Global Designing Cities Initiative

GDCI keeps growing 🎉 Please welcome Renata Carvalho, Julia Guibu Vannucchi, and Estefanía Mejía Tamayo to the team! Renata is an an architect, urbanist and transport planner from Brazil, now based in London. She's previously worked with GDCI as a consultant for the Bloomberg Philanthropies Initiative for Cycling Infrastructure (BICI), and now officially joins GDCI as Design Manager. Julia joins the Design and Research team from São Paulo as Graphics Associate. Before joining GDCI, she has previously collaborated with the team on projects such as the Recife Street Design Manual -- adapting concepts from the Global Street Design Guide to the local context. Estefanía is a civil engineer and architect from Colombia with focus on urban development, sustainable mobility, and urban planning. She is the newest Program Associate on the BICI team, working with cities across the Americas. 👋 Welcome Renata, Julia, and Estefanía!

🌍 Join GDCI at the #WUF12 Future Generations Zone next week for the launch of two new booklets to help cities worldwide create safer, more joyful #StreetsforKids! These new resources will supplement our award-winning Designing Streets for Kids guide: 🚸 🚲 👩🏽🦽🚶🏽♂️ "How to Engage Kids in Street Design” offers strategies and practical tools for cities to engage children in the street design process, demonstrating how their perspectives can create streets that are safer, more inclusive and more enjoyable for all ages. 📈 🎒 🚦 “How to Evaluate Street Transformations Near Schools” provides specialized guidance on evaluating street transformations near schools to measure impact, gather stories, and champion safer, healthier, and more joyful streets for kids. 📅 Event: Future Generations Zone, Urban Expo (Hall 4) - World Urban Forum, Cairo 🗓 Date: Wednesday, November 8, 4:00-5:00 p.m. We hope to see you there!

¡#StreetsforKids significa mas espacios para jugar y pasar el rato! El proyecto "Buzeta Caminable" en Cerrillos, Chile 🇨🇱 promovió el juego y la actividad física en 350 niños y niñas de la escuela Pedro Aguirre Cerda. El piloto mostró cómo un vecindario en proceso de densificación puede beneficiarse de intervenciones centradas en los niños que brinden mejores calles para todos. GDCI se asoció con Ciudad Emergente, la Municipalidad de Cerrillos y la Universidad Mayor para peatonalizar una calle de 70 metros de largo, recuperando 820 metros cuadrados de espacio público para niños, niñas y sus cuidadores para socializar y jugar. Más de 200 niños, niñas, cuidadores, miembros de la comunidad, empleados municipales y estudiantes de arquitectura participaron en un proceso de cuatro meses de duración que contribuyó al diseño e implementación de la transformación la calle. El proyecto implementado incluyó muebles lúdicos, vegetación, senalización y arte vibrante en el pavimento, creando una sensación de lugar para que la comunidad escolar socialice y juegue. 🤾🏫 Los resultados del proyecto fueron inmediatos: 🚶♀️Volúmenes de peatones: ⬆️562% 👩🏽🍼Actividades de cuidado: ⬆️100% ¡Todos los participantes de la encuesta se sintieron más seguros y querían peatonalizar la calle de forma permanente! Después del proyecto, la comunidad escolar, incluidos más de 100 niños y niñas, junto con el personal y las familias, recogió firmas y redactó una carta a la alcaldesa solicitando que la calle permaneciera cerrada a los autos y abierta para que todos se muevan y jueguen libremente.🌟 🎥 Mira el video completo que documenta esta inspiradora transformación: https://lnkd.in/gDF24MeA ¡Muchas gracias a la FIA Foundation, Fondation Botnar y la Van Leer Foundation por su apoyo!

#StreetsforKids means more spaces to play and hang out! The "Buzeta Caminable" project in Cerrillos, Chile 🇨🇱 promoted play and physical activity for 350 children from the Pedro Aguirre Cerda school. The pilot was implemented to showcase how a densifying neighborhood can benefit from children-focused interventions that deliver better streets for all. GDCI partnered with Ciudad Emergente, the Municipality of Cerrillos, and the Universidad Mayor to pedestrianize a 70-meter-long street, reclaiming 820 sqm of public space for kids and their caregivers to socialize and play. Over 200 children, caregivers, community members, city officials, and architecture students participated in a four-month-long engagement process that contributed to the design and implementation of the street transformation. The implemented design featured playful furniture, vegetation, signage, and vibrant pavement art, creating a sense of place for the school community to play and congregate. 🤾🏫 The project’s results were immediate: 🚶♀️Pedestrian volumes: ⬆️562% 👩🏽🍼Caregiving activities: ⬆️100% All survey participants felt safer and wanted to keep the street permanently pedestrianized! After the project, the school community, including more than 100 children along with staff and families, rallied together to collect signatures and draft a formal letter to the Mayor, urging that the street remain closed to vehicles and open for the school kids to move and play freely.🌟 🎥 Watch the full video documenting this inspiring transformation: https://lnkd.in/gDF24MeA Many thanks to FIA Foundation, Fondation Botnar and the Van Leer Foundation for their support!

📣 We're #hiring! GDCI seeks an Admin Coordinator to be in charge of coordinating multiple buckets of administrative and operational work that support team members within the Asia/Africa/Oceania regions (GMT+ timezones, broadly speaking) that allow for greater focus on programmatic outcomes and the overall impact of GDCI’s mission. Preference is given to candidates located in Asia/SE Asia and Africa 📅 Application deadline: November 4 Learn more and apply ⤵

🚸Na segunda-feira, 7 de outubro, a Prefeitura do Recife lançou oficialmente o projeto #StreetsforKids, com o objetivo de melhorar a segurança e o conforto de crianças e cuidadores no entorno de três escolas do bairro, e ao mesmo tempo criar mais oportunidades de brincadeira na comunidade do Jordão. 🗣️Este projeto foi o resultado de uma forte colaboração intersetorial e de um processo de engajamento com as crianças e a comunidade local por mais de um ano. Antes da implementação, autoridades municipais identificaram as vulnerabilidades ambientais enfrentadas pelos estudantes que se deslocam para a escola em ruas não pavimentadas e propensas a inundações. Além disso, mais de 300 cuidadores foram entrevistados, onde  78% expressaram preocupações sobre a segurança das crianças que atravessavam as ruas próximas, e 92% sentiram que não havia espaço adequado para as crianças brincarem. 🛝Em resposta, o projeto transformou 35.415 metros quadrados de espaço público, melhorando a segurança e a acessibilidade. Isto incluiu a construção de uma nova praça e parquinho infantil, juntamente com ruas requalificadas com novo pavimento, limite de velocidade de 20 km/h, travessias elevadas, bancos, áreas sombreadas, elementos lúdicos e árvores ao longo das calçadas. Melhorias adicionais abordaram acessibilidade, drenagem, vegetação e iluminação pública. 🎉 O evento de inauguração contou com uma grande celebração e discursos de atores-chave, incluindo o prefeito de Recife, João Campos, e representantes de diferentes secretarias. Uma estudante também compartilhou uma carta de agradecimento ao projeto. O projeto beneficia diretamente cerca de 566 alunos (de 2 a 10 anos), além de outras crianças residentes, alguns deles parte dos 1.200 pedestres que passam diariamente no caminho de ida e volta para a escola. 🤝Temos muito orgulho da parceria com a Prefeitura do Recife na criação de #ruasparacrianças mais seguras! O projeto foi realizado em colaboração com a Autarquia de Trânsito e Transporte Urbano do Recife (CTTU), Autarquia de Manutenção e Limpeza Urbana (Emlurb), Gabinete de Inovação Urbana (GIURB) e secretarias de Meio Ambiente e Primeira Infância do Recife. Um agradecimento especial à FIA Foundation, Fondation Botnar, Van Leer Foundation e Bloomberg Philanthropies pelo apoio, e aos nossos parceiros da Prefeitura da Cidade do Recife por tornarem possível esta transformação! Para saber mais sobre como projetar ruas para crianças na sua cidade, baixe o guia Desenhando Ruas para Crianças, disponível também em português: https://lnkd.in/gzfM2nU6 📷Fotos: Josenildo Gomes/PCR; Wagner Barbosa/CTTU and Lumos Estudio/GDCI #RuasParaCrianças #MobilidadeUrbana #Sustentabilidade #Caminhabilidade #RuasSeguras #Brincar #PrimeiraInfancia  #MobilidadeUrbanaSustentável

🚸 On Monday, October 7, the city of Recife 🇧🇷 officially launched its #StreetsforKids project, designed to enhance the safety and comfort of children and caregivers around three neighborhood schools, while creating more opportunities for play in the Jordão community. 🗣️This project was the result of a strong interagency collaboration and a year-long engagement process with kids and the local community. Prior to implementation, city officials identified the environmental vulnerabilities faced by children commuting to school on unpaved, flood-prone streets. Additionally, over 300 caregivers were surveyed—78% expressed concerns about the safety of children crossing nearby streets, and 92% felt there was insufficient space for kids to play. 🛝In response, the project transformed 35,415 square meters of public space by improving safety and accessibility. This included the construction of a new plaza and playground, along with upgraded streets featuring a speed limit of 20 km/h, new pavement, raised crossings, benches, shaded areas, play elements, and trees along the sidewalks. Additional improvements addressed accessibility, drainage, greenery, and street lighting. 🎉 The launch event featured a big celebration and speeches from key stakeholders, including Recife’s Mayor João Campos, and representatives from different secretaries. A young student from one of the schools also shared a letter thanking the project. The project directly benefits approximately 566 students (ages 2 to 10), along with other local children, and nearly 1,200 pedestrians who pass through daily on their way to and from school. 🤝🏼We're proud to partner with the Municipality of Recife in creating safer #streetsforkids! The project was done in collaboration with the Recife Urban Transport and Traffic Authority (CTTU), the Urban Maintenance and Cleaning Authority (Emlurb), the Urban Innovation Office (GIURB) and the Recife Environment and Early Childhood secretariats. A special thanks to FIA Foundation, Fondation Botnar, Van Leer Foundation and Bloomberg Philanthropies for their support, and to our partners from Prefeitura da Cidade do Recife for making this transformation possible! To learn more about designing streets for kids in your city, download the Designing Streets for Kids guide, which is now available in nine languages: https://lnkd.in/dh4R4m5 📷Photos: Josenildo Gomes/PCR; Wagner Barbosa/CTTU and Lumos Estudio/GDCI #StreetsForKids #UrbanMobility #Sustainability #Walkability #SafeStreets #Play #EarlyChildhoodDevelopment #SustainableUrbanMobility

🚦 Calling all advocates for safe streets! 🚦 GDCI will be participating in the following virtual panel at #VisionZeroCities next week: Motorcycle Deaths Are Rising Globally. Safe Speeds Are the Answer. Wednesday, October 16 at 11:00am ET Register now at visionzerocities.org and let's pave the way to a safer future!

Next week, GDCI will be at #Walk21Portugal in Lisbon! 🚶👩🏽🦽🤸🏿♂️ Along with some of our city partners, we'll be moderating and presenting in sessions: Learning Lab: Plazas to Streets for People: The story of cities scaling up a pop-up to citywide programs Monday, October 14, 2:00 - 3:00 p.m. PechaKucha: Carbon Footprints  Air Quality Through Better Street Design - A key driver towards walkability Tuesday, October 15, 11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/eeykpVWZ We hope to see you there!

Please join us in welcoming our two newest members of the GDCI team: Kim Lua and Marina Visic! 🎉 Kim joins GDCI as the Asia and Africa Regional Lead for the Bloomberg Philanthropies Initiative for Global Road Safety (BIGRS). With extensive experience in promoting safe, equitable, and sustainable mobility, as well as sustainable urban development in private, public, and civil society, he has worked in the United States, China, Vietnam, Thailand, New Zealand, India, Malaysia, and Kenya. Marina is supporting the Bloomberg Philanthropies Initiative for Cycling Infrastructure (BICI) as a Program Associate. As an urban designer, Marina integrates sustainable practices into her work, with a focus on designing adaptable environments that prioritize biodiversity and ecosystem services. Welcome Kim and Marina! 👋