afkar collective

Exciting news from Smart City Expo Barcelona! 🌆🎉 Our esteemed partner, Leading Cities, is wrapping up the grand finale of Accelicty - a groundbreaking program accelerating urban innovation and smart city solutions. The event is showcasing cutting-edge technologies and ideas that are set to transform our cities, making them more sustainable, efficient, and livable. It is inspiring to see the brightest minds in urban planning and tech come together to shape the future of our metropolitan areas. Huge congratulations to all the startups and innovators participating in Accelicty. Their vision and hard work are paving the way for smarter, more connected communities worldwide. A big thank you to Leading Cities for their continued commitment to fostering urban innovation and to Smart City Expo Barcelona for hosting this incredible event. The future of our cities looks brighter than ever! 🌟 #SmartCities #UrbanInnovation #Accelicty #LeadingCities #SmartCityExpo #Barcelona #UrbanTech #Innovation

🏗️ Shaping the Future of Urban Spaces! 🌆 We're thrilled to highlight the remarkable contribution of Areti Markopoulou, esteemed advisor to Afkar Collective, at the Smart City Expo Barcelona! Today, Areti moderated a cutting-edge panel titled "Building Tomorrow," bringing together visionaries and experts in urban development and technology. As a renowned architect and urban technologist, Areti's expertise in innovative, sustainable urban solutions aligns perfectly with Afkar Collective's mission to drive impactful change in our cities. Key topics explored in the panel include: • Sustainable urban development strategies • Integration of smart technologies in city infrastructure • Resilient and adaptable urban design for future challenges Areti's role in facilitating this crucial dialogue underscores the importance of collaborative, forward-thinking approaches in creating the cities of tomorrow. We're proud to have such visionary leaders as part of our advisory board, helping to guide our efforts in fostering innovation and sustainable development across the MENA region and beyond. Stay tuned for insights and takeaways from this groundbreaking discussion that will shape our approach to building smarter, more livable cities! #SmartCities #UrbanInnovation #Sustainability #AfkarCollective #SmartCityExpo #BuildingTomorrow #MENAInnovation

🌟 Afkar Collective is proud to spotlight our partner organization and advisor at the forefront of urban innovation! 🏙️ Michael Lake CEO and President of Leading Cities and esteemed advisor to Afkar Collective, is currently presenting at a groundbreaking panel at Smart City Expo Barcelona. The panel, organized by NVIDIA and Dell Technologies, is titled: "Reimagining Urban Life: The Power of Generative AI in City Planning and Public Services" The speakers are: Michael Lake Jean Barroca Armand Raudin Martin Yates This cutting-edge discussion explores: • How generative AI is transforming urban development • Enhancing public services through advanced technology • Creating smarter, more responsive cities for tomorrow As a trusted advisor to Afkar Collective, Michael's insights at this global stage reflect our shared commitment to leveraging technology for urban advancement and social impact. We're excited to see how the ideas exchanged at this pivotal event will shape our collaborative efforts in building smarter, more sustainable cities across the MENA region and beyond. Stay tuned for key takeaways and future initiatives inspired by this groundbreaking discussion! #SmartCities #GenerativeAI #UrbanInnovation #PublicServices #AfkarCollective #LeadingCities #SmartCityExpo #MENAInnovation

🌟 Community-Driven Innovation: Reshaping Urban Landscapes 🏙️ In an era where top-down urban planning often falls short, the Utopias of Iztapalapa, Mexico, shine as a beacon of community-led innovation. This inspiring project demonstrates how local ingenuity can transform struggling neighborhoods into thriving hubs of creativity and resilience. Key Takeaways: 1️⃣ Harnessing Local Knowledge: Residents' intimate understanding of their environment drives relevant, sustainable solutions. 2️⃣ Micro-Innovations, Macro Impact: Small-scale solutions like community gardens add up to significant urban improvements. 3️⃣ Technology as an Enabler: Digital tools support community initiatives rather than dictating them. 4️⃣ Cross-Pollination of Ideas: Diverse collaboration leads to unexpected and effective solutions. 5️⃣ Scaling Through Networks: Knowledge-sharing networks allow successful innovations to spread organically. 6️⃣ Embracing Failure: A culture of experimentation fosters genuine innovation and continuous improvement. The Iztapalapa model offers a compelling case for rethinking urban regeneration. By placing communities at the heart of innovation, we unlock a wellspring of creativity and sustainable solutions. As urban challenges mount globally, perhaps it's time we looked not to boardrooms, but to our streets and neighborhoods for the most powerful innovations. What are your thoughts on community-driven urban innovation? Share your experiences or ideas below! 👇 https://lnkd.in/dgWnMqKm #UrbanInnovation #CommunityDevelopment #SustainableCities #Innovation

Today, Michael Lake CEO of Leading Cities is spearheading an expert panel at the Smart City Expo in Barcelona. They're exploring bold strategies to fund the future of sustainable, innovative cities. Michael and the panel are diving into cutting-edge approaches like public-private partnerships, impact investing, and green bonds - sharing practical insights to help city leaders unlock the resources needed for urban transformation. As Afkar Collective's partnership with Leading Cities continues to drive smart city solutions, we're honored to have Michael represent our organization on this global stage. Stay tuned for updates on the discussion and the future of smart city funding. #SmartCities #Sustainability #Innovation #Funding #AfarCollective #LeadingCitie

Exciting news from our partners at Leading Cities! Jennifer James, a distinguished member of the Leading Cities Board, is currently representing our shared vision at the Smart City Expo in Barcelona! 🌇 As Afkar Collective, we're thrilled to see our global partnership making waves on the international stage. 🎤 Jennifer is participating in a crucial panel discussion on "Technology, Equity, and the Future of Digital Inclusion" – topics that resonate deeply with our mission in the Middle East. 🌐 This conversation is bridging global perspectives on how we can leverage technology to build more inclusive and equitable smart cities – a goal we're actively pursuing in our region. 🤝 Our partnership with Leading Cities continues to open doors for knowledge exchange and collaborative innovation across borders. We're excited to bring the insights from this global dialogue back to our local initiatives, furthering our commitment to creating smarter, more inclusive cities in the Middle East. Stay tuned for updates as we continue to work hand-in-hand with Leading Cities to shape the future of our urban spaces! #SmartCityExpo #DigitalInclusion #AfkarCollective #LeadingCities #MiddleEastInnovation #GlobalPartnerships

Excited to announce that Afkar Collective is attending the Smart City Expo World Congress in Barcelona! 🌆🌟 We're thrilled to be part of this global event showcasing cutting-edge urban solutions and innovations. Our team is looking forward to: • Exploring the latest smart city technologies • Networking with industry leaders and innovators • Sharing our insights on sustainable urban development • Learning about new trends in urban planning and IoT Are you attending #SCEWC23? Let's connect! We'd love to exchange ideas and discuss how we can collaborate to build smarter, more sustainable cities. #SmartCities #UrbanInnovation #Sustainability #AfkarCollective #Barcelona

In the wake of Valencia's recent devastating floods, a remarkable initiative has emerged that reminds us of the power of community and the importance of our shared memories. The University of Valencia has launched a project to restore flood-damaged family photos. At first glance, this might seem like a small gesture amidst widespread destruction. But it's so much more. These photos aren't just paper and ink – they're tangible links to our past, visual anchors of our identities. By saving these irreplaceable memories, the university is helping to preserve the very essence of what makes our community unique. This initiative highlights a crucial, often overlooked aspect of disaster recovery: the preservation of cultural heritage. It's not just about rebuilding structures; it's about maintaining the threads that weave our community together. #DisasterRecovery #CommunityResilience #CulturalHeritage #Valencia https://lnkd.in/dkmxRjPf

Globally, more than 122.6 million people — 1 in every 67 — are forcibly displaced from their homes due to persecution, conflict, violence, human rights violations and other threats. They cannot return without risking their lives, safety or freedom. Urgent action is needed to address this growing human tragedy. Latest data from the UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency: https://lnkd.in/gEnV-BxJ

This year, part of the Afkar Collective team was fortunate enough to experience the vibrant celebrations of Día de los Muertos in Mexico. This deeply meaningful holiday, also known as Day of the Dead, honors loved ones who have passed and celebrates the rich cultural traditions of Mexico. Our team was moved by the beautiful altars, vibrant marigold flowers, and the sense of community and remembrance that permeates this annual observance. We are grateful to have had the opportunity to immerse ourselves in this special time and to learn more about the history and significance of Día de los Muertos. As a global collective focused on fostering cross-cultural understanding, experiences like this remind us of the importance of respecting and celebrating diverse traditions. We look forward to bringing some of the spirit of Día de los Muertos back with us as we continue our mission of cultivating meaningful connections worldwide. #DíaDeMuertos #MexicanCulture #GlobalCollective #CrossCulturalExchange #CulturalTraditions