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18 May 2012New Cities Summit Explores 21st Century Urbanization
This week in Paris, the inaugural New Cities Summit brings together hundreds of global thought leaders—spanning the spheres of business, policy, technology, infrastructure, finance, government, civil society, philanthropy and academia—for three days of discussion about the future of cities in the 21st century. The landmark summit is organized by the New Cities Foundation, which is working to achieve a socially, economically and environmentally sustainable urban future.
Earlier this year, the Ford Foundation became the first philanthropy to join the New Cities Foundation, and has provided support for the summit. That support is rooted in our commitment to realizing just cities: Cities that are shaped by fairness, opportunity and a commitment to shared prosperity. “By working together to build just cities—shaped by fairness, sustainability and shared prosperity—we believe that urbanization can be a positive force in the lives of billions of the world’s residents,” explained George McCarthy, director of the foundation’s work on Metropolitan Opportunity. “Meeting that challenge demands fresh thinking, new global partnerships and frank discussion.”
McCarthy and Pablo Farías, Ford’s vice president of Economic Opportunity and Assets, participated respectively in two New Cities Summit sessions centered around the just city concept.
From left to right, Kasim Reed and Leila Janah
Breakout Session: The Just City, May 15
Watch Video (1:18:06)
Victor d’Allant, CEO, Dallant Networks
Leila Janah, CEO, Samasource
Kasim Reed, Mayor, Atlanta
Moderated by George McCarthy, Director, Metropolitan Opportunity, Ford Foundation
From left to right, Pablo Farías, Kasim Reed, Vivek Badrinath and Ron Huldai
Plenary Session: Partnering for Better Cities, May 16
Watch Video (1:01:59)
Vivek Badrinath, CEO, Orange Business Services
Pablo Farías, Vice President of Economic Opportunity and Assets, Ford Foundation
Ron Huldai, Mayor, Tel Aviv
Kasim Reed, Mayor, Atlanta
Moderated by Saskia Sassen, Robert S. Lynd Professor of Sociology; Co-chair, The Committee on Global Thought, Columbia University
More Information
- Watch the highlights video from the New Cities Summit 2012, and explore the New Cities Foundation YouTube channel
- Learn about the New Cities Summit and download the program (PDF)
- Follow @newcitiesfound on Twitter and join the #NCS conversation
- Connect with the New Cities Foundation on Facebook
- Visit the New Cities Foundation online
- Read about the focus of our work in Metropolitan Opportunity
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