Jul 06, 2021
Biophilia is the innate human connection to nature, and cities around the world are discovering that it is more than just a feel-good notion. Creating experiences of nature in the urban environment has measurable physiological, psychological, and economic benefits. Streetscapes, parks, rooftops, and stormwater systems all offer opportunities for meaningful connections to nature.
By Andrew Snowhite and William Browning.
May 11, 2021
DISCOVER OUR PROGRAM: Experts and city leaders share common goals and challenges in podcasts, webinars and keynotes. The Wellbeing Cities initiative celebrates cities around the world transforming urban life by placing wellbeing at the heart of their policy and planning. Since 2018, the Wellbeing Cities Award has recognized more than 40 cities on all five continents and gathered more than…
May 07, 2021
Bogotá, Colombia Wellbeing Cities Winner ABOUT “Our mandate is to make Bogotá a caring, inclusive, sustainable city, where quality and relevant education is the main driver for social and economic transformation.” During 2020 Bogotá has focused its efforts on dealing with the pandemic to ensure the well-being of its citizens and also to promote a green…
May 01, 2021
The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and NewCities signed a Memorandum of Understanding exploring informal systems in the world’s cities with a special focus on informal transportation. NewCities and UNDP will work together to learn how indigenous innovation can be harnessed to empower communities to meet the Sustainable Development Goals. Through the MOU, UNDP Accelerator…
Mar 17, 2021
By Greg Lindsay, NewCities It has been a year since the pause on urban-life-as-we-know-it across much of the Global North. A year since the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a pandemic, since the day the NBA suspended play, since New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio told New Yorkers — in a moment of either…
Feb 11, 2021
Wellbeing Cities 2021 ADVANCING AND CELEBRATING URBAN WELLBEING 3rd Edition | 2nd Edition | 1st Edition The Wellbeing Cities initiative celebrates cities around the world transforming urban life by placing wellbeing at the heart of their policy and planning. Since 2018, the Wellbeing Cities Award has recognized more than 40 cities on all five continents and gathered more than 1,500 global…
Jan 22, 2021
St. LouisA New Urban Champion New Urban Champions is an initiative created to showcase the most successful, but less frequently told stories of collaboration, growth, and problem-solving happening in mid-sized cities that deserve a greater share of the spotlight. NewCities convened its first New Urban Champions Learning Expedition in Columbus, Ohio in October 2018. For this second edition, NewCities…
Dec 01, 2020
Fireside Chat with Shaun Donovan, Former US Secretary of Housing and Urban Development & John Rossant, Chairman of NewCities Shaun Donovan shared his hopeful predictions for the change of administration, his past and present campaign motivations, and his prioritization of equity and inclusion into all aspects of his leadership. Here were a few things that…
Oct 06, 2020
Photo by Rachel Martin on Unsplash. The history of black housing in America is one of segregation, stigma, and wealth destruction, not creation. Architect Melvin Mitchell, CEO of Bryant Mitchell Architects, calls for a new black-owned and controlled corner of the housing industry, one capable of creating household wealth for black communities rather than funneling…
Oct 06, 2020
We have long known that our physical and social environment impacts our overall health—from pollution, air and water quality, to our working conditions and access to housing. COVID-19 has brought to light the importance of optimizing cities for urban wellbeing, calling into question spatial planning and density, public space, and health systems. To what extent…
Aug 24, 2020
Population growth, mass migration, climate change, a global pandemic, and a civil rights movement have pushed cities around the world to rethink how they can provide a more accessible, affordable, safe housing that fosters health, happiness, and community. NewCities’ first virtual event, New Housing Solutions LIVE, aimed to respond to the need for new tools,…
Aug 24, 2020
The pressing need for affordable workforce housing continues to grow, unabated—fueled by escalating land and construction costs, restrictive zoning, and very low real wage growth. How can we build additional affordable-workforce housing in neighborhoods served by public transit options, and near job centers? How can we bring down the cost of housing, and simplify the…
