UN Habitat and the University of Chicago invite you to join a new network committed to creating, implementing, and sharing tools and research for community engagement and empowerment.

The Global Symposium on Sustainable Cities and Neighborhoods will assemble leading urban practitioners, community organizations, researchers, policy makers, and businesses, all of whom are committed to a networked approach to achieving UN Habitat’s global sustainable development goals. Symposium invitees are organizations with a focus on neighborhood-based development, and a curiosity and enthusiasm for new tools and knowledge.

Set against the backdrop of the City and the University of Chicago, the 3-day symposium will provide participants from diverse geographies and institutional settings  the opportunity to exchange experiences through short colloquia, discussion panels, and field trips. Participants will be invited to explore inclusive approaches to community and neighborhood development, as well as ways that knowledge on neighborhoods can be aligned with actions on climate change, poverty, and urban inequality.

Participants will be encouraged to create multi-partner networks to share successful local practices, and discuss ways these can be globally scaled. The Symposium will make deliberate efforts to formalize networks of neighborhoods and support institutions that can promote sustainable urban development.

As we prepare for World Urban Forum 10 in 2020, the Symposium will work towards bringing together partners and institutions committed to the same goals and paving the way for deeper collaboration in the future.