Expansion of Urban95 Academy into Latin America with establishment of first regional center
Urban95 Academy Expands into Latin America, Focusing on Child-Friendly Urban Design
The Urban95 Academy, a globally recognized leadership program focused on making cities more child-friendly by improving urban design, is expanding its reach to Latin America. This expansion is a collaborative effort between Tecnológico de Monterrey, Fundacion FEMSA, LSE Cities, and the Van Leer Foundation.
The collaboration aims to equip city leaders with the knowledge and skills necessary to create urban environments that support young children’s development and caregivers' needs. By incorporating research, technology, and participatory planning in urban design, the initiative seeks to foster inclusive and sustainable cities.
Key partners in this endeavour include the London School of Economics (LSE) Cities, which co-leads the Urban95 Academy through policy fellows like Katie Beck. The Van Leer Foundation, a Dutch organization supporting initiatives to improve the health and wellbeing of babies and toddlers worldwide, is another crucial partner. Local Latin American urban development initiatives such as Huasipichanga, which promotes participatory urban development and citizen engagement, also play a significant role.
The Urban95 Academy promotes designing public life and infrastructure through data-driven and participatory methods to address children's needs in city planning. Efforts include improving the safety and quality of streets and public spaces around schools and neighborhoods where young children live and play. By engaging municipal leaders and local communities, the program encourages child-focused urban policies that contribute to healthier, more livable cities for families.
The expansion into Latin America has already shown promising results. Mayors like Claudio Castro, the Mayor of Renca, Chile, and Paula Schild Mascarenhas, the Mayor of Pelotas, Brazil, have completed the Urban95 Academy and made their cities more child-friendly as a result. Over 100 cities from Latin American countries, including Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico, and Peru, have participated in the Urban95 Academy's global programme.
Fundacion FEMSA sees this collaboration as a means to achieve a more prosperous, equitable, and sustainable Latin America. Tec de Monterrey believes education is a tool for change in shaping sustainable and inclusive cities. Rushda Majeed, Chief Programme Officer of the Van Leer Foundation, notes the leadership, advocacy, and partnership of Latin American cities in the Urban95 initiative and the potential of the expanded offer to have more leaders join the movement towards creating cities where the wellbeing of families is at the centre of local government decision-making.
In summary, the Urban95 Academy’s expansion into Latin America combines expertise from global institutions, local partnerships, and leadership training to transform urban design around children's needs, with a significant focus on participatory approaches and improving the quality of life for young children and their caregivers in cities. LSE Cities notes a strong demand from the region for knowledge about urban design, and the Urban95 Academy Programme Manager at LSE Cities is Katie Beck. The collaboration aims to create urban spaces where young children and their caregivers can thrive.
- The Urban95 Academy, expanding in Latin America, focuses on child-friendly urban design, aiming to equip city leaders with the knowledge to create sustainable cities that support young children's development and caregivers' needs.
- The collaboration between Tecnológico de Monterrey, Fundacion FEMSA, LSE Cities, and the Van Leer Foundation, co-led by Katie Beck, is geared towards fostering inclusive cities through research, technology, and participatory planning in urban design.
- By promoting data-driven and participatory methods, the Urban95 Academy aims to improve the safety and quality of streets and public spaces around schools and neighborhoods, challenging city leaders to adopt child-focused urban policies.
- Key partners in this endeavor include the London School of Economics (LSE) Cities, the Van Leer Foundation, and local initiatives like Huasipichanga, focusing on participatory urban development and citizen engagement.
- Already, mayors from cities like Renca, Chile, and Pelotas, Brazil, have completed the Urban95 Academy, making their cities more child-friendly, and over 100 cities across Latin America have participated in the Academy's program.
- Fundacion FEMSA views this collaboration as a means to create a more prosperous, equitable, and sustainable Latin America, while Tec de Monterrey sees education as a tool for shaping sustainable and inclusive cities.
- The Van Leer Foundation highlights the leadership, advocacy, and partnership of Latin American cities in the Urban95 initiative, noting the potential of the expanded offer to onboard more leaders for creating cities where family wellbeing is prioritized.
- LSE Cities observes a strong demand from the region for urban design knowledge, with Katie Beck serving as the Urban95 Academy Programme Manager, and the collaboration aims to create urban spaces where young children and caregivers can thrive.
