Opportunity
Most of us around the world call cities home, including here in Canada, where more than 80 percent of people live in urban areas. Globally, another 2.5 billion people will live in cities by 2050. Urbanization represents one of the greatest challenges of our times, particularly because of rising social inequalities, unprecedented demographic shifts, and environmental degradation. We must make fundamental changes to the way we think about and build cities if they are to become places where all people can thrive.
Our aim in Cities for People is to support inclusive urban innovationInclusive urban innovation: the process of developing strategies and solutions that challenge current urban practices and institutions for systemic change, creating cities that better address changing societal needs, aspirations as well as environmental imperatives. that contributes to more resilientResilience: the capacity of communities to self-organize, proactively absorb shocks and take advantage of opportunity. A resilient city is one where infrastructure and amenities are deployed to meet the needs of all. and livable cities for all people.
Our approach to city change
Cities are “systems of systems”—they encompass streets, buildings, public spaces, parks, libraries, residential spaces, institutions, social networks and economic activity. Viewing cities this way helps us find opportunities to support efforts to make positive changes.
Following an experimental phase, in 2016 Cities for People began working with other entities to develop an approach for changing cities. We have teamed up with a host of institutions, municipalities and non-profit organizations to pursue the following priorities: 1) increasing equality, 2) strengthening the city as a commonsThe commons: our streets, parks, squares and other places where people gather to celebrate, learn, rest, play, trade, express collective aspirations, and provide for themselves and one another. The commons are spaces where we do together what we can’t do alone., 3) enabling city labs, and 4) supporting urban innovation networks. Cities for People provides backbone functions to facilitate learning, communications, and field-building across the system. We aspire to collectively advance change and create conditions to better equip cities to meet the challenges of our times.
Focus Areas
How We Support Change
Recent Grants & Investments
Impact & Lessons Learned
