Collect Insights
Interview someone living in a struggling city or region to learn more.
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ECO CIDADAO Project - Strengthening and Integration Organizations Collectors of Recyclable Materials
Increased recycling project inclusive of Brazil
Learning from St. Raymond (Montreal)... What makes it vibrant and what does not...
The following three short interviews talk about what makes a neighbour like St. Raymond (Montreal) exciting, vibrant and interesting… Also, what could be changed and improved.
DeletedUser
Speaking with my friend Safiatou from Bamako, Mali.
Safiatou lives in neighborhood called Calaban Coura (means “New city”), with a lot of houses are in a never-ending process of construction because of the economic situation and also a high porcentage of women without economic possibilities.
800 pound gorilla: vibrancy and violence
Vibrancy and Violence in neighborhoods in transition.
DeletedUser
Doctors fight for survival in Hungary
Medical students face a big dilemma upon graduating in Hungary - they can continue on interning and specializing in Hungary for so little salary that they might starve to death or move abroad and leave their beloved country behind.
Parking Lots Are a Waste of Space and a Drag on Growth
Forbes article released today: Parking lots really do negatively effect a community.
DeletedUser
Quick Fix
Sustainability and public design in neighborhoods in transition
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FARM:shop self-sustainable cycle of local urban agriculture in Hackney, London
The Farmshop transformed a derelict building in Dalston, London into an urban food hub with chickens on the roof, pigs in the backyard, and aquaphonic fish thanks in the livingroom. The rooms of the building are used for growing vegetables and educat
Recife: Insights from the Northeast corner of Brazil
I have been visiting Recife, located in the Northeast corner of Brazil, for over 10 years now, and have been surprised by the recent rapid changes for the better (in terms of economic development). An interesting mix of policy decisions is analyzed
"Black Friday sucks"
Last week I talked with local business owners in our downtown and unanimously they were not fans of Black Friday.
DeletedUser
Mapping Happiness with Flowers
Is happiness relative, especially in cities where wealth disparities are apparent? I interviewed members from slums to the general public for stories. I asked them to rate their happiness from 1-10, reflecting the number of flowers in each portrait.
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Cultural Tax-Incentives
Using tax incentives to promote cultural events. In Brazil, there is a law (called "Rouanet"), which gives corporations the incentive to invest in cultural events. This is essentially how city in a poor region is able to finance cultural events...
Urban Innovation – Las Vegas Downtown Project
CEO Tony Hsieh is “gambling on downtown Las Vegas”, and betting that moving Zappos out of the suburbs will pay off in an urban revival.
Who are you?
Dynamics of neighborhoods in transition.
DeletedUser
Room For Growth
Creating room for people to GROW is essential to restoring vibrancy.
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Community Buy-In and Working Together
How can we motivate the masses to participate in the revitalization of their city? And once they're motivated, how can we get people to work together effectively?
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Citizen of Detroit Ready to Fight Poverty
Here are 3 stories from Detroit. I'm sorry for this post, it's really hard to watch, but these emotional speeches make us see the problem differently.
PARK(ing): Taking Back Parking Space for Public Space
In 2005, a San Francisco art and design studio called Rebar converted a metered parking space into a temporary public park in downtown SF. PARK(ing) Day has evolved into a global movement and led to permanent "parklets" popping up all over the city.
DeletedUser
Jane Jacobs and the power of activism. Classic insight, still relevant 50 years later.
This isn't an interview of someone in my city, but insightful. Fifty years ago this month, Random House published The Death and Life of Great American Cities, an extraordinary book in which Jacobs laid out the principles for creating a healthy city.
DeletedUser
The Carmageddon Insight: Re-discovering Vibrancy with a Vibrant Mindset
Vibrancy might just arise from taking time to "rediscover" what vibrancy our communities already have. The Carmageddon (the name for the anticipated closure of the 405 freeway in Los Angeles) became an opportunity to rediscover vibrancy in LA.
DeletedUser
Detroit's Financial Crisis
One hurdle to creating a more vibrant Detroit is funding for vibrancy-related efforts. The city expects 2,000+ jobs (31% of the city's general workforce) to get cut, with a raise in taxes and additional cuts to cultural programs.