate heat-resistant materials and design elements that promote natural ventilation and cooling. By integrating climate resilience into infrastructure planning and development, cities can ensure that their critical systems and services remain operational during and after climate-related events, reducing disruption and protecting the well-being of their populations.

Implementing early warning systems is another important strategy for climate resilience. Early warning systems help cities anticipate and respond to climate-related hazards, such as hurricanes, floods, and heatwaves. These systems involve monitoring weather patterns and environmental conditions, as well as disseminating timely and accurate information to residents and relevant authorities. By providing early warnings, cities can improve preparedness, facilitate timely evacuations if necessary, and minimize the potential impacts of climate-related events on human lives and infrastructure.

Creating green infrastructure is another crucial measure for climate resilience. Green infrastructure refers to the use of natural elements, such as parks, urban forests, green roofs, and permeable surfaces, to manage stormwater, reduce the urban heat island effect, and enhance biodiversity. Green infrastructure helps mitigate the impacts of climate change by absorbing and storing rainwater, reducing the risk of flooding, and providing shade and cooling effects in urban areas. By incorporating green spaces into cities and communities, not only can the negative impacts of urbanization be mitigated, but residents can also enjoy improved air quality, enhanced recreational opportunities, and a better overall quality of life.

In addition to these specific strategies, incorporating climate resilience into urban planning is crucial. Cities need to consider climate risks and vulnerabilities in their long-term development plans. This includes identifying areas at risk of flooding, landslides, or other climate-related hazards and implementing appropriate land-use planning measures. For example, zoning regulations can be updated to prevent construction in high-risk areas or require developers to implement climate adaptation measures in their projects. By integrating climate resilience into urban planning, cities can ensure that new developments are designed with climate change in mind and that existing infrastructure is retrofitted to enhance resilience.

Furthermore, collaboration and partnerships are essential for building climate resilience. Cities should work with various stakeholders, including government agencies, community organizations, businesses, and academia, to develop and implement climate adaptation and mitigation strategies. Collaboration allows for the sharing of knowledge, expertise, and resources, leading to more effective and comprehensive climate resilience measures. Engaging the community in the planning and decision-making process also fosters a sense of ownership and increases the likelihood of successful implementation.

Investing in climate resilience not only helps cities adapt to the impacts of climate change but also brings multiple co-benefits. For example, green infrastructure not only helps manage stormwater but also improves air quality, enhances urban biodiversity, and provides recreational spaces for residents. Climate-resilient infrastructure can also contribute to energy efficiency, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and promoting sustainability.

In conclusion, building climate resilience is a crucial component of Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities. By incorporating climate resilience into urban planning, improving infrastructure resilience, implementing early warning systems, and creating green infrastructure, cities can reduce vulnerability and enhance their ability to withstand the impacts of climate change. Collaboration and community engagement are vital for the successful implementation of climate resilience measures. By investing in climate resilience, cities can protect their populations, infrastructure, and natural resources, ensuring a more sustainable and resilient future for all.

Preserving Cultural Heritage

Preserving cultural heritage is a vital aspect of sustainable development, and Goal 11 of the Sustainable Development Goals emphasizes the significance of safeguarding cultural heritage sites, historic buildings, and traditional practices. Cultural heritage encompasses a wide range of tangible and intangible elements, including monuments, archaeological sites, traditional craftsmanship, folklore, language, and social practices. By protecting and promoting cultural heritage, cities and communities can foster a sense of identity, promote social cohesion, attract tourism, and generate economic opportunities.

One of the key objectives of Goal 11 is to safeguard cultural heritage sites and historic buildings. These sites hold significant historical, architectural, and cultural value, and their preservation is crucial for maintaining a connection to the past and passing on knowledge to future generations. Historic buildings are not only physical structures but also bear witness to the stories, traditions, and identity of a place and its people. By protecting and conserving these sites, cities can maintain their unique character and cultural identity, contributing to a sense of pride and belonging among residents.

Preserving cultural heritage also has economic benefits for cities and communities. Cultural heritage tourism has gained prominence in recent years, with travelers seeking authentic experiences and a deeper understanding of local cultures. By promoting and preserving cultural heritage sites, cities can attract tourists, generate revenue, and create employment opportunities. Local businesses, such as hotels, restaurants, and handicrafts, can thrive through the promotion of cultural tourism, contributing to the local economy and livelihoods. Additionally, cultural heritage preservation can revitalize historic districts and neighborhoods, attracting investment and fostering sustainable economic growth.

Furthermore, the preservation of cultural heritage contributes to the social fabric of cities and communities. Cultural heritage is often intertwined with people's identities, traditions, and sense of belonging. By safeguarding cultural heritage, cities can strengthen social cohesion, promote intergenerational dialogue, and foster community pride. Cultural heritage preservation provides opportunities for communities to celebrate and showcase their traditions, customs, and artistic expressions. This engagement with cultural heritage enhances social inclusion and diversity, creating spaces for dialogue, mutual understanding, and appreciation of different cultures and perspectives.

In addition to tangible cultural heritage, Goal 11 also recognizes the importance of preserving intangible cultural heritage. Intangible cultural heritage refers to practices, expressions, knowledge, and skills that are passed down from generation to generation. It includes oral traditions, performing arts, rituals, traditional craftsmanship, and knowledge systems. Preserving intangible cultural heritage not only safeguards traditional practices but also promotes cultural diversity and encourages intercultural dialogue. It is through the transmission and revitalization of intangible cultural heritage that cities and communities can maintain their unique identities and contribute to a rich and vibrant cultural landscape.

To effectively preserve cultural heritage, cities and communities need to engage in comprehensive and inclusive planning and decision-making processes. This involves collaboration with local communities, cultural institutions, heritage experts, and relevant stakeholders. It is important to involve local residents in decision-making processes, ensuring that their voices are heard and their cultural heritage is respected and protected. Additionally, capacity-building initiatives and educational programs can empower local communities to actively participate in the preservation and promotion of their cultural heritage.

The preservation of cultural heritage is an integral part of sustainable development. Goal 11 highlights the importance of safeguarding cultural heritage sites, historic buildings, and traditional practices. By protecting and promoting cultural heritage, cities and communities can foster a sense of identity, social cohesion, and economic opportunities. Cultural heritage preservation contributes to the uniqueness and vibrancy of cities, attracting tourism, and enriching the lives of residents. By integrating cultural heritage into urban planning and development, cities can create sustainable, inclusive, and culturally rich environments for present and future generations.

Conclusion

Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities is a critical component of the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals. As urbanization continues to accelerate, it is crucial to prioritize sustainable urban planning, green infrastructure, affordable housing, sustainable transport systems, waste management, climate resilience, and the preservation of cultural heritage. By working towards these objectives, cities and communities can create a more sustainable, inclusive, and livable future for all. Embracing Goal 11 is not only an environmental imperative but also a pathway to economic prosperity, social equity, and a greener future for generations to come.

[desn2002-a3]

Process & Development

Our group developed the community initiative Ashes & Co that sets out to help create a solution for the wicked problem around fire safety and preparation. Our main goal was to develop an organisation that would host event days at local community centres in rural and at-risk communities that would provide a safe and inviting environment for teaching people how to prepare for natural disasters and creating sustainable solutions to help rebuild impacted communities.

Our proposed idea started as just a way of bringing general awareness through institutions that were already present within communities, such as fire stations and learning centres for children. However, after our first presentation, we decided to expand upon these ideas based on feedback from our tutor and our discussions with others, to develop an alternative solution (Brown, n.d., pp.84–92) that also focused more on community engagement.

We then started focusing more on developing an idea for a central hub for at-risk communities to gather to learn more about fire safety and prevention through informational panels, hands-on demonstrations taught by volunteers associated with fire-safety organisations, as well as activities that can involve children in the learning in a fun and engaging way.

We believe that implementing a hub for natural disaster education and resources such as this community centre and regular community days, will have a brilliant impact on rural and at-risk communities. Having a designated, year-round hub where people can gather for information and resources will significantly improve the chances of a community being prepared and aware of any emergencies a lot sooner than communities that set up temporary spaces for people to gather only in emergencies.

Having regular community days will also help promote better relations between the community, and allow for people to easily reach out to one another in times of need due to already having formed those bonds in a safe and fun environment. They will also help improve school-aged children’s level of education around fire safety and prevention by including them in the learning in hands-on and fun way that are known to be engaging to youths.

Our company focused heavily on making sure we could incorporate the UN Sustainability Goals within the core of our work and beliefs. As a result, our project can be linked to two of the sustainability goals: Number 11 and Number 13 (United Nations, 2024).

Sustainability Goal Number 11: Sustainable Cities & Communities aims to make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe resilient and sustainable (United Nations, 2024a). This UN goal alsigns with our own goal to create resilient and sustainable communities that are prepared for, and have the community resources to successfully recover from natural disaters, bushfires in particular.

Sustainability Goal Number 13: Climate Action aims to take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts (United Nations, 2023). This UN goal aligns with our own to position our stakeholders to recognise how fundamental action is when reducing the impact of climate change and the frequency of bushfires within their communities.

References:

Brown, T 2008, ‘Design thinking’, Harvard Business Review, vol. 86, no.6, pp. 84–92

United Nations (2023). Goal 13 | Department of Economic and Social Affairs. [online] United Nations. from https://sdgs.un.org/goals/goal13

United Nations (2024a). Goal 11 | Department of Economic and Social Affairs. [online] United Nations. from https://sdgs.un.org/goals/goal11

THE 17 GOALS. (n.d.). Sustainable Development. Retrieved June 14, 2024, from https://sdgs.un.org/goals

[alexsmitposts]

After COVID, Davos Moves to Great Reset With the USA Biden Presidency, Washington has rejoined the Global Warming agenda of the Paris Accords. With China making loud pledges about meeting strict CO2 emission standards by 2060, now the World Economic Forum is about to unveil what will transform the way we all live in what WEF head Klaus Schwab calls the Great Reset. Make no mistake. This all fits into an agenda that has been planned for decades by old wealth families such as Rockefeller and Rothschild. Brzezinski called it the end of the sovereign nation state. David Rockefeller called it “one world government.” George H.W. Bush in 1990 called it the New World Order. Now we can better see what they plan to impose if we allow. The Great Reset of the World Economic Forum is a 21st Century rollout for a new form of global total control. “We only have one planet and we know that climate change could be the next global disaster with even more dramatic consequences for humankind. We have to decarbonise the economy in the short window still remaining and bring our thinking and behaviour once more into harmony with nature,” declared WEF founder Schwab about the January 2021 agenda. The last time these actors did something at all similar in scope was in 1939 on the very eve of World War II. War & Peace Studies At that time the Rockefeller Foundation financed a top secret strategy group working out of the New York Council on Foreign Relations. It was known as the War and Peace Studies and headed by ‘America’s Haushofer,’ geographer Isaiah Bowman of Johns Hopkins University. Before German Panzer tanks had even rolled into Poland, they were planning a postwar world where the United States would emerge as the sole victor and replace the British as the global hegemonic power. Formulation of a US-dominated United Nations and Bretton Woods monetary order based on the dollar was part of their project. In 1941 as America formally entered the war, the CFR group sent a memo to the US State Department: “If war aims are stated which seem to be solely concerned with Anglo-American imperialism, they will offer little to people in the rest of the world. The interests of other peoples should be stressed. This would have a better propaganda effect.” That successful project has been the framework of what Henry Luce in 1941 called the American Century, and lasted until quite recently. Now those same families, again including the Rockefeller Foundation and the Rothschilds in the person of Lynn de Rothschild’s “Council for Inclusive Capitalism with the Vatican,” are moving to create the next generation in their pursuit of global domination. It’s being called the Great Reset. It requires global government, a plank significantly endorsed by the Jesuit Pope Francis. Its PR man, Klaus Schwab, is a self-admitted protégé of Rockefeller insider Henry Kissinger, from their days 50 years ago at Harvard. ‘Build Back Better’ In May, 2020 as the coronavirus had caused global panic lockdowns far beyond the initial outbreak in Wuhan, the British Crown Prince Charles, together with the World Economic Forum founder Klaus Schwab, unveiled what they gleefully named the Great Reset. Increasingly world political and business leaders are using terms such as “the Great Reset,” or “the Fourth Industrial Revolution” and the call to “Build Back Better” which the Biden Administration prefers. They all are anchored on the same set of dramatic global changes. The US Green New Deal and the EU European Green Deal are all part of it. The most striking fact about the agenda of the Great Reset is that it is being advanced by the same giga-rich plutocrat families responsible for the flaws of the present world economic model. They, not we, have created ruin of organic fields and nature with their Roundup glyphosate and toxic pesticides. They have ruined the air quality in our cities by the transportation models they force on us. They created the “free market” model of globalization that has ruined the industrial base of the United States and the industrial EU nations. Now, as they blame us for an alleged catastrophic emission of CO2, we’re being conditioned to accept guilt and be punished in order to “save the next generation” for Greta and friends. The 4th Industrial Revolution Behind the seductive rhetoric of the Powers That Be on creating a “sustainable” world, lies an agenda of raw eugenics, depopulation on a scale never before tried. It is not human, in fact, some call it “transhuman.” In 2016 WEF head Schwab wrote a book titled Shaping the Future of The Fourth Industrial Revolution. In it, he describes the technological changes coming with the 4th Industrial Revolution of 5G smart phones, Internet of Things and Artificial Intelligence that link everything to everything to make the most banal decisions for us such as buying more milk or turning down the stove. At the same time data is centralized in private corporations such as Google or Facebook to monitor every breath we take. Schwab describes how new generation technologies, already being rolled out by Google, Huawei, Facebook and countless others, will allow governments to “intrude into the hitherto private space of our minds, reading our thoughts and influencing our behavior…Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies will not stop at becoming part of the physical world around us — they will become part of us,” said Schwab. “Today’s external devices — from wearable computers to virtual reality headsets — will almost certainly become implantable in our bodies and brains.” Schwab adds, “What the fourth industrial revolution will lead to is a fusion of our physical, digital and biological identity.” Among those fusion technologies are, “active implantable microchips that break the skin barrier of our bodies,” Schwab explained. These “implantable devices will likely also help to communicate thoughts normally expressed verbally, through a ‘built-in’ smartphone, and potentially unexpressed thoughts or moods by reading brain waves and other signals.” I don’t know about you but I am not eager to have the state or Google read my brainwaves. Control Our Food The confusing aspect for many is the plethora of front groups, NGOs and programs which all lead to the same goal: the drastic control over every member of society in the name of sustainability—UN Agenda 2030. Nowhere is it more ominous than in their plans for the future of our food. After creating the present system of globalized industrial agriculture, agribusiness, a project begun in the 1950s by the Rockefeller Foundation, the same circles now advocate “sustainable” agriculture which will mean a shift to genetically edited fake foods, lab-made synthetic meats and such, even including worms and weeds as new food sources. The WEF’S Schwab has partnered with something called EAT Forum, which describes itself as a “Davos for food” that plans to “set the political agenda.” EAT was created in Sweden in 2016 with support from the UK Wellcome Trust (established with funds from GlaxoSmithKline), and the German Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research. Lab-grown synthetic gene-edited meats are being supported among others by Bill Gates, the same one backing Moderna and other genetically edited vaccines. EAT works among others with Impossible Foods and other biotech companies. Impossible Foods was initially co-funded by Google, Jeff Bezos and Bill Gates. Recent lab results showed the company’s imitation meat contained toxic glyphosate levels 11 times higher than its closest competitor. In 2017 EAT launched FReSH (Food Reform for Sustainability and Health) with the backing of Bayer AG, one of the world’s most toxic pesticide and GMO producers that now owns Monsanto; the China-owned GMO and pesticide giant Syngenta, Cargill, Unilever, DuPont and even Google. This is the planned food future under the Great Reset. Forget the traditional family farmer. In his 2020 book on The Great Reset, Schwab argues that biotechnology and genetically modified food should become a central pillar to global food scarcity issues, issues which COVID has exacerbated. He is pushing GMO and especially the controversial gene-editing. He writes “global food security will only be achieved if regulations on genetically modified foods are adapted to reflect the reality that gene editing offers a precise, efficient and safe method of improving crops.” Gates, a project partner with Schwab since years, has argued the same. EAT has developed what it refers to as “the planetary health diet,” which the WEF champions as the “sustainable dietary solution of the future.” But according to Federic Leroy, a food science and biotechnology professor at University of Brussels, “The diet aims to cut the meat and dairy intake of the global population by as much as 90% in some cases and replaces it with lab-made foods, cereals and oil.” Like everything else with the Great Reset, we will not be given a real choice in food. EAT notes it will be forced on us by, “hard policy interventions that include laws, fiscal measures, subsidies and penalties, trade reconfiguration and other economic and structural measures.” We will all be forced to eat the same synthetic diet or starve. This is just a hint of what is being prepared under the guise of COVID-19 lockdowns and economic collapse, and 2021 will be a decisive year for this anti-human agenda. The introduction of AI, robots, and other digital technologies will enable the Powers That Be to dispose of hundreds of millions of workplaces. Contrary to their propaganda, new jobs will not be sufficient. We will become increasingly “redundant.” This all seems too surreal until you read from their own descriptions. The fact that the cabal of the world’s most influential corporations and billionaires sit on the board of WEF with Kissinger’s student, Klaus Schwab, along with the head of the UN and of the IMF, with the CEOs of the world’s largest financial giants including Blackrock, BlackStone, Christine Lagarde of the European Central Bank, David Rubenstein of Carlyle group, Jack Ma, richest billionaire in China, is proof enough this Great Reset is not being done with our true interests at heart, despite their silky words. This dystopian agenda is 1984 on steroids. COVID-19 was merely the prelude.

[cari-occupationaltherapy]

Turning Sustainable Development Goals into reality

“Our biggest challenge in this new century is to take an idea that seems abstract – sustainable development – and turn it into a reality for all the world’s people” – Kofi Annan.

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s) were developed in 2015 at the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development in Rio de Janeiro. These goals were set in 2015, with the intention of being achieved by 2030, which is now only 9 years in the future. The SDG’s are a set of 17 goals with 169 targets, aiming to meet the political, environmental and economic challenges of the world (United Nations, 2015). These goals are interlinked and connected to one another, just like all political, environmental and economic factors are interlinked with one another, the success, or failure, of one goal influences the success of others.

In 2011 WHO released their World Health Report, which contained an examination of the inequalities faced by those with disabilities, for the first time. I agree with the World Federation of Occupational Therapists (WFOT) regarding the belief that occupational therapists have an important role to play in reaching the SDG’s. We can offer support to those with limitations or barriers related to occupations, while using our knowledge and skills to support participation in our clients occupational roles and responsibilities. In order to combat occupational injustices, it is our responsibility as OT’s, to identify and address these injustices (Pattinson, 2015). There is often a stigma associated with those who are disabled within communities due to lack of understanding and from the societal injustice seen (lack of, and poor education), as well as people with disabilities being more vulnerable to poor health care (Hashemi, Kuper, and Wickenden, 2017). Addressing these injustices has been done within my community through health promotion and health education. The above relates to SDG 10 - reducing inequalities. Advocating for clients is one of OT’s many roles. This can take place in the workplace, the home environment and within the community, making all areas accessible and user friendly. Just today, I was able to provide an assistive device for one of my clients, allowing her to bath independently.

SDG number 3 is to achieve good health and well-being. Although this goal can only be achieved if the population has access to health care, and if health care is suitable to the needs of the population. Within the Inanda community, Occupational Therapy is being provided to the community via the Inanda Wilderness Park. The UKZN students go to the clinic from Monday to Wednesday to screen clients and perform intervention while clients are already at the clinic, this allows the clients to receive therapy on the same day they attend clinic, decreasing the required resources for them to attend therapy, for example transport costs and time taken off work, promoting the sustainability of therapy and therefore good health and well-being. The defition of health is not merely the absence of disease but a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being (WHO, 1948), OT’s play a role in ones physical, mental and psychosocial occupations. Contributing to mental, physical and psychosocial well-being, we held a group today using dance and movement therapy for mothers, which allowed them to express themselves, they will be able to form supportive relationships with each other and this project will allow them to take time and value themselves and their own health and well-being despite being a busy mother.

SDG number 5 promotes gender equality. Unfortunately, South Africa is seen as the ‘rape capital’ of the world (Human Rights Watch, 2010), and the Inanda community is widely known for it’s violence. One way of combatting gender inequality within a community setting is by providing appropriate health care to women at a primary health care level. This will have positive impacts on child development, allowing the mother to provide the best possible foundation for her child. Essentially, focusing on maternal health will impact society on a national, and even global scale proving the correlation between the various SDG’s.

As an individual who is passionate about the natural environment, SDG number 11 resonates with me. This goal focuses on creating sustainable cities and communities. The ethos of Inanda Wilderness Park is to create a safe space for people of the community to thrive, through the use of nature and natural resources. Creating this green space, which was previously a dump site, has provided ample opportunities for the Inanda community to thrive. The implementation of the amphitheatre project which we are busy building, allows for community members of all ages to utilise the space for performances, story telling and skits, promoting constructive use of leisure time. This project was created using the natural lie of the land and implemented under the shelter of trees, integrating the ethos of the park into the lives of the community. I have also been focusing on utilising nature based activities to complete with my clients, these include using play activities like creating pictures and shapes out of rocks, twigs and leaves, and encouraging my clients to make use of the vegetable garden at the facility.

Peace, justice and strong institutions (SDG number 16) will provide a stable and solid foundation for the community to continue developing. Using the proudly South African concept of Ubuntu, the Inanda Wilderness Park acts as a space where community members can come together to discuss ideas and solutions, they can take part in therapy sessions involving dance, art, music and movement to foster community growth. These services are provided by the OT’s at the park throughout the week, aiming to improve community members lives, and hoping to cause a ripple effect within the community.

These SDG’s have been chosen by me to expand on, as I believe that through the work at the park, I have been able to give back to the lives within the community, improving and slowly working through the many injustices we face within rural South Africa. Through implementation of the projects and therapy within the community, I believe we are contributing to slowly reaching each SDG.

(https://www.usb.ac.za/usb_reports/reports-decolonising-knowledge/)

References:

Goli Hashemi, G.; Kuper, H.     and Wickenden, M. (2017) SDGs, Inclusive Health and the Path to Universal     Health Coverage, Disability and the Global South, 2017 Vol.4, No. 1,     1088-1111.

Human Rights Watch. (2010). Human Rights Watch world report: South Africa. New York: Seven Stories Press

Marilyn Pattison (2015)     Message from the President: Responsible for making dreams come true, World     Federation of Occupational Therapists Bulletin, 71:2, 60-61, DOI: 10.1179/1447382815Z.00000000022

Preamble to the Constitution of WHO as adopted by the International Health Conference, New York, 19 June - 22 July 1946; signed on 22 July 1946 by the representatives of 61 States (Official Records of WHO, no. 2, p. 100) and entered into force on 7 April 1948

United Nations . (2015). UN     sustainable development goals. Retrieved from https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/?menu=1300  

[vitmelbourne]

13 Reasons, Why institutes like VIT Australia is The Dream Destination For Students

We are often confronted with the most common yet the most devouring questions about our future ‘what is it that we really want to do?’, ‘what are we planning for the future?’, ‘which career path would we want to walk on? ‘Or simply ‘what are your career goals?’. Our young minds are often overwhelmed after such a conversation. While some of us have strong future plans, others wander confused and anxious. The piles of confusion brimming with further bewildering suggestions of overseas education opportunities. To help you surf along these uncomfortable tides of your perplexing brainwaves, VIT Australia education with the most sought-after study destination: Australia!

If you are an aspiring mind that wants to sail towards their bright future, then we are here to give you direction and adjust your sails towards your brighter future. If you wish to set off the shore and sail further, read on.

Australia: ‘the land of the Oz’, is often called the land of plenty. It is no surprise that Australia is thriving and has drawn a lot of attention from international students and all for good reason.

Here are Reasons why to study in institutes like VIT Australia?

1. Affordability: VIT Australia offers courses that are designed for a short period of time and offer high quality education to learn from them in plenty. Due to shorter duration of the course and modest living expenses, Australian universities tend to be more pocket friendly in comparison to its other English-speaking counterparts like US and UK, making it a popular study destination.

2. Quality of Education: Students learn intensively and quickly delve into coursework that satisfies students who seek practical experience. It is often a dream destination for students with higher education goals.

3. Variety of Education: VIT Australia universities/institutes offer a wide variety of courses and degrees to choose from. Candidates have plenty of options to consider as universities offer courses in felid of vocational studies. Students gain career centric education with valuable skill development programs that most employers seek.

4. Global Recognition: Degrees from Australian universities/institutes like VIT Australia are recognized and highly valued by companies across the world making Australia an exceedingly popular study destination. The quality of education can never be questioned here.

5. Quality Assurance: Australian institutes are regulated by Australian Quality Assurance framework set up by their government and are specially designed to meet the highest standards of education expected by demanding and competitive students. Education Services for Overseas Students (ESOS) ensures the security of international students as its highest priority.

6. Research: Australia extends plenty of research opportunities for both students and eligible professionals alike. These opportunities are very competitive and challenging and are awarded on the basis of academically meritorious performances.

7. Support Services: Most Australian colleges like VIT Australia have an international student support unit so their queries and questions can be catered to and then they are directed to whichever service they required. Universities also offer a student hotline to help international students to understand their grievances better. Students also go through various orientations that help them adjust better in an environment away from home.

8. Simple Visa Formalities: Another reason why Australia is an attractive study destination is because it has a hassle-free visa process. The time taken to process the visa has reduced significantly. Australia education consultancies in Delhi will assist you with the same in detail.

9. Part-Time Work: One of the best advantages of studying in Australia is the flexibility of working part time and gaining experience along with education. This helps VIT Australia students get better career opportunities as they already have work experience.

10. Job Opportunities: Australia offers job opportunities in plenty in array of disciplines. While UK no longer focuses on medical professionals, Australia welcomes doctors and other medical professionals with open arms. Australia also embraces other thriving fields such as agriculture, aeronautics, data analysis, cyber security, digital marketing, commercial analysis, software development, business development, architecture, and more.

11. Diverse Culture and Society: Australia happens to be among the most culturally diverse cultures around the globe. It is home to people from 200 different countries, offering a variety people from culturally diverse backgrounds. Australia enjoys the reputation of being a safe, friendly, peaceful and laid-back making it an ideal destination for students from different ethnic backgrounds.

12. Land Of Beauty: Australia is breath-taking when it comes to beauty. This picturesque destination is blend of sandy beaches, ethereal landmarks, sublime rainforest and a rich cultural heritage. We often think about koalas and kangaroos when we picture Australia. It is an ideal destination for our adventurous students.

13. Group Of 8: This is a collective of research orientated universities that form Australia’s version of the Ivy League. However, these universities are more inclusive in nature as they accept a large number of students. They have a cutting-edge faculty with respect to their fields and are equipped with state of the laboratory facility, facilitated to bring out the best in aspiring young minds.

Study in Australia for International Students is a highly enriching experience and can change the way a student live completely. When you study in Australia, education is not limited just to the walls of your classroom, but also exceeds the barriers of cities. Australian colleges keep on conducting varied outdoor activities and recreational trips for the overall development of students and create a multi-cultural environment for foreign students

For getting more information visit here VIT — Victorian Institute of Technology

14/123 Queen St, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia

1300 17 17 55 (or) support@vit.edu.au

[goldira01]

A team of academics at the University of Cape Town in South Africa is developing a blockchain-powered application that will allow users to verify their own COVID-19 status. The platform, named Covi-ID, is still under development but aims to address a number of pressing concerns around the global coronavirus pandemic. It’s being developed by a team of academics and software developers in Cape Town and is aiming to launch on April 21.

The application intends to improve contact tracing of infected patients, while users of the platform will be able to provide a verified COVID-19 status. Additionally, the app will reward people for responsible behavior, like remaining at home during lockdown periods. Covi-ID is being built on permissioned blockchain platform Sovrin, which is a self-sovereign identity network. The primary goal is to give users ownership over their data while providing accurate information relating to COVID-19 infection hotspots to ecosystem participants.

This South African project is not the first to be exploring the use of a mobile application to improve contact tracing. Countries like China and Singapore, which were initially hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic, rolled out their own tracing platforms while a number of European countries have also been developing interoperable applications as well. The Covi-ID app also differs from these varying projects in its privacy-centered approach that uses SSI and blockchain technology. 

How will it work?

For developers, the first port of call was creating an account that verifies a user’s COVID-19 status. Potential users have two ways of creating a Covi-ID account. The first option is through a custodial wallet provided by one of the partnering commercial companies, which includes local South African banks, and government and health institutions. The second option is a completely self-sovereign identity wallet solution that is being developed by Covi-ID. Both options promise to safeguard users’ data. The latter option will store all of the users’ data on their phone, which means that personal information never physically leaves the device.

The nature of life in South Africa is also important to consider, as a large portion of the population may not have access to a smartphone. In this case, potential users can still engage with the platform by creating one of the custodial accounts with one of Covi-ID’s commercial partners.

The process entails taking a photo to prove the user’s identity, as well as providing a full name and telephone number — which can be a friend’s or relative’s in case users do not have their own number. Each user will be issued a QR code that can be printed, or potentially issued on a card similar to a bank card. This QR code can then be scanned by authorities to prove a user’s COVID-19 status.

Users’ information is stored by these commercial partners in custodial wallets, similar to how a cryptocurrency exchange stores a user’s currency holdings. Whenever their QR code is scanned, for instance, when they enter a supermarket, an event is logged in their wallet. Users can then be informed if they potentially come into contact with a COVID-19-positive user at that supermarket on that day. Users are required to provide phone numbers so that they can be easily reached in this case.

If users become symptomatic, they can go to a testing center or go see a doctor. The practitioner would scan their QR code and verify their identity with the photo that was given to the custodial wallet provider. Once the test results are confirmed, they would be logged into the users’ Covi-ID account. Once a user has recovered from COVID-19, or has received a vaccination — when they’re finally made available — they will be given a green status in the app and will pose no further health threat to the public.

All of this allows the second implementation of the Covi-ID, which is verification. This will most likely become essential as countries try to curb the spread of potential viral outbreaks in the future. If users try to enter any space that has implemented health screening, they will present their QR code, either through the app on their smartphone or a hard copy. Users then consent to give read-only access to their COVID-19 status. 

A green status would indicate users have either recovered from the virus or have received a vaccination in the future. A yellow status would indicate users are COVID-19 negative but have never been infected nor been vaccinated — this would necessitate certain screening practices. A red status would indicate that a user currently has COVID-19 and would need to immediately be isolated from the public. 

Blockchain technology to ensure privacy comes first

The major focus of the project is to ensure that users’ data remains protected while providing important information that will improve contact tracing and create a tool that will allow society to gradually return to some sense of normality. The developers of the application make use of users’ geolocation data, but instead of this valuable data being stored by a centralized server or institution, the users maintain possession of their actual geolocation data.

This is a fundamentally different way, in which users’ data would usually flow. The app will send out possible ‘infection hotspots’ to a user’s wallet, which will then check if the user stored location history overlaps. In this way, Covi-ID is able to carry out similar functions to a track-and-trace system that stores data in a central database. Co-Pierre Georg, an associate professor at the University of Cape Town, is a leading member of the project. Georg told Cointelegraph that the project is being developed on the open-source, decentralized SSI platform Sovrin:

“We are building using self-sovereign identity and, specifically, we are building on the Sovrin ledger at the moment. But our app will eventually be platform-agnostic, and we are complying with all standards currently being developed by the SSI community to ensure this interoperability.” 

Georg said that the team wants to build an open-source system that will eventually be an enabler of “disruptive innovation,” also adding: “So, we will have an open-source version of the app and eventually also for the custodial wallets, which are currently being built as white label solutions for partner organizations like corporates, non-profits or government entities.”

Georg said that the end goal is for a large portion of the South African population to use an SSI application. However, due to the ambitious launch date, most users will initially be using a custodial wallet. He described it as a hybrid solution that will gradually move toward a completely decentralized system. Georg added that custodial wallets can be trusted:

“First, we have strict privacy regulation in place in South Africa already. And as we are working with well established corporate partners, the cost of not complying would be significant. Second, our open system incentivizes competition between the custodial wallets. As privacy is the most sensitive aspect of the system, we believe that we will see a race to the top where the best custodial wallet will eventually win the most users.”

Georg also believes that using QR codes will allow for widespread use because they can be scanned by phone cameras, which are ubiquitous in African countries. Furthermore, the project will provide an open-source application for anyone who needs to verify a user’s COVID-19 status:

“Most of the verifiers will be taxi operators or security guards, and almost all of them do have smartphones as well. What sets us apart, though, is that we do not require every user to have a smartphone as well. This makes the system more inclusive than existing and fully decentralized solutions.”

European applications to be rolled out by Mid-April

While the Covi-ID app hopes to provide a solution that is primarily suited for a South African setting, various European countries are developing track-and-trace applications that intend to share monitoring data. The initiative, dubbed Pan-European Privacy Preserving Proximity Tracing, was proposed in an effort to collate data and contract tracing through a number of applications that are being rolled out across the continent. This would enable various applications that are being developed to interact with each other to improve the efficacy of contact tracing — a crucial part in curbing the spread of COVID-19. 

There are, of course, pressing privacy concerns around such projects, however, it has also been reported that the PEPP-PT program will offer both centralized and decentralized options to its users. The application will use Bluetooth technology anonymously without storing the geolocation data of users.

Many of the applications that are being developed will use Bluetooth technology to track the proximity of users to one another in relation to their COVID-19 status. Users who have come into contact with a person who is later confirmed to be infected, which is identified by the Bluetooth proximity, would then be notified by their respective applications.

Additionally, Russian authorities have announced that they will launch their own tracking application for patients who test positive for COVID-19 in Moscow at the beginning of April. The city has been in an indefinite lockdown since March 30. The monitoring application will be issued to people who have tested positive for the disease and have been ordered to self-isolate at home. It’s reported that the application will request access to users’ calls, location and camera, as well as network information — in an effort to monitor and ensure that sick patients are not leaving their homes while they’re contagious.

China also released an application in February that allows users to check whether they’ve come into contact with a person who is potentially infected with COVID-19. The New York Times reported that the application shares users’ location information to a centralized server whenever their barcodes are scanned at a checkpoint either in public transport hubs or other access-point controlled areas.

Singapore is another country that has released and made use of a contact-tracing application that uses Bluetooth technology. The TraceTogether app monitors a user’s proximity to other people using Bluetooth technology and uses timestamps to provide a history of contact. If users contract COVID-19, they can allow the app to identify people who they’ve come into contact with. Data is stored locally on users’ phones and is deleted after 21 days. The platform states that users’ locations and contacts are not tracked at any stage.

Meanwhile, another group of European researchers has been working on its very own decentralized platform for contact tracing — called Decentralized Privacy-Preserving Proximity Tracing.

The project’s white paper has been published on GitHub and is another Bluetooth-based proximity-tracing application that is primarily focused on privacy-protection. The app intends to provide warnings to users who have come into close contact with an individual suspected of being infected with COVID-19, without giving up any identity or location data.

[architectnews]

Design AID: Outdoor Learning Spaces

Design AID: Outdoor Learning Spaces Competition News, Architecture Contest 2020

Design AID: Outdoor Learning Spaces Competition

August 18, 2020

Design AID: Outdoor Learning Spaces Open Call

Design AID: Outdoor Learning Spaces Design Ideas Competition, PA, USA

How can communities turn underutilized schoolyards into outdoor classrooms that could enable students to safely return to school? The Community Design Collaborative, in partnership with the School District of Philadelphia, invites designers to submit ideas for outdoor learning spaces that can be easily and inexpensively implemented by schools in Philadelphia and beyond.

The Community Design Collaborative will compile all feasible design solutions in the Design AID: Outdoor Learning Spaces Design Guide that will serve as a digital resource to support Philadelphia schools and schools across the U.S. and the globe in their efforts to safely go back to school. The School District of Philadelphia will use the design guide to implement 5-6 pilot learning spaces at Philadelphia schools this fall.

The competition opens Friday, August 14, 2020 and the deadline for submissions is Sunday, August 23, 2020. The digital design guide will launch Monday, September 14, 2020. More information is available at www.cdesignc.org/outdoor-learning.

Further Details:

Students haven’t seen the inside of a classroom for months and they’ve been missing in-person interaction with their teachers and peers. They’ve tried school on a screen, but it’s just not the same.

How can schools turn underutilized schoolyards into outdoor classrooms that could enable students to safely return to school?

As school districts and parents all over the country are contemplating the possible scenarios for returning to school, history indicates that we should be (re)turning to the outdoors for answers. With funding from the William Penn Foundation, and in partnership with the School District of Philadelphia, the Community Design Collaborative’s Design Assistance In Demand (A.I.D.): Outdoor Learning Spaces Design Ideas Competition is seeking your innovative and creative solutions for outdoor learning in a time of global crisis — and beyond — to bring all of our students back to school as soon as safely possible and to expand opportunities for learning in the extended future.

School buildings have a limited amount of square footage to address the proper social distancing necessary for all students to return to school, so we are looking to utilize the typically underused footprint of schoolyards to expand learning environments to the outdoor classroom. While this challenge is not site specific, design solutions should be considered for typical paved schoolyards. Designs can address a range of interventions, from the simple idea of bringing existing classroom furniture outdoors to a kit of parts that can be mixed and matched in various schools and sites, and may be constructed by school and community volunteers.

WHO CAN PARTICIPATE?

Anyone can participate! And everyone’s a winner! The Community Design Collaborative will compile your design solutions in the Design A.I.D.: Outdoor Learning Spaces Design Guide that will serve as a digital resource to support Philadelphia schools and schools across the U.S. and the globe in their efforts to safely go back to school.

HOW TO PARTICIPATE?

Entrants will design an outdoor learning space and create for submission (1) main concept image accompanied by a concise (150 word) concept description. In addition, entrants can create up to 12 supporting images and/or text components that provide clear instruction about materials needed to construct, install, and maintain the proposed design.

TIMELINE

Friday, August 14 Competition opens.

SUNDAY, AUGUST 23 Deadline for submissions. Due by 11:59 PM EST

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 14 Digital Design Guide launched.

SEPTEMBER – OCTOBER Outdoor learning spaces installed at 5-6 schools.

Early November Virtual presentation of completed projects.

DESIGN GUIDELINES

Successful designs must reflect the Design Goals, Design Parameters and Public Health Recommendations as outlined in the following pages of this brief.

Additional considerations and resources are also included. However, while you may use these to guide your work, it is not necessary to address all of them in your submission.

While the designs will be evaluated for inclusion in the Design Guide based on compliance with the Design Goals, Design Parameters, and Public Health Recommendations, they will also be considered based on creativity and innovation. So, please BE CREATIVE!

Medium, technique, and vantage point of drawings are determined at the discretion of the entrant. However, drawings and supporting information must be clear and comprehensive for all audiences, not only designers.

HOW TO SUBMIT

To submit your design solution, please prepare the following materials for submission: – Name of Designer / Design Team or Firm – Names of individual team members – Designer / Design Team or Firm contact information – Title of Design Solution – One (1) main concept image of your design solution. File must be as close to 300dpi and no larger than 5MB. – 150 word narrative that describes your design solution and how it addresses the design criteria. – Design Guide page with one (1) main concept image, three (3) supporting images, and narrative. File must be a PDF no larger than 5MB, download Design Guide template: https://ift.tt/3219yRj

– Design Details page with up to eight (8) images and/or text components that provide clear instruction about materials needed to construct, install, and maintain the proposed design. File must be a PDF no larger than 5MB, download Design Details template: https://ift.tt/321WivY

– Design assembly difficulty level: no tools, hand tools, power tools, or specialized skills. – Total number of hours spent by all team members on the design of your submission. This information is intended to document the overall value of pro bono service provided through this design competition. – Social media handles – Website, if applicable – Non-refundable entry fee of $25 (per entry). 100% of this fee (and any additional donation) will fund the construction of additional outdoor learning spaces in School District of Philadelphia schoolyards, providing more opportunities to our school children beyond the funded 5-6 pilot outdoor learning spaces through this effort. Designers / design teams may submit multiple design solutions, however, each must be submitted as a separate entry submission. Submit your outdoor learning space idea here: https://ift.tt/3aBwB9e

THE PANEL

All design submissions will be reviewed by a panel of members of the School District of Philadelphia, Playful Learning Landscapes, the Community Design Collaborative and traditional and community educators.

All competition submissions will be reviewed and evaluated for inclusion in the Design Guide based on compliance with the listed criteria of Design Goals, Design Parameters and Public Health Recommendations.

Additionally, School District of Philadelphia students and their families may review the submissions to select their top 10 favorite submissions, which will receive a gold star designation in the Design Guide.

IMPLEMENTING PILOT LEARNING SPACES

This initiative intends for 5-6 pilot outdoor learning spaces to be implemented through funding from the William Penn Foundation for this Design Ideas Competition. The beneficiary schools will be selected by the School District of Philadelphia with a goal of serving those schools most in need. These schools will, hopefully, be catalysts, encouraging other schools to implement their own outdoor learning space.

Design Goals

DESIGN SOLUTIONS ARE TO BE:

– Welcoming, safe, accessible, and equitable

– Vibrant, intriguing, and playful

– Supporting teacher-student interactions

– Spaces that foster learning (all components/ aspects of the design should strive to incorporate opportunities for learning, i.e., if there is a roof element, it can incorporate a system of rain collection to teach about stormwater management)

– Inclusive of all modalities of learning: kinesthetic (moving), visual (seeing), auditory (hearing), and tactile (touching)

– Appropriate for elementary (K-5) schools with special focus on the youngest students in grades K-3 – Promoting creativity and ingenuity in children

Design Parameters

DESIGN SOLUTIONS ARE TO:

– Be fabricated and installed for $5000 or less

– Easily fabricated and assembled quickly by volunteers (ideally with assistance from students)

– Be temporary, yet inspiring the potential for permanent installations.

– Accommodate year-round learning (all four seasons)

– Be low maintenance (in ease and cost)

– Make creative use of everyday materials and items prioritizing the use of durable, reusable, and sustainable materials

– Maximize accessibility throughout the site for all abilities

– Meet minimum code requirements for structures, railings, ramps, surfaces, etc.

– Consider a menu of design elements that are versatile and can be configured to the needs of multiple sites

– Accommodate clear lines of sight for supervision of a 30-student class by teachers

– Include opportunities for smaller groups or individual learning

– Integrate power, water, and wifi, as possible

– Be easily secured (security in some cases may be provided by an existing fence surrounding the schoolyard)

– Include opportunities for storage, writing and tackable surfaces

– Consider the design for one classroom and/or how multiple classrooms may be arranged within one schoolyard space

Public Health Recommendations

DESIGN SOLUTIONS ARE TO:

– Incorporate public health guidance from the local, state, and federal requirements to maintain the health and safety of school staff and students.

– Follow CDC guidance for schools, City of Philadelphia Reopening Guidance for Elementary Schools (English) (Espanol), and the School District of Philadelphia Public Health Guidance for COVID-19.

– Embrace the Guiding Principles of Inclusive Healthy Places. These guiding principles can inform strategies for shaping public space projects that promote accessibility and diverse social interactions, reflect shared social values, advance equity, and are welcoming for all.

SUGGESTED STRATEGIES MAY INCLUDE:

– Seating that supports physical distancing and universal design for all abilities

– Proper signage for physical distancing that includes information on how to stop the spread of COVID-19. All signage should be available in languages appropriate to the host community

– Touchless hand-washing locations and automatic dispensers for hand sanitizer

Additional Considerations

PLANNING & ACCESS

Design teams may review and use the following considerations to guide their designs, but are not required to address them in their submission. – Designs should consider impact on surrounding residential areas. – Designs are to be attractive and add to the overall look and appeal of the school and grounds. – Designs should consider protection from surrounding vehicular traffic. – Grade should be maintained, or changes should be easily navigable without gaps or steps. – Designs should account for heavy traffic/usage. – Designs should consider the increased need for bike or scooter parking within the schoolyard space.

PLAYFUL LEARNING

Playful Learning Landscapes uses an evidencebased approach that harnesses guided play in spaces designed for children to discover, explore, and learn. Entrants should consider using designs that: – Encourage children to engage in the type of play known to support learning (i.e., joyful, meaningful, actively engaging, and socially interactive) – Incorporate 21st century learning goals (i.e., 6 Cs; communication, collaboration, content, critical thinking, creative innovation, and confidence) – Include elements that spark conversation and enriching interactions – Integrate, where possible, elements of community culture and identity

***

THE FINE PRINT

The Design A.I.D.: Outdoor Learning Spaces Design Ideas Competition is organized and administered by the Community Design Collaborative in partnership with The School District of Philadelphia (The Partners). The goal of this outdoor learning space initiative is to develop a Design Guide that Philadelphia schools can adapt for use at their specific sites with the support of their students, families, and neighbors.

All competition submissions shall be vetted by The Panel for eligibility and adherence with the design criteria in the competition brief. All design solutions adhering to the listed design criteria will be published in the Design A.I.D.: Outdoor Learning Spaces Design Guide. Decisions of eligibility will be at the discretion of The Panel and all decisions are final. The Panel and Partners reserve their right to refuse any entry.

By submitting an entry to this competition, the designer/ design team represents that all work submitted is the original work of the designer/design team. The Partners shall not be responsible for any misrepresentations, disputes, or other concerns associated with the authorship of the submissions. The Partners reserve the right to publish and/or reproduce images and text from any and all submissions, with credit to the creator(s). By submitting an entry to this competition, entrants transfer unlimited use for publication, exhibition and electronic posting of all entries to The Partners, and entrants acknowledge and accept that all aspects of any submission may be used for publicity purposes.

The Partners shall not be responsible for any technical or other conditions that prevent the receipt or evaluation of a competition submission, or any part thereof.

Entrants agree to release, indemnify, defend, and hold harmless The Partners and their respective directors, officers, employees, and agents from and against all claims, liens, demands, causes of action and suits and all losses, damages and expenses, including without limitation reasonable attorneys’ fees, in any manner connected with entrants’ participation in the competition.

Upon submitting an entry to this competition, all entrants agree to waive any and all claims against The Partners in connection with the competition. The Partners shall not be responsible for evaluating the soundness of any entry for construction or safety purposes, including without limitation with respect to any public health requirements.

***

With funding from the William Penn Foundation, and in partnership with the School District of Philadelphia, the Community Design Collaborative is seeking innovative and creative solutions for outdoor learning in a time of global crisis – and beyond – to bring students back to school as soon as safely possible and to expand opportunities for outdoor learning in the future.

School buildings have a limited amount of square footage to address the proper social distancing necessary for all students to return to school, but the typically underused schoolyard can be used to expand learning environments to the outdoors. Open-air classrooms were used to prevent the spread of tuberculosis in the early 20th-century, and outdoor learning has been shown to have physical, emotional, and social benefits for kids.

Architects and designers are encouraged to submit ideas for outdoor learning spaces that can be easily and inexpensively implemented by schools in Philadelphia and elsewhere.

Anyone can participate! And everyone’s a winner! The Community Design Collaborative will compile all feasible design solutions in the Design AID: Outdoor Learning Spaces Design Guide that will serve as a digital resource to support Philadelphia schools and schools across the U.S. and the globe in their efforts to safely go back to school. The School District of Philadelphia will use the design guide to implement 5-6 pilot learning spaces at Philadelphia schools this fall.

designaid@cdesignc.org

Community Design Collaborative a: 1218 Arch Street, Philadelphia PA 19107, USA

Design AID: Outdoor Learning Spaces Competition images / information received 280720

Architectural Competitions

Current / Recent architectural contests on e-architect:

2A Continental Architectural Awards 2020

2A Continental Architectural Awards 2020

Re-imagining Stations Competition

Network Rail Re-imagining Stations Competition

3rd Generation New Towns in Korea Design Contest

3rd Generation New Towns in Korea Architecture Competition

Tottenham Pavilion Competition

London Architectural Competitions

Contemporary Home Design

24H Architecture Competition

Main Library Gwangju Competition

LafargeHolcim Awards for Sustainable Construction

Flexible Housing Competition for Great Places Lakes & Dales Partnership

LFA 2020 Architecture Competition

Architecture Competition

US Architecture Design

American Architects

American Architecture

Comments / photos for Design AID: Outdoor Learning Spaces Competition 2020 Open Call page welcome

The post Design AID: Outdoor Learning Spaces appeared first on e-architect.

[gystink]

Request For Qualifications: Echo Hollow Pool (Eugene, OR)

Percent for Art: RFQ Echo Hollow Pool 99 W 10th Ave, Suite 395 Eugene, OR 97401 APPLY NOW Contact Email: kali@eugene-or.gov Call Type: Public Art Eligibility: Regional State: Oregon Entry Deadline: 12/31/19 Days remaining to deadline: 58

REQUIREMENTS: Media Images - Minimum: 8, Maximum: 8 Video - Minimum: 0, Maximum: 1 Total Media - Minimum: 8, Maximum: 9

View Site Details

Echo Hollow Pool, Call to Artists

Budget

A total of $88,000 is available for the purchase of site-specific art for Echo Hollow Pool in Eugene, Oregon.  This includes but is not limited to artist fees, fabrication, insurance, shipping, travel, installation, documentation, and all other project costs.

Deadline

Submissions must be received through Café (www.callforentry.org) by 11:59PM (MST) on December 31st, 2019.Submissions will only be accepted via Café. 

Background and Project Description

Echo Hollow Pool opened its doors to the Eugene community in 1969 and has served as an important asset ever since. Approximately 89,000people of all-ages use the facility annually for a wide variety of activities that include beginning swim lessons, aquatic aerobics, lap swim training, and regional swim competitions.

The scope of work for renovations at Echo Hollow Pool includes establishing a visible entryway into the lobby, energy efficiency (50% energy use reduction and 80% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions), updated locker rooms, an increased number of family changing rooms and an expansion of water surface. This increase in pools and pool dimensions will provide new aquatic activities for their patrons. These activities range from a zero-depth pool entry for toddler play in the recreation pool to a variety of competitive swim opportunities in the larger pool.

Potential Art Locations

Exterior

Entry plaza

SW Fencing 4’ scrim

Permanent shade structures in the lawn or entry plaza

Exterior walls of locker room

Exterior walls adjacent to recreation pool and spa

Lawn adjacent to pools

Potential Art Locations Continued

Interior

Lobby

Suggested Goals and Themes for Artwork

Create a visual draw from street to entryway

Distinguish the function of space from surrounding school campuses

Create artwork with a playful and/or energetic quality

Reflect and foster neighborhood identity

Reinforce importance of social equity

Highlight EHP as a place for people of all ages, a lifetime of engagement

Create opportunity for interactivity

Respond to energy savings of the project

Selection Criteria Artists may apply individually or as a team for this opportunity. Applicants must demonstrate the ability to create a permanent, public artwork. This commission is open to all professional artists, who are located and working within Oregon. Applicants should have previous experience serving as a principle artist on a public commission with an art budget of at least $10,000. The successful applicant will specifically and succinctly address the application requirements below. The City of Eugene encourages artists from all cultural traditions to apply.           

Submissions will be considered from all artists meeting the aforementioned criteria, regardless of race, religion, national origin, gender identification, military status, sexual orientation, marital status, or physical ability.

How to Apply

 All materials must be submitted via Café (www.callforentry.org) by the stated deadline. Applicants are encouraged to apply early to mitigate any delays due to technical difficulties. 

Images- 8 JPEG images of recent work. Images must be no larger than 1200 x 1200 pixels, under 5MB each.Each image filename must be named as follows: artist’s last name, first initial, number corresponding to the number on the image list (doej01.jpg).

Optional: Artists may submit one video, up to 3 minutes in length: WMV, MOV, MP4, under 100MB with a minimum resolution of 640x480; minimum 12fps

Letter of Interest (Maximum 2,000 characters)- as a PDF file named with “artist’s last name, first initial, cover” (doejcover.pdf) addressing;                                                                 

Your interest in this specific project

Your past experience with large-scale interior installations

Your availability to meet the schedule

Artist Resume - as a PDF file named with “artist’s last name, first initial, resume” (doejresume.pdf). Please limit to 2 pages per person and include a daytime telephone number, email and address. Artists submitting as teams must submit individual resumes.

Corresponding Image Identification List - as a PDF file named with “artist’s last name, first initial, image list” (doejimagelist.pdf). Include:

Commissioning agency

Brief project description

Title of work

Date of completion

Materials

Budget

 3 professional references -with whom you have worked or collaborated on site-specific projects. References will be contacted for artists invited to develop site-specific proposals. 

Evaluation Process and Criteria

Artists’ submissions will be evaluated by the Echo Hollow Pool Art Selection Committee. After reviewing all submissions, the Selection Committee will invite 3 Finalists to create site-specific proposals.  Initial submissions will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

Artistry: aesthetic appeal based on submitted project images/video; ability to respond to specific site-considerations; placemaking skills

Technique: mastery of materials; site integration; scope and scale of previous projects and settings

Materials: Suitability of artists’ preferred materials for site; innovation in the use of materials

Artist’s Statement: Philosophical approach to placemaking within a diverse public space

Notifications

Notifications will be posted through Café by January 31st, 2020. Finalists will be notified via telephone and/or email by Art Selection Committee members. 

Finalists will be invited to attend an optional site tour where they may view the space, ask questions and gather information for their proposals. Attendance is highly encouraged. 

Finalists’ Responsibilities

The three finalists chosen to create site-specific proposals will each be issued a formal Request for Proposals containing additional project details and proposal requirements. Proposals must include concept, materials, dimensions, estimated weight, installation and hardware requirements, and a detailed budget. Proposals must also include maquettes or digital renderings illustrating multiple perspectives of artwork within the space.

Finalists’ $1000 stipend is inclusive of all proposal development costs, including travel, maquettes, et al. Stipends will be issued at the completion of in-person presentations and are contingent upon artists’ completion of proposal requirements as stated in the Request for Proposals. 

Artists will be given 6 weeks to prepare proposals. 

Awardee’s Responsibilities

The artist or artist-team awarded the project will perform work under a Personal Services Contract through the City of Eugene for the duration of the project (a sample contract will be made available for review to artists at the formal issuance of a Request for Proposals).  

The awardee will be responsible for design modification (if necessary), fabrication, engineering, and installation of new artwork. Sub-contractors enlisted for fabrication or installation are the sole responsibility of the artist(s). 

Timeline

Applicants should be available for the following project benchmarks: 

Deadline for submissions: December 31st, 2019

Finalists Notification: January 31st, 2020

Site Tour: January/February 2020

Proposal Presentation: March 2020

Installation Target: March 2021

The City is interested in products and services that have a reduced impact on human health and the environment and that more fully support communities and economies when compared to competing products and services serving the same purpose. For more information regarding sustainability in procurement and related City policy and plans, please refer to the City’s Sustainable Purchasing website at http://www.eugene-or.gov/sustainpurch. The awardee will be expected to support the City’s goals by implementing the following strategies where applicable.

WASTE REDUCTION

         Pursuant to City Zero Waste efforts, the City aims to prevent waste where possible. In order to increase efficient use of resources, the awarded bidder shall adhere to the following items as applicable.

  Unnecessary packaging for goods, beyond packaging compliance or practical safe shipping methods, shall be reduced. Bidder to ship goods utilizing one or more of the following methods:

a.    Ship products in reusable, refillable, or returnable containers. For example, reusable trays or totes, which can be stored and returned;

b.    Minimal packaging material used inside containers. This includes eliminating or reducing the amount of non-recyclable bubble wrap, foam pellets or other like material;

c.   Eliminate non-essential parts of packaging, such as individual wrapping of components;

d.    Use packaging made with recycled content, biodegradable, and/or non-toxic materials.

e.    No point of purchase material or promotional literature.

         The awarded bidder is to duplex all paper materials that are prepared for the City under the contract, whether such materials are printed or copied, except when impracticable to do so due to the nature of the product being produced.   

        Contractor is expected to prevent, reduce, recycle or otherwise divert waste generated from the provision of services procured by the City. City may request information about diversion tactics utilized and quantities of waste materials diverted. 

IDLING REDUCTION

         In the interest of reducing air and noise pollution and promoting energy conservation, all gasoline and diesel powered vehicles and equipment shall be idled only as necessary to perform the required duties, including delivery, and for the essential function(s) of the equipment. A driver of a vehicle must turn off the engine upon stopping at the destination, and must not cause or allow an engine to idle at any location for more than 20 seconds. This idling policy applies except in the following situations:

a.    The health and safety of employees, sub-contractors or public is compromised in turning off the vehicle.

b.    The engine is required to power auxiliary equipment (e.g. hoist, lift platforms, hydraulic tools, inverters, compactors, medical equipment, specialized public safety radio communication and computer systems, etc.)

c.    Vehicle/equipment manufacturer requires additional idle time for warm up or cool down for efficient and proper mechanical or functional operation of the unit.

 ENVIRONMENTALLY PREFERRED PRODUCTS

To promote and encourage environmentally sustainable practices for companies doing business with the City, the City requests vendors under City contract use environmentally preferable products in production of City work products.  

The awarded bidder should use environmentally preferable materials that meet performance requirements wherever practical in the fulfillment of this agreement. Environmentally preferable products and services have characteristics that include but are not limited to the following:

Energy Efficient

Reusable or upgradeable

Recyclable

Contain post-consumer recycled materials

Produce fewer polluting by-products and/or safety hazards during manufacture, use or disposal, and/or

Are certified by an independent accredited third-party program such as EcoLogo or ENERGY STAR.

The City desires the use of post-consumer recycled content, chlorine-free paper to encourage environmentally preferable practices for City business wherever practical in the fulfillment of the scope of work.  

 SOCIAL EQUITY

Economic prosperity through diversity and collaboration is fundamental to the Equity in Contracting program.  Part of Eugene’s City Council Vision states that we will “Encourage a strong, sustainable and vibrant economy, fully utilizing our educational and cultural assets, so that every person has an opportunity to achieve financial security.” The program aims to reduce barriers for local, small, minority and women-owned businesses to leverage all that our community has to offer, strengthening the business community as a whole.

The City supports the utilization of Minority, Women, Emerging Small Businesses (M/W/ESB), local businesses, Disadvantaged Business Enterprises and Qualified Rehabilitation Facilities (QRF) at both a prime and subcontracting and/or supply chain level. The City encourages eligible suppliers to gain certification and encourages the awarded proposer to use the following voluntary practices to promote open competitive opportunities for disadvantaged businesses in the fulfillment of the scope of work: 

a.    Access lists of certified minority, women, emerging small business or disadvantaged business enterprises from the Certification Office of Business Inclusion and Diversity (COBID) by visiting their website at: https://oregon4biz.diversitysoftware.com/FrontEnd/VendorSearchPublic.aspto find certified businesses from whom to procure products or services.

b.   Visit the Oregon State Qualified Rehabilitation Facilities Program website at http://dasapp.oregon.gov/qrf/index.aspxto search for Qualified Rehabilitation Facilities from whom to procure products or services. 

[biofunmy]

The Nightlife Outlaws of East Los Angeles

The Look

Club Scum, a monthly party that embraces punk and drag, is a distillation of the fringe-friendly gay underground on the Eastside.

Photographs by Daniel Jack Lyons

Text by Daniel Hernandez

Produced by Eve Lyons

Let’s get one thing straight, so to speak.

There’s mainstream gay club culture — homogeneous house music, international circuit parties, rainbow flags everywhere, which is fine! — and there is underground gay club culture, which is more like a spider web of alternative scenes. The underground reflects themes and identities, as well as literal geographies, that are usually marginalized, or are, in a word, “queer.”

In Los Angeles in early 2016, two queer club denizens put a party together at a strip-mall gay bar in deeply Latino eastern Los Angeles and called it Club Scum. Far from the posher dance floors of the gay enclave of West Hollywood, the goal of the organizers was to mix scenes that hadn’t often met, even on the widest of webs: drag and punk. They were nervous.

“The first Scum, yeah, some people were leaving, and the manager was worried,” said one of the co-founders, Rudy “Rudy Bleu” Garcia, referring to their venue, Club Chico in Montebello, Calif.

“But at the same time, those punks who took the bus were rolling in late,” added Ray “Hex-Ray” Sanchez, the other co-founder. The pair shared a laugh as they recalled the hint of what was to come. The punks mixed in with goth drag queens and the club’s masc, down-low regular clientele. Something clicked. “By the end of the night,” Mr. Garcia continued, the bar owners said: “‘Wow, this was great, the energy was great, the performers were great.’ And the regulars” — pause — “have the rest of the month.”

More than three years later, this monthly party featuring art and drag performances, D.J.s, go-go dancers and sometimes live punk bands, has become a staple of underground East L.A. night life. The mixture has worked, its founders said, because Scum spoke to a cultural current that was hiding right before them.

“For us, it’s just fun to play X Ray Specs and then Banda Machos, or like, Gloria Trevi to the Germs,” said Mr. Garcia, 41, referring to the sounds of Scum playlists, but also to the musical styles that might echo against one another across city streets in East L.A.

Dress is central to Scum’s subculture. The club’s adherents show up reflecting all kinds of alternative styles, often with a gender-bending or drag bent. Body positivity is functionally boundless. Extravagant face makeup is a norm. Prosthetics are encouraged.

On a recent night in September, the latest Scum night at Chico was going strong. The music and vibe veered — seamlessly — from New Wave, to techno, to traditional Mexican ranchera to hard-core punk. A few people approached me and said they’d never seen me there before, just as a regular said might happen. Inclusivity reigns at Club Scum. I smiled and embraced strangers, informing them that, yes, I was a party virgin.

“Scum is that place where you can be your true authentic weird self,” said Mr. Sanchez, 30, and I knew exactly what he meant. In a way, I’d been to this party, in some form, many times before.

I had a pretty great time living in Los Angeles in my 20s in the mid-2000s.

It was in its last few years in the ranks of megacities that were considered underrated, and, for its sheer vastness, Los Angeles felt like a place where wonderlands for any fancy beckoned from behind discreetly marked doors. There was always something going on, always another room to peek into, always another entrance. In that decade, L.A. was the city of secrets.

I was convinced that in order to really understand the place, I had to get to know as many distinct night life scenes as possible. After dark, I got in my car and went out. I plunged into the neighborhoods that radiate from downtown, hurtling into backyard ska-punk shows in El Sereno, experimental art happenings in Chinatown, and smoky trip-hop after-hours in warehouses in South-Central. Most of all, I was at the underground gay club nights.

In L.A.’s central neighborhoods and its Eastside, denizens followed the underground gay calendar from club to club, week to week, where we made bands of friends and notched strings of enthusiastic bed mates. There wasn’t a lot of overthinking going on; labels weren’t in style. Maybe this was because the period came right after the vibrating trauma of Sept. 11, but also well before dating apps, necessitating analog contact with strangers in order to have a life in a driving-heavy metropolis.

The corresponding flow was fluid and bent slightly toward the nihilistic in everything from music to sexual practices to street fashion. As a result, it’s taken me some years to realize that there were actually two alternative gay underground cultures in Los Angeles at the time, and that many of us had firm footholds in both.

There were the more mainstream-adjacent scenes that centered in East Hollywood and Silver Lake: leather, bears, rockers, “creative” types, the people who congregated at places like Akbar, MJ’s, the Eagle, Cuffs and Faultline. Then there was the immigrant-led underground, dominated by working class gays and lesbians, Latin drag queens, trans people. These venues included the old Le Bar on Glendale Boulevard (now the hipster haunt Cha Cha Lounge), the now-defunct Circus Disco in Hollywood, the divey New Jalisco on Main Street, and Tempo on Santa Monica Boulevard, a veritable club of worship to gay vaqueros and queens.

Farther east, there was the little known lesbian bar Reds in Boyle Heights, and Club Chico, a “cholo bar,” as we called it back then, that catered mostly to Mexican or Mexican-American guys who shunned the traditional L.G.B.T. identifiers but could definitely be described as “men who have sex with men.”

Being a gay underground clubgoer in L.A. at the time meant almost by default being some shade of brown. Nearly half of the county’s population was already Latino, but it was a time, almost two decades before Latinx entered the dictionary, when the city was weirdly un-self-aware about it. Everyone was just mixed in.

The deeper I got into downtown and the Eastside, the weirder and freer things would get. Which is why, when I first entered a Club Scum night in Los Angeles in 2019, I knew, in club-going terms, that I had effectively returned home.

Scum sits at the intersection of queer culture, punk culture and drag culture. It is for women, men, and literally every gender expression in between. Mr. Garcia is a veteran underground night life maven, part of a generation who created intense community at the L.A. queer party nights of the late 2000s, like Mustache Mondays (whose co-founder and beloved impresario Nacho Nava died in January) and Wildness in MacArthur Park.

The community at Scum, like that of similar parties that exist in its orbit, touches on the propensity among alternative-leaning, young Eastsiders to be drawn to anything goth, gore, electro or hard core. For drag personalities in particular, Scum is seen as a community home-base; several drag houses have organically formed around the party.

Scum also serves as a beacon to the essential identity of the Eastside of Los Angeles County. Montebello, where Chico has kept a low-key presence since 1999, is a couple blocks away from the boundary of unincorporated East L.A., which, remember, is a distinct entity; its natives — including Mr. Garcia and Mr. Sanchez — don’t ever let a newcomer forget it. The location keeps the club rooted in the various cultural pillars of the region. East Los Angeles proper is more than 95 percent Latino, according to the U.S. census, and largely some form of Mexican.

From here, Scum also becomes the party that arguably fits best for those who feel like they’re the strangest in their neighborhoods, anywhere. Maybe they love the Misfits, but also know their Juan Gabriel. Or they skate, but also do some drag. To some adherents, it’s all “queerdo,” a construction of “weirdo” and “queer” — apt, though of uncertain provenance.

“It just feels safe,” said Amanda Estrada, 31, a regular clubgoer and musician, who once had a band with Mr. Sanchez. She attends regularly with her partner Rocío Flores, who also D.J.s at the club. They were there together on the very first night. “At Scum, you know you’re among your people, your community, and I know that sounds cheesy, but that really is the vibe when you walk in,” Ms. Estrada said.

Mr. Garcia and Mr. Sanchez came into the scene through their bands, and by promoting clubs and making zines. These activities will sound familiar to elder Eastsiders, as they have flourished in the gay underground of the Eastside since at least the 1970s, said C. Ondine Chavoya, a professor at Williams College, and co-curator of “Axis Mundo,” a 2017 museum survey exhibit that charts queer visual arts and cultural production on L.A.’s Eastside. “It was about being the punk kids at the gay disco, or being the Latino queers at the bar in the West Hollywood, which didn’t always work out,” Mr. Chavoya said.

For the misfits, the outcasts, the night crawlers, it works. “Scum provides a space for people to be themselves, and take risks, and try new things with the way they dress, perform, communicate,” Mr. Garcia said. “And to meet other people who are like you, and are not just trying to fetishize you for being brown or for being punk.”

Mr. Sanchez added: “It’s been nice to bring people to our gay bar, in the hood, where we grew up.”

Daniel Jack Lyons is a photographer who divides his time between New York and Los Angeles. Daniel Hernandez is a Styles West reporter and the author of “Down and Delirious in Mexico City,” a nonfiction exploration of youth subcultures in Mexico.

Sahred From Source link Fashion and Style

from WordPress http://bit.ly/2pG5KW0 via IFTTT

[frowncod73-blog]

“Speak Your Truth:” The Story Behind A New Mural in Fishtown

“Speak Your Truth:” The Story Behind A New Mural in Fishtown

November 18, 2018

At the end of September, an awesome new mural by one of my favorite Philly artist Blur went up in Fishtown outside The Common Room, located on Front street between Jefferson and Oxford streets. I love when local businesses hire artists to create public art on their buildings, so I wanted to reach out to learn more!

I emailed The Common Room’s owner Chelsey Eiel, who began by explaining more about the space itself: “The Common Room is a gallery and workshop space featuring fine art and functional wares by womxn and nonbinary artists. It aims to provide safe, inclusive space for those who feel unrepresented in more traditional public spaces. The gallery’s salon-style atmosphere seeks to spark critical dialogue around social justice and progressive change, while the meditation studio below the gallery offers an intimate environment for respite and self-care. No artist, activist, seeker, or change-maker can go at it alone; we need community in order to thrive. The Common Room celebrates our individuality, while also bringing us together in our shared experience. In a time of political divisiveness and moral apathy, I believe we need these spaces to feel seen, heard, and supported – to know we are worthy because we exist. More than ever, women are feeling a deep urge to gather in circles, to share their wisdom, and to help each other heal. I don’t think this is a mistake; it’s a reclamation, and I’m here to make space for it.”

Then I asked Chelsey about working with Blur for this mural: “I was introduced to Blur through a mutual friend who had a hunch we’d hit it off. I already loved her work and its powerful feminist message for advocacy and agency, but meeting her, I was blown away by her resilience and poise. We shared our stories and some ideas for collaborating on a permanent installation, and when I received the mock-up for ‘Speak Your Truth,’ I knew she got what I was trying to accomplish with The Common Room from a visceral level. I hope that people who see it have that same gut understanding: that this is a space dedicated to the expression of all voices, and the amplification of voices that have historically and systematically been silenced. That when you walk through the doors here, you’re safe to speak your truth, and there is a community here anxiously waiting to hear it.”

“‘Speak Your Truth,’ is the largest mural I’ve done in Philly, and one of currently only two total in the city,” Blur added when I emailed her for comment. “When I approached Chelsey about creating this mural, I was completely inspired by her story of the gallery space. Her goals and dreams for the space and the power it had were big inspirations for the design. I played with a new perspective of my Mouth Design and made sure to make it bright and colorful. I decided to not have any writing in the piece like I normally do because I didn’t want to influence what that viewers felt. My goal for this mural was to empower the viewers to say what needs to be said and to inspire people to spread love and kindness.”

See more work from Blur around Philly here!

from → Artist Installs, Murals

Source: https://streetsdept.com/2018/11/18/speak-your-truth-the-story-behind-a-new-mural-in-fishtown/

[charlesccastill]

Boston Mayor Walsh Unveils Plan for Boston’s Waterfront to Protect the City

BOSTON – Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh has rolled out a comprehensive and transformative vision that will invest in Boston’s waterfront to protect the City’s residents, homes, jobs, and infrastructure against the impacts of rising sea level and climate change.

Announced in his annual speech to the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce, the Mayor’s plan, “Resilient Boston Harbor,” lays out strategies along Boston’s 47-mile shoreline that will increase access and open space along the waterfront while better protecting the city during a major flooding event.

“We’re not just planning for the next storm we’ll face, we’re planning for the storms the next generation will face,” said Mayor Walsh. “A resilient, climate-ready Boston Harbor presents an opportunity to protect Boston, connect Boston, and enhance Boston, now and for the future. As we enter a new era in our Harbor’s history, Boston can show the world that resilience is not only the ability to survive adversity, but to emerge even stronger than before. That’s the promise of a Resilient Boston.”

Mayor Walsh

Resilient Boston Harbor builds off of Imagine Boston 2030 and uses the City’s Climate Ready Boston  2070 flood maps and coastal resilience neighborhood studies to focus on Boston’s most vulnerable flood pathways. The strategies laid out in the plan include elevated landscapes, enhanced waterfront parks, flood resilient buildings, and revitalized and increased connections and access to the waterfront. The strategies will require collaboration and funding between federal, state, private, philanthropic and nonprofit partners.

East Boston, Charlestown:

Based on early recommendations from the City’s Climate Ready Charlestown and Climate Ready East Boston plans, a deployable floodwall system has been installed across the East Boston Greenway, and a section of Main Street in Charlestown is being elevated. Additional measures identified include:

Redesign Constitution Beach to combine flood protection with expanded access and recreation.

Enhance Wood Island and Belle Isle to prevent the loss of the last remaining tidal salt marsh in Boston, while buffering the shoreline from increased waves and surges.

Work with new development projects, including Suffolk Downs, to integrate resiliency measures, increased open space, and community connections.

Elevate transportation corridors like Bennington Street and the East Boston Greenway to create both flood protection and pedestrian connections throughout the neighborhood.

Elevate Main Street as part of the re-design of Rutherford Avenue and Sullivan Square, to block the primary flood pathway through Charlestown. $4.8 million in capital funding has already been committed to the overall project.

Elevate and renovate Ryan Playground.

Redevelop the Schrafft Center waterfront with elevated parks and mixed-use buildings to grow economic opportunity while restoring natural resources.

North End, Downtown:

Flood risks threaten Boston’s financial center, historic waterfront, tourist destinations and residential neighborhoods. The City will launch Climate Ready Downtown to further study the impacts and necessary measures to protect these neighborhoods. Strategies already identified include:

Redesign Christopher Columbus Park and Langone Park and Puopolo Playground to include elevation to protect against flooding while improving waterfront open space and connections to the Rose Kennedy Greenway.

Transform the parking lot at Sargent’s Wharf into a combination of open space and resilient small-scale development.

Elevate sections of the Harborwalk.

Enhance Long Wharf as the gateway for water transportation.

South Boston, Fort Point:

Released today, Climate Ready South Boston identifies the major flood pathways to many of the City’s residential neighborhoods through Fort Point Channel and Moakley Park. In response, the following strategies have been identified:

Create a resilient Moakley Park and a re-envisioned Fort Point Channel to protect homes and businesses in South Boston, the South End, Chinatown, and parts of Dorchester and Roxbury.

Build a coalition of support from the private property owners surrounding Fort Point Channel to assist in creating a signature resilient park system.

Complete the Emerald Necklace from Franklin Park to Moakley Park along Columbia Road to increase access to the waterfront. $11 million will be allocated from sale of the Winthrop Square Garage for this project.

Secure federal support. The City is applying for a $10 million FEMA mitigation grant to begin resilience work along the Fort Point Channel.

The Boston Water & Sewer Commission has begun installing essential infrastructure for reducing flood risk.

An elevated New Ellery Street along the Dorchester Avenue corridor in South Boston, as identified in the BPDA’s PLAN: Dorchester Avenue South Boston to provide additional flood protection for South Boston’s residential neighborhoods.

Complete Martin’s Park, an inclusive waterfront playground that will be climate-ready.

Dorchester Waterfront:

In order to create a resilient, more accessible Dorchester shoreline with increased connectivity, the City will launch  Climate Ready Dorchester. Strategies already identified, include:

Re-design Morrissey Boulevard to stop current and future flooding, and open up the waterfront.

Complete the connection of the Neponset River Trail in Mattapan to the Harborwalk from Tenean Beach to Victory Park.

Work with UMass Boston to further open up the waterfront along Columbia Point for the residents of Dorchester.

Work with residents on new and improved amenities for the neighborhood, including better public transit and improved roadway, pedestrian, and bike connections.

Resilient Boston Harbor builds on the investments the City of Boston has made under Mayor Walsh to increase the City’s climate resiliency, including:

Released Climate Ready Boston, an internationally recognized plan that builds on Imagine Boston 2030.

Became one of the first cities to set a target of carbon neutrality by 2050. This week, the City released a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the next update to Boston’s Climate Action Plan that will create a roadmap for that goal.

Expanded open space. Boston ranks first in the nation for resident access to parks.

Making historic investments in green transportation, including protected bicycle lanes in Roxbury, the South End, and North End, and expanded bike share access in Mattapan, Roslindale, and Dorchester.

Completing new resilient design standards  for public infrastructure, providing ways for all construction on public rights-of-way to adopt flood protection measures.

The BPDA updated the climate resiliency checklist, requiring new projects to show they are resilient to climate impacts, and is designing a flood resiliency zoning district that will strengthen requirements for new and retrofitted buildings.

Hosting the International Climate Summit in June, where the Mayor led the creation of a new coalition of cities dedicated to buying renewable energy collectively.

Today, Boston is the top-ranked city for energy policy by the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy, and rating agencies cite Boston’s climate work in support of the City’s triple-A bond ratings.

The projects outlined in Resilient Boston Harbor will require a number of different funding sources. Mayor Walsh announced that the City of Boston will commit 10 percent of all new capital funding to resilience projects. He called on Boston’s state and federal government partners, as well as the private sector and non-profit and philanthropic stakeholders to join the City in committing to make these necessary investments a reality.

The strategy builds on the City of Boston’s Resilience Strategy. Boston’s resilience strategy is focused on ensuring every resident can reach their full potential regardless of their background, and removing the barriers of systemic racism that hinder Bostonians from having access to opportunities.

Stakeholder Statements of Support:

“We have an economic and moral imperative to act on climate change,” said Senator Edward J. Markey. “This requires leaders at all levels of government and our business sector to work collectively to address the challenges facing our communities. As the Co-Chair of the U.S. Senate’s Climate Change Task Force, I am committed to standing with local leaders, like Mayor Walsh, to be the strong federal partner our residents need as the world continues to warm and sea levels rise.”

“Building a resilient city is a serious challenge in response to a sobering threat, but it also brings enormous opportunity to re-think our relationship to the Harbor and create a world-class waterfront,” said Kathy Abbott, President and CEO of Boston Harbor Now. “We commend Mayor Walsh for seizing this moment to design a waterfront that is more accessible, beautiful, and inclusive than ever before. The urgency of climate change requires all of us to step up and work together like never before.”

“Resilient Boston Harbor will not only strengthen the City against the impacts of climate change, it will create a fantastic urban waterfront, opening up many new opportunities to improve public access to the Harbor,” said Bud Ris, Senior Advisor to the Boston Green Ribbon Commission. “Based on all of the analyses that have been done through Climate Ready Boston so far, this is exactly the kind of approach Boston should be taking. We look forward to continuing our partnership with the City to make Resilient Boston Harbor a reality.”

“Given the urgency needed to address climate change, it is exciting to see the City of Boston put forth such a bold vision for the future,” said Rebecca Herst, the Executive Director of the Sustainable Solutions Lab at UMass Boston, “This is a real opportunity to keep Bostonians safe from flooding and invest in our communities. With strong leadership, driven by scientific research, policy analysis and deep community engagement, we can ensure that all Boston residents, not just those with means, are prepared for climate impacts.”

“I want to thank Mayor Walsh for launching Climate Ready Dorchester,” said District 3 City Councilor Frank Baker. “I look forward to participating in that process and encourage my constituents to get engaged and discuss how we can increase access to our beaches while protecting our homes and roads from future flooding.”

“I applaud Mayor Walsh for his continued efforts to make Boston resilient for future generations,” said State Representative Adrian Madaro. “Climate change is one of the greatest challenges facing our City and our planet. The plan announced today will not only protect Boston’s waterfront neighborhoods, but will also improve the quality of life for our residents.”

from boston condos ford realtor https://bostonrealestatetimes.com/boston-mayor-walsh-unveils-plan-for-bostons-waterfront-to-protect-the-city/

[fullwombatrebel-blog1]

women empowerment essay universal healthcare versus Gender equality and women s empowerment

Women can be powerful agents of change. Women empowerment essay universal healthcare versus. Goal 1. End poverty in all its forms everywhere. By 2030, ensure that all men and women, in particular the poor and the vulnerable, have equal rights to economic resources, as well as access to basic services, ownership and control over land and other forms of property, inheritance, natural resources, appropriate new technology and financial services, including microfinance 1.b Create sound policy frameworks at the national, regional and international levels, based on pro-poor and gender-sensitive development strategies, to support accelerated investment in poverty eradication actions. Goal 2. End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture. By 2030, end all forms of malnutrition, including achieving, by 2025, the internationally agreed targets on stunting and wasting in children under 5 years of age, and address the nutritional needs of adolescent girls, pregnant and lactating women and older persons. Goal 4. Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all. By 2030, ensure equal access for all women and men to affordable and quality technical, vocational and tertiary education, including university 4.6 By 2030, ensure that all youth and a substantial proportion of adults, both men and women, achieve literacy and numeracy 4.7 By 2030, ensure that all learners acquire the knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development, including, among others, through education for sustainable development and sustainable lifestyles, human rights, gender equality, promotion of a culture of peace and non-violence, global citizenship and appreciation of cultural diversity and of culture’s contribution to sustainable development 4.a Build and upgrade education facilities that are child, disability and gender sensitive and provide safe, nonviolent, inclusive and effective learning environments for all. Goal 5. Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls. End all forms of discrimination against all women and girls everywhere 5.2 Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres, including trafficking and sexual and other types of exploitation 5.3 Eliminate all harmful practices, such as child, early and forced marriage and female genital mutilation 5.4 Recognize and value unpaid care and domestic work through the provision of public services, infrastructure and social protection policies and the promotion of shared responsibility within the household and the family as nationally appropriate 5.5 Ensure women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership at all levels of decision- making in political, economic and public life 5.6 Ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights as agreed in accordance with the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development and the Beijing Platform for Action and the outcome documents of their review conferences 5.a Undertake reforms to give women equal rights to economic resources, as well as access to ownership and control over land and other forms of property, financial services, inheritance and natural resources, in accordance with national laws 5.b Enhance the use of enabling technology, in particular information and communications technology, to promote the empowerment of women 5.c Adopt and strengthen sound policies and enforceable legislation for the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls at all levels. Goal 6. Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all. By 2030, achieve access to adequate and equitable sanitation and hygiene for all and end open defecation, paying special attention to the needs of women and girls and those in vulnerable situations. Goal 8. Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all. By 2030, achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men, including for young people and persons with disabilities, and equal pay for work of equal value 8.8 Protect labour rights and promote safe and secure working environments for all workers, including migrant workers, in particular women migrants, and those in precarious employment. Goal 11. Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable. By 2030, provide access to safe, affordable, accessible and sustainable transport systems for all, improving road safety, notably by expanding public transport, with special attention to the needs of those in vulnerable situations, women, children, persons with disabilities and older persons 11.7 By 2030, provide universal access to safe, inclusive and accessible, green and public spaces, in particular for women and children, older persons and persons with disabilities. Promote mechanisms for raising capacity for effective climate change-related planning and management in least developed countries and small island developing States, including focusing on women, youth and local and marginalized communities. Acknowledging that the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change is the primary international, intergovernmental forum for negotiating the global response to climate change.... View more ...

[tenaciouspersonbouquetus-blog]

women empowerment essay vanderbilt long island Gender equality and women s empowerment

We reiterate the need for gender mainstreaming, including targeted actions and investments in the formulation and implementation of all financial, economic, environmental and social policies. Women empowerment essay vanderbilt long island. Goal 1. End poverty in all its forms everywhere. By 2030, ensure that all men and women, in particular the poor and the vulnerable, have equal rights to economic resources, as well as access to basic services, ownership and control over land and other forms of property, inheritance, natural resources, appropriate new technology and financial services, including microfinance 1.b Create sound policy frameworks at the national, regional and international levels, based on pro-poor and gender-sensitive development strategies, to support accelerated investment in poverty eradication actions. Goal 2. End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture. By 2030, end all forms of malnutrition, including achieving, by 2025, the internationally agreed targets on stunting and wasting in children under 5 years of age, and address the nutritional needs of adolescent girls, pregnant and lactating women and older persons. Goal 4. Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all. By 2030, ensure equal access for all women and men to affordable and quality technical, vocational and tertiary education, including university 4.6 By 2030, ensure that all youth and a substantial proportion of adults, both men and women, achieve literacy and numeracy 4.7 By 2030, ensure that all learners acquire the knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development, including, among others, through education for sustainable development and sustainable lifestyles, human rights, gender equality, promotion of a culture of peace and non-violence, global citizenship and appreciation of cultural diversity and of culture’s contribution to sustainable development 4.a Build and upgrade education facilities that are child, disability and gender sensitive and provide safe, nonviolent, inclusive and effective learning environments for all. Goal 5. Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls. End all forms of discrimination against all women and girls everywhere 5.2 Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres, including trafficking and sexual and other types of exploitation 5.3 Eliminate all harmful practices, such as child, early and forced marriage and female genital mutilation 5.4 Recognize and value unpaid care and domestic work through the provision of public services, infrastructure and social protection policies and the promotion of shared responsibility within the household and the family as nationally appropriate 5.5 Ensure women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership at all levels of decision- making in political, economic and public life 5.6 Ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights as agreed in accordance with the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development and the Beijing Platform for Action and the outcome documents of their review conferences 5.a Undertake reforms to give women equal rights to economic resources, as well as access to ownership and control over land and other forms of property, financial services, inheritance and natural resources, in accordance with national laws 5.b Enhance the use of enabling technology, in particular information and communications technology, to promote the empowerment of women 5.c Adopt and strengthen sound policies and enforceable legislation for the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls at all levels. Goal 6. Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all. By 2030, achieve access to adequate and equitable sanitation and hygiene for all and end open defecation, paying special attention to the needs of women and girls and those in vulnerable situations. Goal 8. Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all. By 2030, achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men, including for young people and persons with disabilities, and equal pay for work of equal value 8.8 Protect labour rights and promote safe and secure working environments for all workers, including migrant workers, in particular women migrants, and those in precarious employment. Goal 11. Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable. By 2030, provide access to safe, affordable, accessible and sustainable transport systems for all, improving road safety, notably by expanding public transport, with special attention to the needs of those in vulnerable situations, women, children, persons with disabilities and older persons 11.7 By 2030, provide universal access to safe, inclusive and accessible, green and public spaces, in particular for women and children, older persons and persons with disabilities. Promote mechanisms for raising capacity for effective climate change-related planning and management in least developed countries and small island developing States, including focusing on women, youth and local and marginalized communities. Acknowledging that the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change is the primary international, intergovernmental forum for negotiating the global response to climate change.... View more ...

[queermusicalensembles-blog]

Snippits from Interview with Jessie Riggins and Matthew Novotny

J- We currently do not have an executive director on the board, so I am acting executive director, as well as being president of the board.  It is a lot of work. But it is going good.

 Do you ever experience conflict between board members who play in the ensemble and those who do not?

J- Not really, sometimes they say that they don't have as good of a point of view since they do not play in the ensemble. But it is nice to have them because they are not as emotionally attached to the group in the same way playing members are. This makes it easier for them to help the board make unbiased decisions.

Do ensembles have a say in what is played by the ensemble?

J- Ensemble members have a say in what we play for the christmas concert, however, for all other concerts, the rep we play is decided by our artistic director Lee Hartman.

How has this organization changed in the four years you have been involved?

J- We have grown both in numbers and in musical ability. We are tackling music now that we could not have managed four years ago.

Do you like that change?

J- I do. Sometimes it is a little too ambitious, but for the most part I like the change.

What are some ways you feel that the organization has created a safe space for individuals in the KC Metro area?

J-That is the whole point of the organization, to have a space for people to come and play music and have fun and not worry about, ‘Oh, this person won’t like me because I am gay or bisexual’.

Taking that as your mission for the organization, do you feel that you are all doing a good job achieving this goal?

J-Yeah, I think we are. We are about 30% straight allies, so it is nice to have ally support in the organization.

Have the allies always been a part of the organization?

J- The allies numbers have been growing, but I think that is just a generational thing. People who are my and Mathews age in our 30s and younger, it is just a part of our everyday life.

M- I remember when straight people first showed up and the group said, ‘they are straight, we can't let them join the organization.’ Which I disagreed with because I felt that the organization was about inclusion of people over every sexuality/orientation. Because as far as I can see, straight people have often given us more support than any of the GLBT individuals have. It has been a good change.

M- This whole shift really happened in our organization about eight or so years ago.

Matt, how long have you been a part of the organization?

M- About 11 years at this point.  I still play in the ensemble, which is great. It is better than doing everything else.

M-Well, it is hard because when I took over, we had less than twenty people, and we had just lost our founding director. So it was like everybody needed to know how to get everything done in the organization. We used to need people from the LGBTQ band in St. Louis to come just so we could have a large enough ensemble to play the music. But now we are to the point that we are starting to fall off the stage because there are so many of us. So it is really a good thing.

J-St. Louis also has an LGBTQ ensemble called Band Together.

Since you started playing four years ago, how did you get into being a board member?

J- Lee kinda pulled me into it, and I also am the kind of person who just agrees to everything.

J- We are starting to get a lot of younger individuals. And I think the political climate has had a large effect on that. People are starting to be more and more comfortable with the idea of joining as either an ally or an LGBTQ individual.

M-Also, a lot of gay bands have problems growing because they simply try to be a gay organization. But to be successful they need to do more than just exist as an LGBTQ ensemble. They also need to have social events, a board organization, and make good music. Because you really want the group to interact with the community and grow both socially as well as musically. Because we are all a family for one another, and that has helped us really bond together. Even with the political climate- when Trump got elected we all started to meet up more often. And that day he was elected, almost the whole band met up and just talked about all of our thoughts and concerns in the comfort of our ‘family’.

That is something Dr. Thurmeier mentioned, that the social aspect of the ensemble sometimes seems more important than the music itself.

J-Mhmm, I think that first of all, we are a community band. Then the identity behind that is that we are a gay and lesbian community band. If you google Kansas City Community band, we are always one of the first to come up online.

M- A lot of people want to join the ensemble that are not LGBT accepting, and we allow them. But they do not tend to stick around for too long. And it isn't that we try to hide it either. Our logo is a big rainbow banner.

M- That was before our time. But it is really just a process, and one of those things is that you have to organize a board. And the people on that board have both personal feelings and feelings about what the organization must do- and it can be difficult to do what is best as a board member in those situations. We also had to figure out how to manage money. Such as for a non-profit, you can make money, but it has to be put into that organization. For us we often use it for educational purpose. I remember we used to operate the whole organization on $7000 about six years ago. As soon as we got the backing of Arts KC, we started to have a lot better fortune in finding funding. That is where Lee helped us out a ton. Organizations will respect you more when you have leaders with doctoral degrees who are much more informed on what they are trying to achieve. 

M- It’s different from a normal community band. All the banks and community pitch in the make the concerts work, music is from the high school band library, they don’t pay money for rehearsals. Gay bands don’t have that ability in the same way

M- If it wasn't for band, I would have a lot less friends. Before band I was a super introvert and didn't like to socialize with people, but now you see me and I can go talk to anybody about anything. And it has made me into the leader and person that I am today where I can manage my relationships with people much better. The Freedom band is where I started to develop my own identity, and that is why I started to get involved with the national organization- where I try to help other ensembles find ways to experience some of the growth that I have felt. At first, I was rejected from being a board member. But the ensemble was patient and taught me that, and when I was twenty five the board trusted me enough to be the executive director and to lead the organization. It was probably the biggest professional development that I have seen in my life.

J- It got me out of Warrensburg and became my whole identity. Today, when I introduce myself to people I say my name first, then I tell them about how I am affiliated with the organization. It is always first before everything.

M-I was always the same way. I never told people about my day job as a security officer, rather I told them how I was a director of the board for an ensemble or the treasurer for a national LGBTQ organization. Not that I say these things to brag about the title or the distinction, but instead because these ensembles mean so much to me. Band has just been my life. Without that I would be normal and boring, which is fine. When I came to KC I had nobody really. I was right after I was essentially kicked out of the military for being gay, and the pride band became my family quickly.

M- I am also a part of the national chapter of the gay band association. We do a lot of things with ensembles, like organizing the gay games, which is like an LGBTQ Olympics. I am the treasurer and membership chair for the national committee. I have been on the board for two years, but I was a board member for a year and a half before Obama’s inauguration. We got to march in both of Obama’s inauguration parades which was amazing considering I was carrying the US flag for a gay band, and I was a person who was kicked out of the military for being Gay. Being saluted by everybody down the street was a profound moment for me. And having the pride of this amazing band behind me with the context arching through DC really meant a lot to me and my community

J- We have a two hour practice every week where we are able to meet up and socialize with everybody in the band with us, while also working on music. Which is one of the greatest benefits of this ensemble.

M- I think that since we are an LGBTQ ensemble we have a definite emphasis on the social aspect of the organization. And I think that it is important that the organization have that. Because it is all about finding the proper balance between a social organization, but also a musical organization.

J- We have a wide variety of levels of players in the ensemble. Some of us have advanced degrees in music, while others have not really played their instrument in 15+ years. So it is always unique challenge to try to get everything to work out just fine.

M- We are willing to take any body who is playing though. We used to have a saying that said, “If you are out of the closet, then why isn't your instrument?” We have been active as organization for about fifteen years.

J- We have really been striving to play music by underrepresented composers. Last year for instance we had a concert of all female composers. But we love to play rep by LGBTQ composers. We also also work a lot with churches for performances and spaces to play. Some of our friends are Metropolitian community Church and Trinity Lutheran Church.

For individuals who want to join, what would you tell them?

M- Check out our website and think about what they can do to be involved. We have members who do not play but still support us. We are always willing to build our community, because everybody is welcome in our ensemble.

[cryptobully-blog]

UCSD Students via TRITON FUNDS invest $1,000,000 in DigitalTown, Inc. OTC Markets:DGTW

http://cryptobully.com/ucsd-students-via-triton-funds-invest-1000000-in-digitaltown-inc-otc-marketsdgtw/

UCSD Students via TRITON FUNDS invest $1,000,000 in DigitalTown, Inc. OTC Markets:DGTW

SEATTLE, April 25, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — DIGITALTOWN, INC. (OTC:DGTW) As part of the growing youth interest in DigitalTown, Inc., students from the University of California, San Diego (UCSD), via TRITON FUNDS, are investing $1,000,000 in order to accelerate the rollout of the world’s leading Global Smart City Network across university communities powered by DigitalTown.

DigitalTown CEO, Rob Monster, commented, “Momentum is building for the global adoption of our blockchain-based platform for empowering thriving local economies built on the decentralized Internet. UCSD students and TRITON FUNDS have not only the prospect of financial return but, more importantly, the opportunity to make a real difference for the millennial generation of digital natives that are poised to unleash their true productive potential on the world.”

Sam Yaffa, one of three co-founders of TRITON FUNDS, says, “DigitalTown is one of the few companies that is making progress towards the evolution of the modern city. Led by their visionary CEO, Rob Monster, DigitalTown understands the big picture of implementing a seamless platform for locals and visitors. In addition, the company gives municipalities the opportunity to fund operations through revenue rather than tax. This feat should be applauded, particularly when compared to modern corporate conglomerates that often fail to invest in communities.”

Yash Thukral, co-founder of TRITON FUNDS, adds, “Society is evolving at an unprecedented rate because of the advancements in technology. As members of the millennial generation, our goal is to support companies that understand how to shape an environment that will adapt and revolve around these changes. DigitalTown does it all seamlessly.”

Echoing the sentiment, TRITON FUNDS co-founder, Nathan Yee, comments, “DigitalTown contributes to the essence of what we invest in at TRITON FUNDS. DigitalTown strives to take advantage of the technological innovations of the last decade and focuses on the big picture of connecting people.”

DigitalTown helps people search, connect, and buy local in over 13,000 cities globally. The company’s innovative search technology is branded in the identity of each city and creates discoverable online communities on web and mobile where residents and visitors take part in local economic success. Any member of any DigitalTown is also able to access the services of any other DigitalTown through a single login that empowers residents and visitors to see the world through local eyes.

DigitalTown has embarked on an ambitious plan for the future of communities.  The company envisions a global network of thriving sovereign local economies where residents and visitors buy local and buy direct.  In effect, every city, town or village becomes its own Google, Amazon, Expedia, OpenTable, AirBnB, PayPal and Coinbase, all in one, branded in the identity of the city, and owned by locals through Blockchain-based CityShares.

DigitalTown’s senior leadership team is comprised of proven executives with experience in building large global enterprises.  In addition to fast-paced internal development, the company has completed 7 acquisitions over the last 30 months in order to accelerate time to market for the integrated local-first platform called DigitalTown. The Company’s 11 Board of directors, include 9 non-executive Directors who bring diverse experience.

Rob Monster, CEO of DigitalTown concluded, “The values of DigitalTown and TRITON FUNDS are perfectly aligned.  The Triton team is a timely accelerator in our efforts to engage youth, notably in university communities, in San Diego and beyond. Looking ahead, this partnership will help us to more effectively activate the millennial age cohort who have much to gain from the shift to a decentralized Internet based on Blockchain.”

Users can sign up for the DigitalTown platform here.

About DigitalTown, Inc.

DigitalTown, Inc. (DGTW) powers Smart Cities to succeed in the Digital Age. The company provides turn-key hosted solutions to power “Digital Towns”, which improve Quality of Life for residents and visitors through locally owned solutions for economic development, civic engagement and digital inclusion for cities around the world. For more information about the company, please visit www.digitaltown.com. 

About TRITON FUNDS LLC

TRITON FUNDS is a private investment fund launched by students from the University of California, San Diego (UCSD). TRITON FUNDS provides students the invaluable opportunity to gain real-world experience investing alongside experienced financial professionals. We invest in high performing teams with revolutionary aspirations to grow their company into industry leaders. TRITON FUNDS creates an ecosystem that assists talented entrepreneurs in successfully growing their ideas and maintaining strong community ethical standards. We provide strategic capitalization, business development support, and engineered exits to organizations we believe have a viable future in the modern economy.  More information about TRITON FUNDS, please visit www.tritonfunds.com.

(TRITON FUNDS LLC is not a subsidiary of the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) administration or its student body. The fund is a separate entity from the school and should be treated as such.)

Contact Rob Monster, Chief Executive Officer  425-295-4564; rob@digitaltown.com

Disclaimer – Forward Looking Statement Safe Harbor Language: Any statements contained herein related to future events are forward-looking statements and are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act 1995. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. DigitalTown, Inc. undertakes no obligation to update any such statements to reflect actual events.

OTC Markets News

[zipgrowth]

29 Sessions to Watch During This Year's SXSW EDU

Every year in March the edtech world descends on Austin for SXSW EDU, a conference that’s become as much about classroom practice and implementation as entrepreneurship and tech innovation.

With less than a week until the storytelling-themed keynote kicks things off, we combed through the sessions, workshops and talks that will be filling our heads, and our Twitter feeds, in the days to come.

At times, it’s hard to guess who the organizers are trying to court, with sessions on fidget spinners and yoga wedged between buzzword-heavy talks on “behavioral economics” and smart cars. It’s a real mixed bag, but this year the conference is putting a big emphasis on equity and diversity as well as employability, the implications of artificial intelligence and international education, separating sessions into 25 distinct tracks.

SXSW EDU sessions are separated into 25 different tracks.

Check out our can’t-miss picks below and visit the SXSW EDU website for more on the film screenings, panels, meetups and more to help fill out your schedule.

MONDAY, MARCH 5

K-12

9:30 a.m. Stories of Schooling & Getting Schooled (Keynote): In concert with live radio and podcast platform The Moth, three teachers talk about their lives both inside and out of the classroom. Moth vets Chris De La Cruz, Crystal Duckert and Tim Manly will speak on social justice, hip-hop in learning, teachers’ feelings and more.

12:00 p.m. Can Evidence Even Keep Up with Edtech? Speakers from Newsela, New Market Venture Partners and Academic Business Advisors open up about how the lightning-fast pace of edtech development requires companies to produce evidence for schools in a shortened time frame.

1:00 p.m. The Future of Learning: Convergence of VR, AR, & AI: Treating future technologies as complementary, rather than separate, tools is the best path toward immersive learning. That’s what Maya Georgieva, director of digital learning at The New School, will argue as she explores what’s in store for education's relationship with the most buzzed-about tech.

2:00 p.m. How Educators Lead With Equity in Mind: New York City teacher, activist and founder of EduColor examines how school leaders can support equity and accessibility for all learners.

4:00 p.m. “Look at Me!” Artistically Addressing Behaviors: A trio of speakers, including James Miles from the Seattle nonprofit Art Corps, explore how environment influences student behavior, and how arts programs can inspire and change the trajectory for troubled students.

5:00 p.m. Diversity in Edtech: It’s Not a Pipeline Problem: Enough talk about the “pipeline” as the reason behind why women and people of color are underrepresented in the edtech industry. Speakers from NewSchools Venture Fund, FlyTechnista, Flocabulary and New York on Tech will explore how companies and organizations can hire and support diverse candidates.

Higher Ed

11:00 a.m. The Evolution of MOOCs: Six Years Later: Are MOOCs still around? (Yes.) Dhawal Shah, CEO and founder of Class Central, has spent the last six years tracking them. Here’s his look at the five major trends impacting these companies—and why countries are launching their own platforms.

2:00 p.m. The Invisible 34%: First-Gen College Students: How can policymakers better support first-gen college students and give them opportunities to thrive? Hear how leaders from Students for Education Reform and Michelle Obama’s Better Make Room campaign are giving voice to these oft-ignored learners.

3:30 p.m. (Un)Affordability in Higher Education: This is not a newsflash: college is expensive. But are alternative financing models helping make tuition less of an obstacle for aspiring students? A pair of entrepreneurs from a scholarship startup and an income-share agreement company join Lumina Foundation and Money Magazine to explore.

EdSurge

4:00 p.m. A Flipped Future? Lightning Talks on Teaching: EdSurge senior writer Jeff Young will facilitate a series of lightning talks on how college teaching is being transformed by trends in big data, flipped classrooms and learning sciences. Speakers include Emory Craig (College of New Rochelle), Rachel Davenport (Texas State University) and Brian Fleming (Southern New Hampshire University).

TUESDAY, MARCH 6:

K-12

11:00 a.m. Grow Your Own Teachers: When in Austin...do as the Austinites. Local educators and community activists will take to the SXSWedu stage to talk about the city’s various programs designed to support and nurture teachers—both for today and the future.

2:00 p.m. Choosing Love After Sandy Hook with SEL: The mother of a Sandy Hook victim shares a social-emotional learning program that aims to help preK-12 students develop courage, gratitude, forgiveness and compassion.

3:30 p.m. Examining Our Faith in Educational Technology: For those looking to do some soul searching about which and whether technology has a role in education, hear from Richard Culatta (CEO of ISTE and former federal edtech director), MaryEllen Elia (a commissioner at the NY state education department) and Hugh Norwood, who runs a company that helps scale edtech projects in underserved K-12 schools.

Higher Ed

9:30 a.m. WE over Me: From College to Movement (Keynote): Michael Sorrell, President of Paul Quinn College, shares what he’s learned from turning around what was once a failing HBCU—and his vision for creating a network of “Urban Work Colleges.”

3:30 p.m. Break the Mold: New Models Connecting EDU & Work: In an hourlong session (sponsored by Wells Fargo), three higher ed leaders and a handful of students will discuss the post-MOOC landscape upending existing learning models and helping graduates navigate a the post-college career world.

4:30 p.m. The Tough Love Advice Edtech Needs to Hear: Higher ed’s risk-averse culture can stifle efforts to experiment and innovate. But Bridget Burns, executive director of The University Innovation Alliance, believes the edtech industry can also be more supportive as well. Hear how companies can be smarter about engaging with school leaders.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 7

K-12

11:00 a.m. Combat Bias, Interrupt Privilege, Include All: Inclusive classrooms do not happen by themselves but rather require educators to confront personal identity and bias and their impact in the classroom. This session will mix personal reflection, dialog and group discussion to help schools build more inclusive environments for students.

12:30 p.m. Media Literacy in the Era of Fake News: Helping students make sense of media may be more important now than ever. Here, two media instructors inform the debate to help educators tackle topics such as partisan sources, personal bias and the tools that will help set students up for success.

2:00 p.m. The Best Internet Filter Is Between a Child’s Ears: With so much of today’s students’ identities tied to their digital lives, educators and other adults must consider how kids learn, play and interact online outside the classroom—and how these observations can inform digital citizenship efforts that help keep students safe.

5:00 p.m. Computation & Kids: High School Digital Humanities: Computational thinking seems like the new must-have 21st century skill. Now, coding, data analytics and analysis are taking humanities subjects like history and literature in a whole new direction.

Higher Ed

11:00 a.m. NudgeU: Learning from Behavioral Economics: Can behavioral economics reveal simple steps that colleges can take to close the achievement gap? A college administrator joins experts from a think tank, a company and the radio show Marketplace to see whether the solutions to student success are as complex as the obstacles.

3:30 p.m. Strategies to Help Lower-Income Kids Go to College: In an era when a college degree is still the best path to higher earnings, many students are still being left behind. Two higher-ed leaders share how institutions can flip the script and begin enrolling and graduating more lower-income students.

EdSurge

11:00 a.m. AI: Learning Game-Changer or Something to Fear? Elon Musk says he fears artificial intelligence. But McGraw-Hill Education and Arizona State University beg to differ. Speakers from both groups will join EdSurge assistant editor, Sydney Johnson, for a conversation around what colleges must learn as artificial intelligence becomes a reality.

3:30 p.m. LOOP: A Networking Experiment Meet Up: Instructional designers and digital learning leaders in higher education are welcome to join for a networking experiment where we’ll pair participants based on their projects or research. Our goal: generate those “Aha!” moments as you share resources, challenges and perspectives on common problems.

THURSDAY, MARCH 8

K-12

9:30 a.m. The Breakthrough of Drone Education: Drones in the classroom are taking off. With an emphasis on coding, making, and problem-solving, drone education is expanding into more disciplines and subject areas than ever before.

11:00 a.m. Pandora's Headset: The Ethics of VR in Education: From virtual bullying to excessive data collection, virtual reality’s dark side may be larger than supposed. Tech/gaming expert and author Matt Sparks dives deep into the ethical considerations and what educators should know.

Higher Ed

9:30 a.m. The Adult Student Meets the Network Effect: More than 80 million U.S. adults graduated high school but never got a college degree. Goldie Blumenstyk, a journalist from The Chronicle of Higher Education, joins Hadass Sheffer from The Graduate! Network to explore why it can be a challenge for adult students who want to go back to school.

10:00 a.m. College Prepping for the Workplace: The New Deal: What’s in a degree? Or GPA, grades and test scores for that matter? This workshop will explore other measures and a framework that better align with the skills that students have—and what employers really want.

12:30 p.m. Closing Keynotes: Alaa Murabit, a medical professional and United Nations commissioner, will kick off a trio of 30-minute keynotes with a look at education, conflict and emerging global issues. That’s followed up by CZI’s education chief, Jim Shelton, who proposes broadening how we define “success” in the classroom. Finally, teacher-journalist Jessica Lahey will share keys to boosting kids’ motivation and outcomes.

29 Sessions to Watch During This Year's SXSW EDU published first on https://medium.com/@GetNewDLBusiness